So when you're preparing to sit your significant other or spouse down to have a "come to Jesus" conversation, do you tell them you have a Plan B and what it is? I'm thinking not.
So very angry and upset.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
So you want to freelance...
It is not for the faint of heart or the poor. Last year I made just under $10,000 freelancing, mostly for a small press I have a contract with--so not an employee--but a few outside clients, too.
It's May 17th, and so far this year I've made $1500-. Uh, yeah.
Part of the reason that I freelance, is because my health is not that good, and I often feel unwell, more than I feel well, and I don't feel capable of holding down a full-time job. Also? The last few corporate jobs I had made me cry. A lot. So I don't care if I have to live in my car, I'll never have one of those jobs again.
I can do this because my husband works. Although not for the last 11 months after being laid off, although he does receive unemployment, our primary income at the moment. Our rent takes 50% of his unemployment check. If we could afford it, we'd move somewhere cheaper.
He's currently interviewing, nearly one interview a week or more. This after months of no calls to interview. *pleaselordlethimgetajob* He's also helping a friend start a business, so while he only gets reimbursed for gas right now, he is building a lot of sweat equity, learning a new business, meeting people in the business, and may be headed for a totally different career path. I hope so, too for his well-being and for our bank accounts. Being unemployed is hard on a man. So much of their self-esteem is built into their work, and they are raised, or were in my hubs generation, to "take care of their families." So there is a lot of guilt and confidence-loss when he can't do that.
So the money I'm going to make now is not a lot. Not in the scheme of things. But it is a lot of money at one time. We're talking about just under $3K. Part of which I have to pay back to my briend for the loan last week. So I have an opportunity to put some in savings, pay some bills, get some things done like computer repairs, renew my Carbonite subscription (which just expired this week), and other things. We're making a list, and those important things are going to be handled first. This is the reality of a freelancer. My truth is that I'm grateful to get what little I do get. I am seriously not that well, physically. What little I do work at home, which fluctuates from *HURRY*NOW* to nothing, is about all I can handle, physically.
So if you want to freelance, you need to consider your reasons for doing so. What will you benefit from it? Working at home? Being your own boss? Taking as little or as much work as you like? Do you want to supplement an income or have it as your primary income? Do you have an alternate income source or savings that can help you survive until you build your client base? These are all things you need to think about.
I do it because...
1. I enjoy it;
2. I can work at home;
3. On my own schedule--if I don't feel well, I can stay in bed longer or all day if I want;
4. The extra income on top of my husband's is very nice;
5. Did I mention it's fun?
These are all things you need to think about, maybe write down and come back to them later. Most importantly, you have to be honest about why you want to freelance.
Good luck.
It's May 17th, and so far this year I've made $1500-. Uh, yeah.
Part of the reason that I freelance, is because my health is not that good, and I often feel unwell, more than I feel well, and I don't feel capable of holding down a full-time job. Also? The last few corporate jobs I had made me cry. A lot. So I don't care if I have to live in my car, I'll never have one of those jobs again.
I can do this because my husband works. Although not for the last 11 months after being laid off, although he does receive unemployment, our primary income at the moment. Our rent takes 50% of his unemployment check. If we could afford it, we'd move somewhere cheaper.
He's currently interviewing, nearly one interview a week or more. This after months of no calls to interview. *pleaselordlethimgetajob* He's also helping a friend start a business, so while he only gets reimbursed for gas right now, he is building a lot of sweat equity, learning a new business, meeting people in the business, and may be headed for a totally different career path. I hope so, too for his well-being and for our bank accounts. Being unemployed is hard on a man. So much of their self-esteem is built into their work, and they are raised, or were in my hubs generation, to "take care of their families." So there is a lot of guilt and confidence-loss when he can't do that.
So the money I'm going to make now is not a lot. Not in the scheme of things. But it is a lot of money at one time. We're talking about just under $3K. Part of which I have to pay back to my briend for the loan last week. So I have an opportunity to put some in savings, pay some bills, get some things done like computer repairs, renew my Carbonite subscription (which just expired this week), and other things. We're making a list, and those important things are going to be handled first. This is the reality of a freelancer. My truth is that I'm grateful to get what little I do get. I am seriously not that well, physically. What little I do work at home, which fluctuates from *HURRY*NOW* to nothing, is about all I can handle, physically.
So if you want to freelance, you need to consider your reasons for doing so. What will you benefit from it? Working at home? Being your own boss? Taking as little or as much work as you like? Do you want to supplement an income or have it as your primary income? Do you have an alternate income source or savings that can help you survive until you build your client base? These are all things you need to think about.
I do it because...
1. I enjoy it;
2. I can work at home;
3. On my own schedule--if I don't feel well, I can stay in bed longer or all day if I want;
4. The extra income on top of my husband's is very nice;
5. Did I mention it's fun?
These are all things you need to think about, maybe write down and come back to them later. Most importantly, you have to be honest about why you want to freelance.
