Guest Post: Freelancing is hard, maybe you shouldn’t bother
What did you do last night?
I’m not asking because I’m some sort of creeper. I mean, I am kind of a creeper, but that’s not why I’m asking. Let me tell you what I did last night.
After getting home from my day job, (at 5:30) I cooked up some Kraft Dinner and ate it. Once my gourmet dinner was eaten, it was time to start the side hustle. From 6:30 until 9:30 I researched a couple of blog posts, responded to advertiser inquiries, brainstormed future post ideas and did a little under the desk tweaking of my blog. Oh, and I watched a Taylor Swift music video, but that’s because I’m a little obsessed with her. Remember the part where I said I was a creep?
Now, compare that to what you did last night. Many of you are fellow bloggers, so you know exactly how the life is. The rest of you probably came home, sat down on the couch and started watching some horrible reality show. Let’s go with Project Runway, since that show makes me want to hit my head with a shovel. Finally, you played some Farmville on Facebook (do the kids still do that? I’m so uncool) and then called it a night. The next day you woke up, and life went on.
I think just about everybody dreams about starting their own business, at least a little. Life without a boss would be sweet. Imagine making all your own decisions. If you don’t like some task, you can either outsource it or choose to not bother doing it. You won’t have to deal with Shelia, who always comes by your office to ask you the stupidest questions, all while having some stanky coffee breath. We all hate Shelia.
You fantasize about it, but are you doing anything to accomplish the dream?
Who has better odds at success as a full time freelancer? Someone like Krystal, who’s been at this for years now, or someone who quit their job in a fit of rage one day? Moonlighting teaches you all sorts of stuff about time management and motivating yourself. Maybe, after spending a few months working on weekends, you’ll discover you really hate your side gig. Or, as you keep working on it, you’ll watch it grow into something a little bigger, and then a little bigger still.
I’m a great example of this. I’ve been blogging for close to 2 years now. The first year, I didn’t take it very seriously. There would be weeks in between posts, because I was lazy. My blog got some visitors, but never that many. I was a pretty crummy blogger. I basically didn’t make a cent off my blog until 6 months ago. I’m on pace to make about $5,000 off my online efforts this year. It’s not a life altering amount of money, but who couldn’t use a few thousand dollars?
I have no formal writing training. I bet if you asked my grade 12 English teacher, she would have described my writing skills at mediocre. I’m just a guy who, thanks to an intense interest in the topic, has a decent amount of knowledge about business and finance. Through many hours of hard work, I’ve leveraged that knowledge into a decent sideline income. How many of you used that time to better yourself?
There’s still plenty of time for me to have a life. I don’t party, or drink, because large crowds and drunk people generally annoy me. I keep entertained in a variety of other ways – like watching all sorts of sports and even participating in a few. I’ve probably watched every single episode of The Simpsons, Futurama and How I Met Your Mother. My life isn’t lacking because I spend my spare time working. I just don’t have as much time to waste. A little direction isn’t such a bad thing.
If giving up your evenings and weekends seems like your personal hell, then don’t. Maybe your time would be better spent trying to get ahead at work or something. Spending your spare time working is hard, but the rewards make it worthwhile.
On second thought, don’t bother. I’m not sure I want more competition.
Nelson Smith once ate Chunky Soup with a fork, not a spoon. He only learned to tie his shoelaces last week, and only after a cute girl laughed at his velcro shoes. Oh, and he has a blog. It’s called Financial Uproar. He’s single ladies, so feel free to follow him on the Twitter, where he usually tries to be witty.
33 Responses to “Guest Post: Freelancing is hard, maybe you shouldn’t bother”
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My english teachers were pretty impressed with me and still I don’t put all that education to much use. You’ve put me to shame. And oh yes, your teacher ought to be proud of you.
Diedra B´s latest post —> wordless wednesday
Stupid question: How do blogs make money? Is it just advertising, or are there other things that I am missing? How do you go about looking for relationships with advertisers?
Bloggers can make money with ad placements (those ads you see on the sidebars or the banners – top of – blogs), or affiliate links (i.e. they can get tiny percentage if you click on their link to Amazon or another product and buy something), sponsored posts, etc. Different bloggers might have different guidelines to what types of ads they will or will not accept. There are lots of ways. Or you can go BIG and sell your blog for $3 million. That’s one way to make money. :)
But the bottom line is that it’s lots of hard work, both in writing and in figuring out the business end of things. I’ve been at it for 5 years and am STILL working to figure things out.
