Comments on: Disadvantages of being a freelancer

By: polygeek

polygeek — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:35:15 +0000

@Wael, I do plan on being in the UK next year. I’ll keep you posted.

By: Wael Jammal

Wael Jammal — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:28:43 +0000

@lg3bass I know what you mean about the steady income etc, I too have 2 cars a house and a Little princess but all it takes is some control and you can save a small fortune, something that is difficult to do when you are permanent. And with the current state of the market I have yet to be out of a job for more than a week, I usually land my next contract almost a month before the old one finishes, you just need to keep in touch with all the companies, agents etc. Don't be scared to do it, it's harder work but it's way more satisfying, you feel like you really earn your keep. Polygeek if you are in the UK feel free to hit me up I'll introduce you to my accountant. Wael Jammals last blog post..Bojinx feature page updated

By: polygeek

polygeek — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:29:11 +0000

@lg3bass, I feel your pain: “Should I stay or should I go?” For me it was so much more simple because my wife and I don’t and won’t have children. we sought a more simple life where we have more control over our day-to-day existence. If you ever want to bounce your ideas/concerns off me just let me know and we’ll talk.

By: lg3bass

lg3bass — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:55:10 +0000

I’m a full time code monkey for almost 9 years now. I yearn to quit and go freelance. The problem is…once you get stuck in the big comfy couch of corporate media its hard to imaging going back to freelance. The big questions: If I leave is procrastination going to kill my work ethic? What do you do without the steady paycheck? We have a house, new daughter. percs: Next year I get 4 weeks vac. + 2 weeks personal+sick + holidays.

Were I work is high volume with multiple projects going on. Its get so bad that I never have time to concentrate on just one. And as a result I feel that my skill set languishes. I work closely with conceptual/editorial teams. So I’m in a position right at the top of the stream take on their cool ideas. The problem is I’m too many people screaming at me that their hair is on fire… I’m just too nice to just let the melt:)

Anyway,
polyGeek …kudos… Thinking bout doing the same….

By: Andy Jarrett

Andy Jarrett — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:37:49 +0000

I'm lucky enough to be employed as a home worker so I do go in to the office now and don't have to worry about the tax etc. But I understand the being alone and fully agree that Twitter really is a godsend for that random converstations Andy Jarretts last blog post..Fridays Joke: Daddys little girl

By: polygeek

polygeek — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:16:01 +0000

@Harry, yeah, good point. It could be done as freelance but it would be trying and the feeling of trust that you would be there for the long haul wouldn’t be there.

By: Harry

Harry — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:44:00 +0000

I’ve gone from contract to perm a few times in my consulting career.

Right now I’m a part of a fast growing company, and this is something that a consultant can never have. In order for me to pilot this massive new architecture, there has to be an expectation that I am not likely to fly away in the middle of the ongoing research and development effort.

So that’s the #1 disadvantage to freelance for me: To build something really really big, you need to be a stable part of the company, which means freelance won’t work.

By: polygeek

polygeek — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:06:53 +0000

@Wael, Wow, I checked out your CV. You do get around. You should have an app on your blog “Where in the world is Wael?” :-)

Thanks for commenting. I’ve just begun freelancing and don’t have much experience with the tax situation. It will be nice to get that system down.

By: Wael Jammal

Wael Jammal — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:16:36 +0000

I love freelancing and will never go perm again, I've had offers of up to 100K to go perm and declined why? Change, theres always something new to look forward to and I'm never tied to a single company. Friends, every time I move to a new company I make new friends, keep in touch with them and meet up etc. Company policies, I am excluded from 50%+ of company policies I don't have to go to those silly company meetings where they tell me how much the company made last year and hen hit me with a bomb shell telling me I wont get my bonus this year because the fat cat wanted a new Ferrari. But I still get invited to all the fun events :) how cool is that. Holidays? Pfft I can have 10 weeks off if I want and still make nearly twice as much as a permanent guy. Money? What else can I say I pay my accountant 1.4K a year and he saves me more than double that in reimbursements, allowances etc. Hell he saves me money of my home bills and more! Pretty much pays for himself by the end of the year and makes me a little bonus on top. Having been permanent for over 10 years and Freelance for the past 4 I can safely say this is one guy who will never go perm again! Unless I get paid some silly amt of money and I can retire in 5 years hehehe. Wael Jammals last blog post..Bojinx 2.2 released / Lots of new articles posted