Reply by Sharon Taylor on 4/16/07 11:15am
Msg #185429
No pay/late pay especially hurts at certain times
It's rough anytime since we have to front the money for gas, printing expenses, etc., but no pay/late pay is particularly hard to accept when the unexpected happens and income drops. My DH (dear husband) has been out of work for a week with a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Since he's the head painter in a valve manufacturing plant, he spends all day lifting valves on and off hooks on a painting/drying overhead conveyor belt, moving heavy cans of paint around, and holding a heavy spray paint gun while moving it in all different directions to paint the valves. Needless to say, he can't do his job with a strained rotator cuff. He can barely put a shirt on and off at the moment.
This means we have lost a week of his income, plus he will be on short-term disability at 80% of his regular pay.
My income will be more important than ever, and having to wait 2 or 3 months for pay or having to bug companies that are trying to weasel out of payment for services rendered even though they've been paid long ago by the lender or title company is hard to live with.
Luckily we are in good shape, and we keep a close eye on expenses, use coupons, buy on sale, don't eat out, etc.
But it is going to mean a bit of tightening down, and yet I have enough outstanding fees that they could easily get us through this minor setback if the companies would just pay what they owe!
No, I am NOT going to accept lowball fees just to get through this, but I will increase my marketing efforts to good companies.
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Reply by John_NorCal on 4/16/07 4:24pm
Msg #185498
Re: No pay/late pay especially hurts at certain times
Hi Sharon,
Sorry for your misfortune, it sounds like you will make it through alright. Your situation is a prime example why people should hold fast on their fees and not compromise their business in hopes of getting more business in the future. The old saying that it's easier to come down in fees/price than it is to go up has never been more true than it is now.
For all the part timers and others who are doing this for the "extra" money or for the ones who will low ball in the hopes of getting experience, think things through and realize what the price of your actions really entails. You hurt people like Sharon and you will ultimately hurt yourselves in the long run.
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