Well Heeled Blog´s latest post —> 3 Tips for Meaningful and Personalized Gift Card Presents
5 years! Good for your for sticking with me! It’s definitely hard…I already feel it and it’s only my second month. If I can make money, great. If I can’t, thinking through it and writing something down still helps to organize my thoughts and figure things out.
Simple Rich Living´s latest post —> I plan to borrow to invest
Great post. I need to spend more time on looking for side incomes, instead of watching reality tv. I DO watch way too much.
Michelle´s latest post —> Pinteresting Gift Wrap
I have to say this post mostly annoyed me.
No, I don’t want my own business. No, I don’t spend my evenings watching reality TV and wasting time. Everyone knows freelancing takes a lot of work, but there are other places I’d rather invest my time and outside-of-work efforts. (Currently, marathon training and reading, but it depends on what I’m focused on. A couple years ago, my spare time was spent pursing a MS degree.)
I do hope this inspires those who do want to start their own business to do so, and the message to use your spare time wisely is applicable to everyone!
SP´s latest post —> Year End Evaluations
What SP said.
I make a reasonable amount of money in my job and save plenty of it; my evenings are dedicated to being sociable, working on my hobbies, going to the gym and occasionally sitting on the couch watching TV (never reality shows though!)
I don’t want my own business, that doesn’t make me a slacker.
This post GREATLY annoyed me. Neither nor my boyfriend get off at work at 5:30pm and it is not because we don’t manage our time wisely. We are lucky if we get off at 7pm. In fact, it is 9 pm my boyfriend is STILL at work. After work, I have responsibilities – I assume the “evening shift” of care-taking for an ill relative. This is first 5 minute break I am taking today. When I have some spare time, I volunteer at a free clinic. My boyfriend has class on the weekends so that he can further his career.
So get off your delusional “yeah i’m an asshole because I tell it like it is instead of holding your hand” persona because you ARE NOT telling it like it is. You’re being a condescending and ignorant asshole. There, I just told it like it is.
A great many people are not spending their evenings and weekends wasting away time by watching TV. Some of us have JOBS where we don’t simply clock in at 8 and leave at 5pm. Some of spend their free time HELPING OTHERS (whoa…crazy thought huh?). Some of us have responsibilities to tend to our families. Some of us struggle with chronic illness and need time after work to recuperate. The list goes on and go.
Instead of assuming that all of us who don’t have side gigs are wasting our time by watching reality TV and crying and whining about how we don’t have enough money, maybe you should spend some time reflecting on how lucky you are to even have the time, health and physical ability, and lack of responsibilites that allow you to keep a little blog and write guest posts that pisses people off for no good reason. Grow up.
@Sandy: I hope this comment goes under the appropriate comment that it’s referring to. (The box I’m typing this in is full of HTML tags.)
So someone whom you’ve never had face-to-face contact with offers an opinion, about personal finance, on a personal finance blog, and you’re getting “GREATLY annoyed” (or some other adverb) at what he has to say? And calling him an asshole?
You do understand that what you’re getting mad at is essentially an array of pixels, right? Don’t get me wrong, Nelson might indeed be an asshole. Hell, he probably is. But is it because of some transgression he committed against you? He’s speaking specifically to people dreaming about starting their own side businesses. He said as much. If that’s not you, what do you care? And if what he said struck a nerve with you and resonated somehow, then name-calling seems like a childish way to react.
You take care of an ill relative (assuming such relative exists) and do volunteer work? Great, here’s your medal. Again, why do you feel the need to justify yourself to some guy whom you have no emotional investment with?
And to the lady who wrote “I have enough money” in the same paragraph in which she talks about her debt repayment plan: sister, you therefore don’t have enough money.
Greg McFarlane´s latest post —> Opportunity. It’s staring you in the face.
@Greg McFarlane:
Oops, I did post my comment under the wrong place. Thanks for pointing that out. It was supposed to have posted below Financial Uproar’s comment, where he called himself an asshole. I was only clarifying that he’s not an asshole for calling it like it is. He’s an asshole for his condescension and ignorance.
