What would you do?

[Dancing Lotus]

My hubby took a new job. For the first time he as been offered a salary. IN his line of work its feast or famine. During the hot months you can make almost double your normally weekly pay but for the rest of the year it could get really bad. Some weeks only making half your hours. Lately he has been making about half his normal income and not even making enough to cover our bills.

He has been offered salary which will make it so easy to budget. And no more starving in the winter. But he will be giving up all the big over time bucks during the summer.

Would you give up an opportunity to make good money seasonally for a steady income?

[ladykemma2]

steady income

[momofslg]

What I wouldn't do to have my hubby have a "salary". He is a mechanic and is paid by the amount of hours the car repair books "say" it should take.
ie: if the book says it should take 2.5hr he gets paid 2.5hr, whether it takes 1hr or 5hr to complete the job.

[Lady_V]

It should work out to be even. During the summer, he may work 60 hours... but in winter, he may only work 20.

Having a steady stream beats the pants off of trying to 'be good' and put the difference away.

[lwlynch]

steady income..my opinion..

[brenda67]

No doubt...steady income!

[sixfreds]

I like steady better, that way you always know what is coming.
It is true you don't get the benefits of over time but you also aren't broke when it is off season.

Eileen

[stinkbug]

Steady, reliable, countable income! That beats the heck out of...."whatever the market brings". My dh has always been salaried, and it's good to know every month what that number will be. He does get bonuses, but we never rely on them or count them as *income* in the budget.

[Megareader]

My dh is a locomotive engineer and it's feast or famine on his pay. It's been this way our whole marriage (almost 23 years) so I don't know any different. It might be nice to have a steady amount you can count on though.

[McD]

Ann,

I would take the salaried position. Yes...he may not be making bank on OT, but he'll be making up for that in the winter!

[Dancing Lotus]

My mom just had a great Idea, she asked me how much he made last yr and then asked me to add up what he would make in a yr if he was salary.

I did the math He would make the same amount as what was on last yrs W2, so I guess that answerers my question.

[Cricket1]

Sounds like you have your answer. I, too, would take steady income. If you need more, could he possibly do some side jobs?

[dianne9106]

Def the salary. With the economic down turn there really is no guarantee now a days. With a salary you can plan it out and build from there. You have such hard struggles lately - so view this as an answer to your hard work to make things better! YAY for you guys!
Dianne

[Dancing Lotus]

This guy was asking about him. Left his card twice for my dh to call him for a job. So dh decided it couldn't hurt to talk to him. He called him and really liked what he had to say so he took the job. He will start on Monday. He can't give his current employer notice because they don't let people work once they give notice. They will take his car on the spot. So he has to leave without notice or he will be screwed.

[mikandmari]

Congrats on the steady income!

My dh did the feast or famine thing for a couple of years... I didn't like it. I pressured him to accept a job offer with one the companies he was contracting for. Since then he's been less stressed out, and our credit score is way up, since now everything is paid on time and no more short-term loans!