A father-of-four who shrunk his work schedule while still making enough money to live comfortably has shared his secret – taking advantage of the ‘share economy’.
Before Dean Taylor, 39, quit his job as a small business owner he was working six days a week.
He now has every weekend free and is able to spend more time with his family, working instead for peer-to-peer companies such as Uber and courier service Zoom2u.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas last year, Mr Taylor said he was earning up to $2600 a week.
Before Dean Taylor, 39, quit his job as a small business owner he was working six days a week (pictured with wife Fon)
Mr Taylor said he was surprised to find that he could make almost $100,000 a year without having to work from nine-to-five (stock image)
Mr Taylor, from Campbelltown in western Sydney, makes almost $2000 each week and is able to enjoy days off with his wife Fon and children Ayden, eight, Leah, six, Myla, five, and Harry, three.
He told Daily Mail Australia the decision to quit the rat race was a ‘lifestyle choice’.
‘Working nine-to-five didn’t suit my lifestyle. My daughter Myla has a severe form of epilepsy, and some days I need to be at the hospital to be there with her,’ he said.
Mr Taylor said he was surprised to find that he could make almost $100,000 a year without having to work from nine-to-five.
He said he works less hours than he used to, and the work is ‘fairly easy’.
‘I work when I want to work, when I’m available.’
His children are also enjoying his new schedule, as his job as a children’s playground operator meant he was often busy during weekends and school holidays.
‘They love having dad around on the weekends,’ he said.
Before working for companies such as courier service Zoom2u and food delivery service Food By Us, Mr Taylor operated a Lollipops children’s playground.
‘It’s pretty fluid from day-to-day. It depends on what the day will look like for me.’
Mr Taylor said he predominantly uses Zoom2u, driving a van around while delivering letters and packages.
He also uses other courier apps Go People and Sherpa while driving in the van.
His children are also enjoying his new schedule, as his job as a children’s playground operator meant he was often busy during weekends and school holidays
If he feels like working early in the morning, he uses the Food By Us app to deliver food to cafes.
When working during the day is not an option, he will supplement his income by driving Uber in the evening.
‘I’d say across an entire month I’d be working with Zoom2u 70 per cent of the time, and then Food By Us, Uber and the other courier apps 10 per cent of the time each,’ he said.