Raise
Let’s start with a disclaimer. This blog post borrows heavily from a recent Globe and Mail article by Rob Carrick about handling inflation. I’ve adapted it to my landscape life in this post. So, what can you do when inflation hits and prices go higher very quickly? Well, you can try to make more money.
One obvious approach is asking your employer for better benefits and a raise. In West Coast landscaping, the days of low-budget helpers are long gone. New workers coming in off the street, without experience are getting paid in the low $20s, which is outrageous. When I started landscaping in 2000 at a landscape corporation, I wasn’t even close to $20 an hour. I feel ill just thinking about it. I apprenticed at a sweatshop.
Change jobs
Raises are fine. If you get one, count your blessings. But, we know that by far the best way to increase your pay is by switching jobs. Jumping allows you to ask for more from a new employer desperately looking for good help. Except, in my case, it probably wouldn’t hold. I’m not bragging but my Red Seal pay is fairly decent. I would look for a new employer only if I were pushed out. But I must add that in the past my pay improved significantly with every jump I made. Rob Carrick is right, if you want higher pay, change jobs.
Side-hustle!
You knew this was coming. I love to side-hustle for extra income. I’ve even increased my rates and not a single client complained about it. So far. Of course, it does require a lot of energy and schedule juggling. After finishing my landscaping day-job shift, there is only so much energy left in the tank.
The one firm rule is that my day job comes first. I’ve seen people save themselves during the day so they could side-hustle after hours. That’s not ethical. We can’t behave like degenerates.
So, let’s assume you have the energy. Then there is no need to worry about inflations because you can make extra cash. And you’re in control, especially when you work on project-type basis, not by the hour. You can prune a cedar hedge for $300 and do it quickly in an hour. That makes sense.
At the moment-knock on wood-there is tons of extra work available. People need help because they’re rich and busy, invalid, too old or don’t know what to do. And I’m happy to help. I get more experience, my network grows bigger, and inflation doesn’t hurt as much.
