Side work as a step, not a pile
Cut the step before you seat the work
Hours and a minimum rate are the depth and width of the rabbet. Guess them and the week sits proud.
Piling side work on top of a full week is how evenings disappear. A step has to exist first.
Two measurements
- Depth (hours). A weekly maximum you can keep when the day job is heavy.
- Width (rate). The lowest real hourly figure, after costs, that still makes the work worth it.
Write both down before you reply to a new request. If the job does not fit the step, offer a later date or say no.
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