Good luck.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
I Gotta Laugh
I haven't posted here much lately because I've been busy working. I'm actually doing some writing...yeah, who knew? Turns out? I can actually write. :-P I'm writing articles and getting paid by the article. So far, I'm liking it.
I'm also trying to finish up this major, major project that I've been working on since the first week of March. I received an advance for it and about 2 1/2 weeks ago, my briend said she thought it was time to bill. Enough time and work had passed and been done that she thought it was time--when I'm finished, we'll bill for the rest. "Please send me an invoice" she asked. Within ten minutes I had an invoice created from the Excel spreadsheet I use to keep track of hours worked and some notes for myself, and I emailed it over.
Two weeks passed. I know this client is not broke and also likes to pay his bills on time, so I was a little concerned when I heard nothing and no check came in the mail. I'm trying *trying* so hard to be less money-focused or materialistic, but hey, bills still gotta be paid, knowhatImsayin'? And also we needed money for my husband to go on an important trip. So I sent over an email last Thursday.
"Hey, uh, has John (not his name) paid his invoice, yet?
The response:
"Oh, I was just going to nudge you about that. I still need an invoice from you."
_crickets_
WTF? Right?
So instead of blowing my top or losing it, I just wrote back, "I emailed it to you two weeks ago; did you not get it?"
Response:
"Oh Crap!! I am so sorry!!!"
And then this:
"You can borrow my credit card if you need to!"
This time? I said yes. So I got some money PayPal'd over to me via her credit card and it will be deducted from my billed invoice when the client pays.
And we had a good talk after and she genuinely felt bad. Which is what I've been saying all along--not a bad person, just a bad businesswoman.
So I resent my invoice, added the additional hours I've worked on the project, and sent it over last Thursday. Hopefully the client was billed before my briend went out of town for the week. Even though they have a bookkeeper, my briend signs all the checks, so she won't be able to sign anything made out to me until next week. So more waiting. This time, the check is in four figures. I've done a lot of work. I've stretched, I've stepped over the edge and not fallen, I've grown, I've learned. Those are powerful things. And I get paid for it. Life is good.
I'm also trying to finish up this major, major project that I've been working on since the first week of March. I received an advance for it and about 2 1/2 weeks ago, my briend said she thought it was time to bill. Enough time and work had passed and been done that she thought it was time--when I'm finished, we'll bill for the rest. "Please send me an invoice" she asked. Within ten minutes I had an invoice created from the Excel spreadsheet I use to keep track of hours worked and some notes for myself, and I emailed it over.
Two weeks passed. I know this client is not broke and also likes to pay his bills on time, so I was a little concerned when I heard nothing and no check came in the mail. I'm trying *trying* so hard to be less money-focused or materialistic, but hey, bills still gotta be paid, knowhatImsayin'? And also we needed money for my husband to go on an important trip. So I sent over an email last Thursday.
"Hey, uh, has John (not his name) paid his invoice, yet?
The response:
"Oh, I was just going to nudge you about that. I still need an invoice from you."
_crickets_
WTF? Right?
So instead of blowing my top or losing it, I just wrote back, "I emailed it to you two weeks ago; did you not get it?"
Response:
"Oh Crap!! I am so sorry!!!"
And then this:
"You can borrow my credit card if you need to!"
This time? I said yes. So I got some money PayPal'd over to me via her credit card and it will be deducted from my billed invoice when the client pays.
And we had a good talk after and she genuinely felt bad. Which is what I've been saying all along--not a bad person, just a bad businesswoman.
So I resent my invoice, added the additional hours I've worked on the project, and sent it over last Thursday. Hopefully the client was billed before my briend went out of town for the week. Even though they have a bookkeeper, my briend signs all the checks, so she won't be able to sign anything made out to me until next week. So more waiting. This time, the check is in four figures. I've done a lot of work. I've stretched, I've stepped over the edge and not fallen, I've grown, I've learned. Those are powerful things. And I get paid for it. Life is good.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
No Surprise
I had to file an extension for our taxes. Why? The primary reason was that we couldn't afford to buy the software to do our taxes (work and home combined, $80- for TurboTax), but the secondary reason was that I hadn't received my 1099 from the company I've done work for the last two years.
Last year, I didn't get one at all. I added it as "income for which I did not receive a 1099", and I had to guesstimate the amount. This year? My 1099 was sent out--put in the mail--on April 11. I am not kidding. According to a friend who has been self-employed for years, 1099's are due at the end of February.
Uh, yeah.
I'm really torn about working for this company. I've learned an awful lot; they are nice people; I've met a lot of terrific writers; I have learned how to, and loved, working at home on my own schedule; but...they are really lousy businesspeople. Really lousy.
