Comments on: Freelancer’s Survival Guide, Money, Part One

By: Karen T. Smith

Karen T. Smith — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:04:17 +0000

It sounds fantastic, and is a great concept. People learn best when they’re actively participating in the learning. I apologize for not being clear in my post – I work in eLearning. It seems to me there’s an opportunity to leverage what you do in your workshop in an online environment (thinking like a businesswoman – in a fee-to-play kind of setting, ala iPhone app business models of very low cost and/or some content free, additional content available for a fee.)

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:56:46 +0000

We do an actual role playing game for writers, Karen. Dean, Loren, and I invented it and are constantly tinkering with it. We provide it for writers at various workshops to teach them how the profession works. It’s a good experience, at least they say it is.

By: Karen T. Smith

Karen T. Smith — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:43:37 +0000

Wonderful post, Kris, thank you for making it available.

I wish I could save everyone from the stress I had in my early 20s with a stratospheric credit card bill. My frustration always came back to this – I’m a smart woman. How did I get myself into this mess?

You’re onto something in your post here about wanting to provide a game-like experience to freelancers (both those who want to go into the freelance environment, and those already in it.) I would love to talk more with you about it – am also going to reach out to Loren Coleman. Loads to think about.

By: Laura Ware

Laura Ware — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:48:32 +0000

Forwarding this to my husband. He is constantly studying finances and looking to keep us going strong. Even though I complain soemtimes that he is a penny-pincher, I honestly can say he’s much better at managing the money than I am.

By: Jeff VanderMeer

Jeff VanderMeer — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:32:13 +0000

Great post. Really good stuff.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:10:32 +0000

Hi Kris,
Great and thank you for this guide. I do have one question that no money management article thus far has answered: what’s your money advice for security-loving tightwads like me who’ve already prioritized paying off the mortgage and car, getting disability insurance, RRSPs, education plans, etc.? I’ve recently incorporated as well. I’m not looking for financial advice as much as mental advice.

I think I’m supposed to be living the happily-ever-after financial part, and I am slowly starting to treat myself instead of always saving for a rainy day, but I’m sure there’s more advice for people who’ve spent their whole lives suppressing their “wants.”

This may apply to a freelancer’s life in the form of the “golden handcuffs” Scott Carter mentioned: I may never quit my day job because I love the money as well as security and cachet. Which may mean my writing career keeps at the small potatoes level until I retire, although I sincerely hope not.

By: Mark Terry

Mark Terry — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:03:54 +0000

Excellent as usual. I learned a lot about business and money when I started freelancing and I’m still learning–and making mistakes. And I wrote a lot for Bankrate.com about personal finance, which was a decent education. And I still have to remind myself about the difference between “want” and “need.”