Freelancing is the best thing ever

[slackerinabox]

So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

 

[hx009]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

What do you freelance? Graphics? Programming?

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

What do you freelance? Graphics? Programming?

STD's.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

What do you freelance? Graphics? Programming?

Video editing and light I.T. work. I'm fair and, since I'm not certified for I.T. work, I charge them much less for that.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

What do you freelance? Graphics? Programming?

STD's.

Nah, I don't charge for STD exchange

 

[NanoStuff]

I never found Freelance to be a good idea, perhaps I'd have to get better organized to make sense of it.

$70,000 is pretty standard for a skilled web developer in a full time position. Freelancing, with all the overseas competition, constant client swapping, the complaining, the customer not really knowing what they want, most people have a hard time making half that. I find myself being much more productive under management, oblivious of the client aspect of the situation.

[edit] I noticed you said video editing, perhaps that's a different situation altogether.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If this is your first year, remember that you are supposed to be paying estimated taxes to the IRS on your self-employment income (see irs.gov).

Be sure to document all of your expenses for when you file your schedule C. Your employers are going to report what they paid you to the IRS so you can't just not report it.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Stds lol.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

Benefits, like health insurance, wouldn't be a bad idea now. You never know when sickness or an accident could put you in the hospital (and the poorhouse).

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I finished my first week (and change) of freelancing and it's been great.

First of all, I go to school full time yet i'm able to put more than full time hours in a week since I work mostly at home. Then, there's the working at home thing - working in boxers while being able to take a break whenever I want, and working at 2 in the morning when I have to. Awesome. The pay is even better then what I used to get and, get this, the taxes much less. I work for a non-profit so they have to report the income, yet no funky charges will be removed from my check. I'm used to walking away with less than 2/3rds of my pay due to various deductions but, since I'm filing my taxes myself, they should be much less - and I can pay later.

SO, yeah, FREELANCE if you're young and can. No going to an office, no office politics, and no kissing up to the boss. I'm being judged solely on my work and I'm not being micro-managed - it's awesome. Of course, when I'm older and have a family I can't do this, I need benefits and such, but it's perfect for right now.

What do you freelance? Graphics? Programming?

STD's.

:laugh:

 

[Flyback]

How did you land freelance work ? did they approach you? did you have an extensive portfolio to show? etc.

I feel confident about my abilities and I'd love to do something similar but I just feel that it lacks stability and a constant income. I don't know enough people and haven't networked enough to be recommended to others.

How did you get going in this?

Others who freelance chime in, too. I'd love to do it even if it meant taking a cut in pay if only to save commute time and be my own boss (so i can focus rest of energy on my research project and small business).

My greatest concern is having the clients available, otherwise I'd do it.

 

[EKKC]

you still have to kiss ass, kiss ass to your clients.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Flyback
How did you land freelance work ? did they approach you? did you have an extensive portfolio to show? etc.

I feel confident about my abilities and I'd love to do something similar but I just feel that it lacks stability and a constant income. I don't know enough people and haven't networked enough to be recommended to others.

How did you get going in this?

Others who freelance chime in, too. I'd love to do it even if it meant taking a cut in pay if only to save commute time and be my own boss (so i can focus rest of energy on my research project and small business).

My greatest concern is having the clients available, otherwise I'd do it.

Well, I got the job through a friend, who's a graphic designer through the company. I have a portfolio as a film student and have worked on dozens of pro-bono projects but, funny enough, they didn't even ask to see it. They trusted my friend's word enough to give me a shot. I finished a short piece for them and then they were impressed enough to have me work on a major presentation.

The key is networking. My last job, as an editor in a different field (publishing) was also landed by being friends with a senior editor at the company. At this job, having only been in the office a few times, I've handed my card out casually to 3 associates of the company who liked the draft i was presenting.. It's not tacky but expected. Always have business cards handy - I got a minor gig working the boards on a play next week by hanging out with an actor friend who's guest needed some extra help. We were just drinking and eating pretzels but the conversation went a certain direction so I handed her my card and she called.