One of the owners does so much "free" work (yeah, she doesn't charge) that I can't believe she made any money last year. I even got roped into proofreading a manuscript this week because the author is in her 80s. This is my second time around with the manuscript. I put in a lot of hours for it and never got reimbursed. Of course, I agreed to it, but who turns down an 80-something-year-old lady who is publishing her memoirs? But I can't tell you how many hours I've worked and didn't get paid for this and other gigs.
I think it's time--sometime this year--to branch out on my own. I may or may not be successful, but working for this company--not the people, the company--makes me very frustrated.
My husband has a job interview, well, he's been selected for the process, he'll be notified when interviews start at a later date. When he mentioned the location, I got very excited. It's a place I like very much but have never lived before. It's a place I could see myself living for a long time. I got so excited I looked on Craigslist and home rental prices are extremely affordable and reasonable. We've even talked about moving there even if he doesn't get the job. I'm totally on board with that. We'll see how it shakes out.
In the meantime, I hope to get our taxes done this month. I doubt we'll have a refund, and will probably owe. *ouch* Except for last year, we've owed them every year since 2007, so what the hell. Also, if we do move, there is an organization that I've been interested in working for for a long time. So, we'll see. *fingerscrossed*
***
As an aside, I read an article about Asperger's people in the workplace. The guy writing it had a son with Asperger's. He'd promised to help his son build a snowman. He said as soon as he was done with what he was doing, he would come help him. A short time later, the son came into his office, panicked, because the snowman was melting. Turns out, he had built it in his bedroom because it was too cold to be outside. It made sense to him.
I SO totally get this. This is what my husband does. I asked him to retrieve a couple cases of Coke Zero out of the car once. I couldn't find it. I looked and looked and finally gave up (he was gone somewhere). I finally found them. In front of the fireplace. Just...odd. They make these weird or extreme jumps in logic, which, can be looked at as being extremely logical. Too cold to play in the snow outside? Bring the snow to your room. Logically it makes sense. Literally, it does not because now you've got snow, wet, and mud in your house, which, if not taken care of, especially with carpet, can turn into mold, then you've got a really bad problem.
Regardless, I find it very difficult to communicate with Aspergians.
Last year, I didn't get one at all. I added it as "income for which I did not receive a 1099", and I had to guesstimate the amount. This year? My 1099 was sent out--put in the mail--on April 11. I am not kidding. According to a friend who has been self-employed for years, 1099's are due at the end of February.
Uh, yeah.
I'm really torn about working for this company. I've learned an awful lot; they are nice people; I've met a lot of terrific writers; I have learned how to, and loved, working at home on my own schedule; but...they are really lousy businesspeople. Really lousy.
One of the owners does so much "free" work (yeah, she doesn't charge) that I can't believe she made any money last year. I even got roped into proofreading a manuscript this week because the author is in her 80s. This is my second time around with the manuscript. I put in a lot of hours for it and never got reimbursed. Of course, I agreed to it, but who turns down an 80-something-year-old lady who is publishing her memoirs? But I can't tell you how many hours I've worked and didn't get paid for this and other gigs.
I think it's time--sometime this year--to branch out on my own. I may or may not be successful, but working for this company--not the people, the company--makes me very frustrated.
My husband has a job interview, well, he's been selected for the process, he'll be notified when interviews start at a later date. When he mentioned the location, I got very excited. It's a place I like very much but have never lived before. It's a place I could see myself living for a long time. I got so excited I looked on Craigslist and home rental prices are extremely affordable and reasonable. We've even talked about moving there even if he doesn't get the job. I'm totally on board with that. We'll see how it shakes out.
In the meantime, I hope to get our taxes done this month. I doubt we'll have a refund, and will probably owe. *ouch* Except for last year, we've owed them every year since 2007, so what the hell. Also, if we do move, there is an organization that I've been interested in working for for a long time. So, we'll see. *fingerscrossed*
***
As an aside, I read an article about Asperger's people in the workplace. The guy writing it had a son with Asperger's. He'd promised to help his son build a snowman. He said as soon as he was done with what he was doing, he would come help him. A short time later, the son came into his office, panicked, because the snowman was melting. Turns out, he had built it in his bedroom because it was too cold to be outside. It made sense to him.
I SO totally get this. This is what my husband does. I asked him to retrieve a couple cases of Coke Zero out of the car once. I couldn't find it. I looked and looked and finally gave up (he was gone somewhere). I finally found them. In front of the fireplace. Just...odd. They make these weird or extreme jumps in logic, which, can be looked at as being extremely logical. Too cold to play in the snow outside? Bring the snow to your room. Logically it makes sense. Literally, it does not because now you've got snow, wet, and mud in your house, which, if not taken care of, especially with carpet, can turn into mold, then you've got a really bad problem.
