Living the dream . Fulltime Fossickers .

[Cuckoowaif]

I am wondering how many forum members are living the dream . Earning enough from fossicking to not have to work ?
My introduction to panning did include a period of dreaming of fossicking fulltime , but my finds to date wouldn't even have covered the cost of the loaves of bread I have eaten on trips away ...... let alone pay all the bills !

Anyone else have the same realisation that this is just a great hobby , and an excuse to get out bush ?

 

[Guest]

They are out there mostly detectorists and mostly they made plenty of Money doing something else before going "pro". After all a fulltime prospector is really a miner. haha

 

[Twapster]

Don't ruin the dream for me guys!

 

[TenOunce Tone]

yeah they are out there, just like nuggets.. just need to know where to look.. I would do it full time if I could, there is plenty out there to make a living of sorts..

Cheers, Tone

 

[Guest]

You would need atleast 3grams per day, I reckon from reading the forum .5-1gram would be the average for a 1 man day, Also taking into account weather etc Detecting would be the way to go, if you could survive the lean times and be happy being Nomadic would be a great lifestyle. I know what I will be doing when my oldest moves out, only 14 years to go, hahaha

 

[KarlS]

Bit hard nowdays. Fourty five years ago when I arrived here it was much easier. I had mined opal and copper. Some friends of mine dredge for gold and did OK . The other couple of friends shoot crocks. One guy I used to know shoot roos for living. Lots of ways to make living in the bush.
Karl

 

[Diggerdude]

You would need atleast 3grams per day, I reckon from reading the forum .5-1gram would be the average for a 1 man day, Also taking into account weather etc Detecting would be the way to go, if you could survive the lean times and be happy being Nomadic would be a great lifestyle. I know what I will be doing when my oldest moves out, only 14 years to go, hahaha

At least 3 grams a day?? Mind sharing the figures hiw you came up with this amount?

DD

 

[Colmaca]

I know where to get 3 grams a day but you have to work for 8 hours

 

[nuggetino]

I'd love to hear from some of those full timers too but have a feeling anyone doing alright is hesitant to share a slice of the pie. I plan to go detecting for a year to see how I fare. I figure you'd need at least enough money saved to survive for a year in order to get started. A lot of research and planning are going to be crucial and treating it as a job and not a hobbie is a mentality you'd have to adopt. That is 8-12 hours a day in sickness and in health, come rain or shine. Unfortunately I'm afraid it may take away from the enjoyment of this hobbie especially if you can't come to grips with the fact that returns will be anything but consistent. I think if you can work like a dog for extended periods of time and accept the fact that you may not find gold for weeks or months at a time then maybe you can scrape enough together at the end of the year to cover costs of a very conservative lifestyle (no mortgage,rent,family)

 

[Guest]

You would need atleast 3grams per day, I reckon from reading the forum .5-1gram would be the average for a 1 man day, Also taking into account weather etc Detecting would be the way to go, if you could survive the lean times and be happy being Nomadic would be a great lifestyle. I know what I will be doing when my oldest moves out, only 14 years to go, hahaha

At least 3 grams a day?? Mind sharing the figures hiw you came up with this amount?

DD

To make an average wage, $750 tax free. It wasnt scientific just a minimum to get by.

 

[nuggetino]

You would need at least 3grams per day, I reckon from reading the forum .5-1gram would be the average for a 1 man day, Also taking into account weather etc Detecting would be the way to go, if you could survive the lean times and be happy being Nomadic would be a great lifestyle. I know what I will be doing when my oldest moves out, only 14 years to go, hahaha

At least 3 grams a day?? Mind sharing the figures hiw you came up with this amount?

DD

I came to the same calculations as you did. Obviously it's subjective but I'm thinking averaging 15 grams or so a week should fetch 500+ a week with wavering gold prices. I've traveled Australia for extended periods of time (longest trip 14 months) and worked out (20 grand) or 400 a week will keep me fed, fueled up and buy me a carton of beer.
Anything extra would be spending money and going to a savings account for when things break. That's living in a converted camper van relying on solar power and camping at free camp grounds, by the beach or out bush most of the time. Also would like to have a break from prospecting for a while so I'd say anything over that quota would put me in a position to take time off

If I had a thristy 4x4, and was towing a caravan or trailer loaded to the hilt I'd need to find significantly more gold to make ends meet.

 

[BrisJoe]

Rather then doing it full time, I'll be focusing the rest of the year spending 5-6 days every fortnight out detecting to get some rattles in my shaker jar. This will then go towards funding a trip to WA in 4 years time to find some bigger nuggets out there.

 

[Outback]

At least 3 grams a day?? Mind sharing the figures hiw you came up with this amount?

DD

I know you do it for real , what amount of weight do you think is needed per week to cover everything ?
You already have my respect DiggerDude

 

[GOLD Billyen]

Great Thread idea.

I think one of the main things stopping people is family. As one poster just said if you have kids...forget it. Not sure it's a lifestyle to take a wife or GR on either.

