How much was your warchest?

[SussexSeagull]

About two months. It then took me about two months to find my first contract.

[bigthumper]

Setup Ltd company almost exactly 2 years ago.
Had about 3k in bank, but permie job was a drag so left anyway.

Took 2 months to get first Contract gig.
Had to bail out of my flat and go back to parents until I could build a war-chest as I was completely broke.

Since then I have bought a 300k house, and have not been out of a contact for longer than 2 months since!
(by choice)

Best move I ever made, although I was single then and probably wouldn't take the same risks now with a family.

[MattZani]

Had to bail out of my flat and go back to parents

How old were you then?

I don't know but, personally speaking, going back to living with my parents would be the ultimate defeat

[bigthumper]

In my 30's, so yes, ultimate defeat sounds about right!
Glad I went through the pain though, its all come good eventually...so far

[gables]

No warchest here when I first went contracting in 1993.

Started talking with agents whilst still permie and had loads of interest but due to not having a start date it seemed to stall things. So I handed in my notice giving me 5 weeks, and the agents went silent, panicked slightly but kept at it and picked up a contract in Brussels in week 5, contracted without bench time until 2002.

Market is different now I grant you, but at the time my skills were very much in demand so felt confident.