Not looking for a medal. I don’t know why out of my entire post, you chose to focus on that? And then chose to imply that such relative does not exist? I was just trying to let him know that there are tons of reasons why people don’t have side gigs. Being lazy is not the only reason. That’s why it struck a nerve…the condescending assumption that the rest of us have nothing better to do. The ignorant assumption that the only reason that those of us who want side jobs, but don’t have one, is that we are lazy. Please don’t tell me you didn’t sense the needless ignorance and condescension in his post.
I hope that answers your question, Greg.
I’m always a bit cautious to call a blog a business. Most bloggers don’t approach blogging properly as a business whether they’re trying to make a viable business or not. I’ll be the first to admit that I am one of those people, but I’d probably be more likely to characterize my blog by itself more as a hobby than a business.
A lot of bloggers are focused on their writing, which is provided as free content, with no follow-up or active attempt at making money. To me, that’s not a business, and if you think it is, you’re wasting your time.
I definitely get your point and maybe I misunderstood, but I think freelancers and bloggers belong in different categories.
Those points aside, your post does make a lot of great points about how it is hard and takes time. And I definitely enjoy your writing style, too (no matter how much money it does or doesn’t make you :)
Jeffrey Trull´s latest post —> Is it Better to Work for Commissions and Incentives?
I’ve always been hard at working on my PF blog or my fashion blog and while that doesn’t always translate into income, it definitely helps in terms of skill building and networking. Nelson, I get the impression that people who want to make extra money and be successful but aren’t willing to work at it annoy you, and I certainly sympathize with that.
The Girl Next Door´s latest post —> The Best MyCokeReward is More Coke
I like this post and I find you kinda amusing. I don’t know much about making money off a blog but I agree with others that it’s probably a bad idea to get in it for the money as I’m guessing (?) only a select few actually make money off it. You’re right, I do secretly dream of having my own business but right now I’m happy making decent side income (more than I’d likely make off a blog) working minimal hours waitressing – this gives me ample time to watch reality tv ;)
LittleFrugalista´s latest post —> My biggest money mistake
I’m with what SP said — I don’t care at all about starting my own business. Furthermore, I like my job, and my boss, and my coworkers. And if I do chill out on the couch after work (Teen Mom is my bad TV of choice, I care nothing for Project Runway), so what? Not all of us want to be trapped on the do-more hamster wheel.
I still like the minimalist approach to life: I don’t want to overload myself with activities and efforts. While I intend to step up my debt repayment by taking on a side hustling gig, I’m doubtful you’ll ever find me slaving away at a part-time effort in addition to my full time job. What’s the point? More money? Please. I have enough money (yeah, I really did just say that). I don’t care if my blog never earns me a dime.
Last night after work I did a few loads of laundry, then watched Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire for the 6937529784th time while drinking wine and eating popcorn. I didn’t research anything, I didn’t write anything, I didn’t do anything remotely related to “self-improvement”. I went to bed early, life goes on — and it was a fantastic night.
Bridget´s latest post —> My MoneySense debut available online
Bridget, Your comment made me laugh. I love Teen Mom and so do all of my other twentysomething childless friends :)
I definitely think you earn the right to relax and unwind after a hard day’s work. Too much side working leads to burnout, which is overall not good for your finances!
The Girl Next Door´s latest post —> The Best MyCokeReward is More Coke
@Bridget
“I still like the minimalist approach to life: I don’t want to overload myself with activities and efforts.” – LIKE :)
Simple Rich Living´s latest post —> I plan to borrow to invest
While I totally get where you’re coming from (making money from blogging, or taking on a part-time job is definitely not for everyone), I think Nelson is specifically trying to speaking to people who do want to make money online/through blogging, but just aren’t getting motivated enough to actually do it.
I get your point. Side business is hard work. But it comes off pretty condescending. I don’t think a lot of people expect that blogging as a side job is an easy venture. But if there are people out there who do, I hope they read your post.
It’s great that you were able to turn your blog into a side business. But there’s nothing wrong with people who have blogs that they have no intention of profitting from, like myself. I also don’t believe that having a side business is the only worthwhile way to spend your free time. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to relax in your free time, even if that means watching some reality TV show. Just because people want to spend their free time as time to relax doesn’t mean that they lack direction.