I went to one of the Miner Den's free detecting classes. More of a buy Minelabs only hour actually. One of the guys was showing off his nuggets...as you would.

He said he's found 13 oz in the past 6 months. He said it with pride and I must admit that's a lot of gold. However, let's pro-rata that for the year and say 25 oz. Spot prize is $1,300 a oz. Add 50% premium for nuggets. You have about 50k.

That's not too bad but, it's not great...the amount of work...walking...weather and let's be honest. Danger and loneliness.

Lot's of pluses though...walking... weather and let's be honest. Danger(fun) and being alone.

Then you figure you hit a dry patch with no luck for 3 weeks. Or find a 8 ozers. Mentally that would be a ride. It's one thing to sit and type in on the keyboard...but to be out there 10 hours a day. Wow.

You'd need a decent camper/RV 30k-50k. and savings. Can the RV's store enough meat in the freezer for 2-4 weeks? That' would be my weak leak...I'd walk into Coles in tears...you guys take Gold nugget? I need steak!!!

 

[nuggetino]

Lol GOLD Billyen you do make a good point and that it isn't a lifestyle suited to all and yeah I am a young lad under 30 with a history of backpacking so don't need too many creature comforts. How about buying a load of canned meats and beef jerky? I have a picture in my head of you standing by your RV (with heavily fortified BULL bar) along a desolate road side in the outback explaining to a distressed station owner you normally wouldn't have run over his cows for fresh steak but the nearest coles is simply too far away :lol:

 

[Goldtarget]

Well my half day prospecting today got me 6 specks and a lawn mower mashed 1c, fair dinkum everything i touched was awful. Detected an old steel ring that flashed up in the gold area on the detector only to be disappointed. So after inflation I'm screwed. Closest i got was a lead acid battery out bush that I'll recycle for a couple of bucks. Wouldn't take too many days like today before I'd be grumpy Smurf. In my mind there would be plenty of minute noodles and lots of favours owed. But anyone who can or does i say good on you, I'm sure it would be trying but better than a "real" job.

 

[Mr Boring]

Well my half day prospecting today got me 6 specks and a lawn mower mashed 1c, fair dinkum everything i touched was awful. Detected an old steel ring that flashed up in the gold area on the detector only to be disappointed. So after inflation I'm screwed. Closest i got was a lead acid battery out bush that I'll recycle for a couple of bucks. Wouldn't take too many days like today before I'd be grumpy Smurf. In my mind there would be plenty of minute noodles and lots of favours owed. But anyone who can or does i say good on you, I'm sure it would be trying but better than a "real" job.

Trust me Goldtarget, Full time prospecting is trying at times, but it is a real job and there's thousands of us doing it, but only a few of us will acheive our goals this year

 

[Outback]

Trust me Goldtarget, Full time prospecting is trying at times, but it is a real job and there's thousands of us doing it, but only a few of us will acheive our goals this year

Got to agree with Mr B , thousands try ' but bugger all will be able to survive a second or third season .

Most of the gold that's left for the small time prospector is in the desert regions .
Will require more then just a detector

 

[rc62burke]

Great Thread idea.

I think one of the main things stopping people is family. As one poster just said if you have kids...forget it. Not sure it's a lifestyle to take a wife or GR on either.

I went to one of the Miner Den's free detecting classes. More of a buy Minelabs only hour actually. One of the guys was showing off his nuggets...as you would.

He said he's found 13 oz in the past 6 months. He said it with pride and I must admit that's a lot of gold. However, let's pro-rata that for the year and say 25 oz. Spot prize is $1,300 a oz. Add 50% premium for nuggets. You have about 50k.

That's not too bad but, it's not great...the amount of work...walking...weather and let's be honest. Danger and loneliness.

Lot's of pluses though...walking... weather and let's be honest. Danger(fun) and being alone.

Then you figure you hit a dry patch with no luck for 3 weeks. Or find a 8 ozers. Mentally that would be a ride. It's one thing to sit and type in on the keyboard...but to be out there 10 hours a day. Wow.

You'd need a decent camper/RV 30k-50k. and savings. Can the RV's store enough meat in the freezer for 2-4 weeks? That' would be my weak leak...I'd walk into Coles in tears...you guys take Gold nugget? I need steak!!!

50% nugget premium!!!!
Can I please have the details of your buyer!!!!!
I don't think to many are getting this type of coin.
Lee

 

[Cuckoowaif]

To nuggettino-> GO FOR IT .... I was in your position 20 years ago ,except I wasn't into fossicking back then . Perhaps you could be as
successful as Mr Boring ...... Now , I'm screwed down with debt , etc , so
getting out there is only a part time option .... Plus the wife might have something to say about it .... she already has plans for my first ounce
of gold ... ( when I get it !!!!)

This is very interesting to hear what people think on this , though , so keep your thoughts and experiences coming ......

Thanks , Steve .