Tough times ahead.

[Derlyn]

I am a community electrician.
Always have been.
What that means is that I'm not involved in industrial or commercial projects, but focus on the community and their electrical needs.
What gives me the most satisfaction is when a member of the community communicates their appreciation of my service to them with me, which often happens.

I know this is the low end of the market, but it has been kind to me, always ensuring that my needs ( not wants ) are taken care of.

This puts me in a position where I interact with people on a personal level in their homes and all I can say is, buckle up, we are in for a rough ride.
Never before, and I'm one of the older toppies still grinding away, have I seen people struggling financially as much as they are now. Middle class families are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet and priorities are changing quickly. Money that in the past might have been used to make life more comfortable by adding more socket outlets, lights and the like, is now being redirected to keeping food on the table.

Where, in the past, my success rate as far as quotes being accepted was above 95%, this has now dwindled to about 40%. I know that this is not as a result of competitive quotes being accepted, but because of projects being put on hold indefinately due to lack of funds.

I thank My Creater that I do not owe any money on a house or car and that our pantry is stocked and really feel for those who are not as fortunate as myself.

Sorry for the lousy, deppressing post, but I needed to get that off my chest.

Buckle up. Dinge raak taai.

[Tradie]

Lets compare an old person like me, to a youngster starting out.

Bond

Me: (almost paid up) R4000 (property value R1.8 million)

Youngster buying a property next door bond around R16000 for the next 25 years.

Then there is the R5000 utility bill and we will leave out the maintenance costs.

School fees:

Me: one kid with 1.5 years left to go, R4500 per month

Youngster: lets work on just 2, R9000 per month

Food bill:

Me: 3 people in the house (we splash out 1 or twice a month) R6000

Youngster: 4 people in the house around R7000

Vehicle:

Me: both vehicle are paid up.

Insurance: R1000... Cheaper because I am old.

Youngster: 2 vehicles (cheap) still being financed with a 50 residual, so they going to be paying for the next 6 years at least, R5000

Insurance R3000

Medical aid: R6000 for both

[Tradie]

A rough estimate

Me: R20500

Youngster:R45000

What is the going rate for a young electrician starting out, R25000, less deductions ?

His wife will have to work, as a youngster starting out, R12000, less deductions ?

You wonder why everyone wants to become a youtube influencer rather than a tradie.

Please feel free to correct the values, they might not be as bad as I estimated, I am so out of touch with salaries and the cost of living.