My money, my life´s latest post —> Life updates – and I met my November goal!
I’m not really sure what your point is here.
If you’re not busy making money, you’re wasting time?
There’s no point in having a blog if it’s not making money?
It’s hard to freelance?
There are plenty of ways to make extra income without freelancing. So if I’m making extra money, do I get your permission to watch TV?
This post is goofy.
TeacHer´s latest post —> Bad Financial Habits: I Still Have Them
Q. What’s the most profitable kind of writing?
A. Ransom notes
(ba-dum-CHING!)
Seriously: Most writers can’t make a living at it. That’s why day jobs were invented.
I *do* make a living at it, but I’ve been at it longer than most of you, starting with a newspaper job in 1984.
Just a tip: Once you’re making a living at it, it still isn’t easy. I love writing — there’s nothing I’d rather do — but it IS a job. As my dad would say, “That’s why they call it work. If it were fun, they’d call it fun.”
That said, I *do* have fun writing. I even started my own blog, as a place to put all the stuff I can’t get on MSN Money or Get Rich Slowly.
And yes, the blog is starting to bring in some income. I can’t exactly retire on it, but it’s a nice sideline. Besides, the therapeutic value of having a place to say whatever I want is worth its weight in Prozac.
Donna Freedman´s latest post —> Strategic pizza.
I agree with the other posters in that I’m not sure what the main message of this post is. All I got from it is that you give up your evenings and weekends for an extra 5k a year . Not sure how that’s a great use of your time. If its a hobby and you truly love it that’s great. However if is truly a chore I think of better ways to earn more more money. So I’m not sure who is the one wasting their time
I’ll just respond to all the negative comments at once. There seemed to be three major criticisms:
1. I’m an asshole.
Yep, it’s kinda my thing. If you want hand holding and hugs, there are many blogs just waiting to tell you everything is okay, no matter how much you screw up.
2. There’s no point.
I seem to get the point, but I did write the thing. So I’ll summarize it in a few sentences. You should work harder, preferably on some sort of side gig (which I termed “freelancing”) This could both earn you extra cash and be a valuable use of your free time, since a lot of free time is wasted. It’s hard to work after dinner and on weekends, so most of you won’t bother.
3. I work too hard.
I’m serious about becoming successful. I want to acquire wealth. Because, for me, wealth=freedom. If you’re not serious about building wealth, that’s cool. But please, don’t ever whine about how you don’t have enough money, or how you want your debt paid off, or any other financial problem, when you’re not willing to put in the work to make your situation better.
I’m working hard to accomplish my goals. Those goals happen to be financial in nature. What are you doing to accomplish yours?
Financial Uproar´s latest post —> Why Do Women Refuse To Marry Down?
I read this post earlier this week and left with some of the same sentiments other readers have shared here.
A few thoughts….
What is the point of the post? The direction and thought process seems to be scattered while making feeble attempts to make digs at those who work and prefer doing so.
There’s no need to be an @$$ while guest posting, I don’t think this post did you any favors in endearing readers to follow you further.
The assumption that most won’t bother because it’s hard work is rather insulting. The truth is, everyone isn’t built for a side gig and that’s OKAY.
This should have been a personal post on your own blog because even with the explanations here I still don’t see how this was useful.
Ginger @ Girls Just Wanna Have Funds´s latest post —> Renters vs Buyers: 6 Reasons Why Renters Win!
The message is all well and good, but someone shouldn’t have ever told this guy he was funny.
This is an excellent post. In addition to working my 9-5 job, I am building a freelance writing business (billed about $5000 this year, with more to come) and I’m taking night classes to earn an accounting designation. In fact, I’m using my vacation days this December to work further on the freelance business.
I have to say Krystal, I’ve been reading your blog for several years now, and I feel like it’s going downhill in the past few months.
Maybe you’ve gotten busy with freelancing that the blog is no longer a focus, but I’m getting tired of reading guest post after guest post and your weekly spending recap.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I started introducing guest posts (once per week) to add some life and different voices to this blog, and my weekly spending recaps, well, they’re weekly, and I’ve been doing that for well over a year now. The guest posts are actually being phased out at the beginning of January, but the weekly spending recaps will most likely always be a part of this blog. I try to do the best I can every single day to come up with new content.
