Taxi Driver Online

Hey everyone i've just joined for some advice from other drivers who might have a similar or been in a similar situation..

I'm starting a new job as a private hire taxi driver.. and on top of that i will be looking to move out of my family home into a rented one or two bedroom flat.

My Taxi job is self employed and i will be paying

Car = £210 PW
Radio = £114 PW
fuel = £100 - 150 PW
Cleaning = £20

So i will have to make enough to pay all that off before i make a profit, i was looking at 5-6 days working 9-6 the usual working hours for most...

But with such a huge amount to be paid before profit.... i am struggling to think how i'm gonna be turning much of a profit for myself.....

And with this

Flat = £400-500 PM
Council Tax = £100- 150 PM
Food = £100- !50 PM
Gas/Electricity = £ 100 - 150 PM
and anything else i might not have thought of......

How can i make this work ? is there support i'm missing out on ? i mean some weeks i will be working for next to nothing i would imagine.... but i see a lot of other drivers with rented cars... but don't get the chance to talk to them being the type of job it is.... always driving past/away from each other.

Any advice ?

Are you really struggling? As to me it's crystal clear you aren't going to make ends meet, unless you want to work 5.00pm to 5.00am seven days a week.

Welcome to the taxi/PH trade 2014.

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IDFIMH

Well this is the thing..... these car rental places for taxi are all rented out .... so other drivers must be renting and able to make a decent wage surely ? or they wouldn't be doing it..... i know some will be in a relationship... living together and splitting the costs... but all these drivers that rent can't be all living with partners surely there are some single men/women that rent a car/radio and still make good enough money to pay the rent etc... and not have to work 7 days a week to achieve it or there would be more cars sitting in the lots ?

You really need to take a realistic look at your apparent expenses........

..........and then................

Your outgoings are between £700 & £900 per month Or £8400 & £10,800 per year & your fuel bill is £5200 Or £7,800 per year which is a big diff..........that kind of disparity has got this country in a bit of a pickle.


Realistically you will not make much if you are a 9-6 merchant, unless you live in an affluent part of the country. If you do not work in a well off area then you will be working split shifts i.e 13.00 to 18.00 & then back in for 22.00 until whenever. Other that that , it will be all nightssssssssssssssss.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

soz john the fuel thing was just ball park number as i had read that drivers spend anywhere between £100 and £ 150 a week on fuel.

I was planning working 6pm to 3 am 5 days a week including a sat and fri/sun taking one of the weekend nights off.

the flat range i put is for your cheapest flats that i have seen for renting in my area.... all my outgoings will be the cheapest i can go and even then it is seeming like an impossible goal... that's why i just though i'd ask on here if and how others renting manage to keep themselves going.


cheers

now looking over my expenses i can see that some of them might seem high.... but as it will be my first flat.... i'm just guesstimating.

I currently live on 30-40 worth of food a week.. i'm guessing the minimum for council tax will be about 100 a month ? the flat itself 400 minimum that i have seen... electricity and gas £100 a month ?

Many are working in the black economy, easy peasy when you are renting or bag sharing with an owner that also doesn't declare.

Also take what others say they are earning with a bucket of salt.

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

Have you thought about sharing a house on say a temporary basis - just until you find your feet so to speak. That would in effect cut your rental & Community charge commitment. The possibility of you being out a lot, would also cut you heating and lighting bills. Your fuel will vary as to 1. What type of work is in your area (spread out Or well populated) 2. Are you the type of person who drives around from area to area looking for it ( i.e put yourself in areas where work is showing up ), or as some do, sit on their ar$e$ waiting for it to come to them, and then moan when they go home when nothing happens.

Lots of variables, but! reduce your house bills as much as possible to take the pressure off of yourself.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

The radio should be included with the £210 PW not on top, or you're being ripped off big style

unfortunately it's real...... the company i work for only supply the radio and you need to get the car elsewhere.... and they are all around 180 for the car with excess added on taking it to 210 for 20 weeks or so.

it would seem my best bet would be to hammer it for a few months put the money aside and save for a car and remain living at home for the moment ? then move out when i get my own vehicle ?

I had set myself on renting full time as i like that if anything goes wrong with the car i aint off the road for long ( replacement) or out of pocket for a big fix.... and was hoping it was do-able to make a living without doing the 7 days a week 12 hour shifts but it would seem it will always be the case while renting.

there is no car sharing with any of the drivers on this system it's own car or rental 24/7.

living at home is kinda like sharing..... so i was hoping to avoid that cause it's my own space i need atm... but i think im gonna save for my own car and stay at home till after christmas and take the pressure off myself by not having so much outgoings that i would have with renting.

ours are £320/wk for car/pda/insurance, etc, just add fuel

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Check your entitlement to Working Tax Credit, Housing benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and etc. Citizens Advice Bureau can advise what benefits you are entitled to if on a low income. Also put your name down on waiting lists for housing association houses. Private renting is very expensive.

I'm on the maximum working tax credit, it means I can get my council tax reduced by £1.78 per month - I havent bothered applying

But if I was in a council house I wouldn't have to pay council tax or rent at all. Ah well, back to work so I can pay the mortgage