Stable job that allows travel vs. self employed personal freedom?

I'll apologize in advance. I've been battling laryngitis now for about 4 days, and since I can't bug my wife, I've been inundating you with random threads.

Anyways, my wife is discovering Pinterest, and has been using for about three hours straight locating exotic (and some not so exotic) locations she wants to visit. Now, granted, financially and logistically speaking, we can't visit all of these places, but it had me thinking. There seems to be two possibilities in life to travel and see things most don't get to see (maybe even want to see I suppose). One, have a stable job that pays well, has great benefits, and allows somewhat flexible vacation accumulation.

The second, would be to be self employed which would give you flexibility (but very little time off in the early years of starting a business), and possibly also having the income. Then there's the stability risk involved with being self employed. No guaranteed yearly income, making your own hours doesn't always equate to more time off, etc.

So, if you had a choice (I know a few on here are self employed), which would it be? The travel aspect doesn't have to be exotic locations, either. For many of you, I know you would just be as happy to spend two weeks in Alaska as some would be in Fiji.

 

With your taste in videos I would keep your teaching job.
That being said for the life of me I can't understand why any man would work under another mans rules, go for it for Gods sake, you can always get another job, heck I've had a couple but I have never seen the big attraction that some people see in them.

Believe me it will be the hardest thing you ever do, but the most rewarding also.

 

Your a teacher? Dont you already make great money and have the summer off?

 

Yes teaching would be tough one for you, but I think you would rock.

Most self employed folks(the one I know) rarely take vacation at the start.

 

Haha...that's funny.

 

My Science teacher made $68,000 a year. She was a drunk. Im sure the good teachers can make just as much...

Edit. Just looked it up. High School teachers at my school make between $59,000 and $84,000. With the summer off.

Id say take a few vacations in the summer and keep your job.

 

Another reason to move to Ohio?

 

So I was self employed for what....29 years. I retired at age 58. Free time????? Flexible vacations?? What are you talking about. As the boss you'll be the first to work and the last to leave.... until you get it all figured out and build the business. It takes time. I figured out one day I could afford a couple more employees and not have to be the last to leave. Then I found someone who made it possible for me not to necessarily be the first to work. I figured I would be happier working less and maybe taking home a few hundred dollars less. It takes time... but I wouldn't think you're going to be able to travel at your hearts content. It depends on what you do and what you make and how you spend it. I made modest money.... but I don't drink the best campaign either. My son is a travel holic and works for someone who gives him all kinds of flexibility... when nothing major is going on. He makes more than enough money to do whatever he wants as far as travel. This year he's been to Hawaii, France, Italy, Georgia and several other states to do what he wanted. He scalped tickets to go from Seattle to Denver to watch the Denver/ Ravens game at the last minute. He has tickets to the Super Bowl but last I knew... he didn't have a hotel room. LOL So the right hire... can give you all kinds of bennies too. Choose carefully Grasshopper. And if you screw it up... choose again.

 

I am being actively recruited to teach, but its been a while since I had a job and I'm not sure I want one now.

And in PA teachers are payed very well!

 

Lets not pretend like thats the only secret you or I know about high school teachers.

 

Please...dont teach art...or video production...

 

If I had to teach a Siman brother, being drunk would be the best option.

 

....now your catching on!

 

Whats to teach? Some Good weed and a few sun sets and you will rock.

We make real things, no dreams or wishes, just the guns you buy and the bombs that make it possible for you to buy them.
Making steel smaller for a positive reason thats what we do!

 

I've done both. For the past 10yrs I'm self employed in the financial services business, and while income can be up and down and there can be stresses that employed people don't have...there are alot of benefits also. I set my own hours, and schedule all my time. My kids play sports year round and I get to see all their games all year long, and that to me is worth way more than money. I also coach as well, something I probably couldn't do quite as easily if I had a job job. There are pro's and con's to each...but I'll take freedom to make my own way any day.

 

And fwiw, teaching ain't a bad gig. Summers off, Christmas and Spring break off, and good pay...but its hard work for sure. I couldn't do HS though... too many punks for my liking. I'd probably get in trouble. LOL

 

Why does your school pay so high?

The average salary for a teacher in America is around 44k.

 

I'm sure there will be some Gaylord focker comments to follow, but my wife and I are both RN's. we both bowhunt hard in the fall. 3 twelve hour shifts and our work week is done. I accrue 4 weeks of paid time off a year. It's definitely a hunter friendly career.

 

It does take both members of the family for this to work!

 

I'd say both. lol Twisted answer I realize but it's what I plan to do.

I'll likely take a job out of school that has 6 weeks vacation and a 20 year retirement (putting me at 44 yo by that point). I plan to start a rental company along the way that snowballs into my new job by my mid 40s if I'm still looking to work at that point.

I've worked for myself and now more recently for others. I see perks to both. Owning a business is no cake walk and sometimes i felt as though the extra work wasn't worth the hassle...then again, when you sit back and collect checks off of someone else's labor and time on the clock it is pretty sweet as well.