[...] wrote a guest post over at Give Me Back My Five Bucks. It’s called Freelancing Is Hard, Maybe You Shouldn’t Bother. People got mad that I called them lazy. That made me mad, which I took out on a plant. That plant [...]
@Krystal Yee:
I don’t mind the spending recaps. It’s neat to see how great your doing, especially with freelance income.
I guess it’s the guest post more than anything. While I enjoy some here and there and like the opportunity to read new blogs, I feel there’s been a lot of them and that it changes the tone of your blog a little.
I’m glad to here that there’s going to be more of you coming up in the New Year.
I feel the need (after a little prodding) to defend poor Nelson here. Sure, he writes in a style which provokes a strong response, but I feel a lot of people are missing the message: side jobs aren’t easy.
Nelson has been blogging for 2 years and is just now starting to see his massive investment of time pay off. I don’t know Krystal as well, but she has put even longer into being a blogger. The point? Side jobs (like blogging) take a massive commitment of time and energy before they grow into anything close to a solid income stream.
The most important part of this quote was a series of rhetorical questions:
“Who has better odds at success as a full time freelancer? Someone like Krystal, who’s been at this for years now, or someone who quit their job in a fit of rage one day?”
Think about it… You may not like his style (personally, I enjoy it) but you’ve got to respect the fact that he knows what he’s talking about.
PKamp3´s latest post —> The Lottery-Insurance Paradox
That’s why I think Nelson is a fantastic personal finance blogger – he writes to provoke a reaction. Sometimes you might take offense, but most of the time, you’ll see there’s a lot of truth to what he writes about.
I’ve written about the same topic many times before – creating opportunities for yourself, and getting ahead while you have the time and energy to do so in life. Nelson happens to be more blunt than me, but the message is the same. If you have goals – like saving for retirement, going on a big trip, or getting out of debt – but aren’t spending your time trying to make it happen, that’s totally up to you. It’s a personal choice, and part-time jobs/side hustles aren’t for everyone. But I think Nelson’s point is then it’s hard to listen to people complain about whatever crummy situation they’re in if they’re not putting in any effort to make it better.
Nelson could have written a fantastic post to the tune of:
8 Ways Freelancing Secures My Future
And it would have been boring, lacking inspiration and not worth reading.
He didn’t do that here. Nelson offered opinion – perhaps it is not your opinion. But ask yourself this: is a different opinion, a different voice, a thing to be ignored/condemned/ostracised? No.
The PF blogging world is so very often a “don’t ruffle feathers” world. Ya, dull.
You may not agree with Nelson but his differing point of view on this subject (and others) is a breath of fresh air in this niche.
Sustainable PF´s latest post —> The Dividend Payout Ratio and Retained Earnings
Guys…. And girls. Believe it or not first time listener and first time caller.
I started reading at the top, which was near the start, and safe to say where you would expect.
I kept reading waiting for the con as I could relate with the writer too well. Then it ended, leaving me only with…. An opinion. (not my own).
Is this strange? I thought.
So I read on, and more opinions. All valid, though we have all heard about opinions and how they are like a..holes?
Feeling warm for your community here I had hope for us. All these people sharing, Seeking validation, contributing, positive and not.
Then, the original writer spoke again, which, was nothing short of rude and foolish. Please excuse my words here as I am no writer and have no intension to offend anyone.
But seriously, honesty sells and if your passionate about something it naturally develops into a craft without any effort. You get longevity from credibility and the hype your skilled hobby can create will push a ground swell under you that will cary you for a lifetime.
So original writer and all that connected at the start stay positive, talk positive and only live the truth. You would have lost other people if you lost me with your second post vibe and inefficient, unsecure understanding of your craft.
You could label me a freelancer, I have been in the same industry before I can remember. Made heaps of mistakes and a lot of years before making serious money. But guess what? Not one memory ever of it ever being hard, difficult maybe, but never hard.
Good luck all. Sell honest and practice positive.
I dont even know how I landed at this site, and realize I will most likely never be back. So thank you for letting me have an opinion too. Enjoyable.