The workforce is changing quickly. A larger percentage of the population now works from home as freelancers. While not a good fit for some, there are many advantages to working from home.
Flexibility
Working from home eliminates the need for a 5:00 a.m. alarm. Since you answer to yourself, you set your own schedule. If you’re an early riser you can start at 7:00 A.M. However, if mornings are difficult you can begin work at 10:00 A.M. The flexibility lets you create a work schedule that’s convenient for you. This is advantageous when you have younger school-aged children. Now, you can get them ready without the need for arriving at work by 8:00 A.M.
Vacations
Many companies block certain times of the year to take vacations. Others use seniority when employees select them. This can make taking time off when convenient for you impossible. As a freelancer, you can take a vacation at any time. Even if you need to complete some work, you can bring your computer with you and complete assignments while away whether it’s in San Francisco, New York, or outside of the country.
No Set Salary
When you work for a company, you have a weekly salary. However, when you work independently, you are not on salary so the amount you earn depends on the amount you want to make. During the holidays, you can take on extra projects to earn more. The same applies to vacations and upcoming events.
No Commute
When you work from home, your commute is a short walk to the next room. You no longer deal with heavy traffic, delays caused by accidents, or inclement weather, forcing you to leave home earlier to arrive at the office on time. You can save hours a day and related stress.
Daytime Appointments
When you work a 9 to 5 job, making appointments during the day means leaving the office early and losing pay or the need for making up hours lost. When you work from home, you can make appointments for the times that best suit you. Running errands, pausing your day for the plumber to come over, or picking up children after school is also no longer an issue.
Save Money
Working from home eliminates the need for office attire and wear and tear and gas on your vehicle. You also won’t need to spend money each day on things like coffee and lunch. Over the course of a single month, you can save hundreds of dollars working from home.
The Drawbacks
There are a few drawbacks to working from home. As a freelancer, you will have to find work, enough to earn a decent living. This can come in the form of several sources, some of which may have the same deadline. You also won’t have any of the perks that come with working for a company such as healthcare, dental, and retirement benefits. If you add the three together, they can add up to more than a thousand dollars monthly. On top of that, there are no sick days and no paid vacations. Freelancing isn’t always easy. Unlike working for an employer, the weekly paycheck will vary. Some months will be fruitful while others are less than desirable. You’ll also be responsible for filing your taxes quarterly.
Personality
Not everyone can work independently. If you are the type of person who waits for directions instead of diving in, you may want to keep your current job. However, if you are a self-starter, aggressive, and able to juggle more than one task simultaneously, working as a freelancer can prove rewarding. Freelancers look for ways to improve their bottom line daily. They are aggressive in their search yet sell themselves in a positive manner.
When you work from home, you set up the office and pay for all the costs involved. This includes purchasing programs like Microsoft Office 2010 and preventing theft by installing antivirus and malware software. The lifestyle affords you the freedom to use your time as you wish and the freedom to earn as much as you want.