Money Matters - The Freelance Rant

Freelancing can teach you a whole a lot about money matters than any other job. Since it rarely provides with a steady paycheck, freelancing helps promote financial responsibility and a more creditworthy saving and spending.

While maintaining a stable income on the freelancing road is tricky business, still there are many who have made good money treading on this path.

Here are 5 Reasons Why Freelancing = better Money Matters:

>> Cut back on Apparel costs: Since working from home means that you can wear anything (be it lounging around in your PJ's all day) you really need not worry about spending a fortune on clothes, shoes and accessories every month. This not only helps cut back on cost as it allows you to wear casual clothing, which is practical and more more cheaper, but it also lets you save up that money.

>> Save up on Car and Fuel: By not going to an office you save up big time on fuel costs and car maintenance bills. You might even entirely give up on a car altogether (if it works for you). That in turn means no car insurance or registration payments etc.

>> No more Extra Expanses: 9-5 jobs lead to stress which in turn leads you to indulge in stress-revealing trips and expensive vacations. But these are so not needed when you are a freelancer because then you become creating a work schedule around your play time ;)

>> Save up on Office-related Taxes: No more 9-5 means no more office related taxes. Now no one can cut back taxes from your monthly payment.

>> Timely Raise: Working as a freelancer means that you get to give yourself a raise when you deserve one. No need to worry about asking the boss for one or feeling subjected to overload of work with the increase in payment. A good raise every year is what you can easily give to yourself if you are a freelancer.

So there you have it... A few more reasons for why Freelancing is All That!

Caution: Freelancing Burn-Out in Progress!

Where loads of work is known to get many of us down, shortage (or rather lack) of work can also lead you to agonizing boredom and absolute stress. As full-time freelancers many of us get so caught up in work or worrying about it that personal life is likely to get affected.

Freelancing Insecurities
It is at these times when you tend to get insecure about your expertise or qualifications. While these times might be rare, insecurities are a part of a freelancers work routine, especially during the 'down-times'. Times when there is no work, the weather is blazzing hot, nothing good comes on t.v and your social life is running at a slow pace... did i just give a very pessimist picture? Nah!
It really does happen.

And then you have the freelancing burnout! POOF goes your temper and BAM goes your creativity and WHAM you feel lost and useless. So much for that growing progress of your career! What to do? Hmm... fret not! These times are rare and while many of us are unprepared when they arrive, a bit of logical thinking can help loads. Just put two and two together!

Where to Focus your Energies?
Even when nothing helps its good to remember that your freelancing career is a constant progress. What you offer to your client is unique and has a character of its own, that's why your client keeps coming back for more. Either this or you guys have a contract ;) Anyways, creativity doesn't come from remaining static and its your constant experience in your field that makes you an expert. Although the progress is gradual, most of the times its worth it in the end.

On a freelancing burnout it really helps to use your energies in progressive stuff and leave the stress alone. Instead of stressing over not having work and not having a life, go out there and get a life. Use all your extra time to make yourself flexible by studying some aspect of your job that you have previously ignored. Taking creative classes or teaching yourself some new found skill can help a great deal. You will be able to spend all that extra time on hand and will find the skill you learnt useful in your job as well. In turn this will allow you to grow more confident of your talents and capabilities.

Burnout or not, one thing is for sure... freelancing gives you ample opportunities to educate and train yourself for becoming an expert at a particular job.