Regardless, I find it very difficult to communicate with Aspergians.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sadness
This weekend was difficult. We're completely broke, we had no money to do anything, or even go anywhere, because we had no gas to put in the car. So I sat in front of my computer and later my Kindle as I sat through a blizzard of The Walking Dead episodes. I watched two season in 2 1/2 days. Season 3 is not free, so I'll have to wait to see that.
And as I sat here, like a prisoner waiting for their release date, memories came flooding back to me. Bad memories. Things I'd forgotten about, intentionally. And I cried more than once. My life has had a lot of bad times, scary times, things have happened based on stupidity, dumb luck, cruelty, and often just the randomness of the universe. And I am a very emotional person. Things bother me and hurt me that don't bother or hurt the average person. I spend a lot of my time being angry because that keeps the hurt away, locked up, closed down. Anger keeps me from completely collapsing.
This is no way to live. I started planning my death. There's a lot of things to think about if you are going to check out. Family. Friends. Pets. Wills. Who finds the body? Would I rot and smell? I hear most bodies evacuate themselves (think orifices) when the body dies. That sounds kind of disgusting. Then death arrangements. I want to be cremated. I absolutely do not want to be embalmed, put in a box, and buried. No. Absolutely not. There's a lot of things to think about if you're going to die.
I'd like to see Christmas one more time. This last one sucked so badly that I'm trying to block that memory out. I'd like to have a real Christmas--gifts, baking, lights, ornaments, visiting family and friends (if I had any). Maybe that's a dream, too.
I'm a miserable sad person, and it's getting harder and harder for me to give a shit about anything.
And as I sat here, like a prisoner waiting for their release date, memories came flooding back to me. Bad memories. Things I'd forgotten about, intentionally. And I cried more than once. My life has had a lot of bad times, scary times, things have happened based on stupidity, dumb luck, cruelty, and often just the randomness of the universe. And I am a very emotional person. Things bother me and hurt me that don't bother or hurt the average person. I spend a lot of my time being angry because that keeps the hurt away, locked up, closed down. Anger keeps me from completely collapsing.
This is no way to live. I started planning my death. There's a lot of things to think about if you are going to check out. Family. Friends. Pets. Wills. Who finds the body? Would I rot and smell? I hear most bodies evacuate themselves (think orifices) when the body dies. That sounds kind of disgusting. Then death arrangements. I want to be cremated. I absolutely do not want to be embalmed, put in a box, and buried. No. Absolutely not. There's a lot of things to think about if you're going to die.
I'd like to see Christmas one more time. This last one sucked so badly that I'm trying to block that memory out. I'd like to have a real Christmas--gifts, baking, lights, ornaments, visiting family and friends (if I had any). Maybe that's a dream, too.
I'm a miserable sad person, and it's getting harder and harder for me to give a shit about anything.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Friday, I Totally Lost My Shit
My husband is...difficult. He is on the autism spectrum. Knowing that does not make it any easier to interact with him. Last Friday I completely lost my mind I was so frustrated with him. I was so angry and pushed so far, one more time, that I could have put my fist through the car window, but I didn't.
This is how it went down. I sent him a link to a house I wanted to look at to consider renting. As I walked by the dining room, I see a picture of the house I wanted him to look at on his computer screen. The next day, while on the way to what I think is the house in the link I sent, it turns out He never even opened the link.
While we're tooling down the freeway through the mountains on my way to a doctor appointment, I ask my husband about where we're going after that.
"So do you know how to get to that house on X Street?"
"What house on X Street?"
"I sent you the link."
"I couldn't find it."
"What do you mean? Was the link broken?"
"I thought I could find it on Craigslist."
"That's why I sent you the link."
"Well, I thought I could find it. It wasn't under ABC city housing."
"That's because it was on JKL city housing. Why didn't you just click on the link? Wouldn't that have been easier?"
"I looked for it but I couldn't find it!"
"That's why I sent you the link."
"I thought I could find it under housing for ABC city."
"So do you not click on links I send you? Or just this one?"
"No, I thought I could find it!"
Now he's shouting at me.
"If you're going to yell at me, just pull over and let me out at the next (freeway) exit."
"I told you I couldn't find it!"
"But I sent you the link straight to it--you didn't have to search for it. I don't understand. So if you didn't look at the link, where the hell are we going, now?"
"We're going to 123 location."
"What? I don't even know where that is. You didn't mention it to me."
"Yes, I did. The blue house."
"What blue house?"
And so on until I'm ready to get out of the car and start walking. In the mountains. Which have snow on them.
Finally, screaming, I throw my travel mug of coffee at the dash and splattered us both with hot coffee.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!" I screamed!!! :Pull over! Let me out! I can't take it any more!! I swear to G*D, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to someone who doesn't even speak English!! I tell you things and you ignore them or assume you know better!!!!"
"It's just a goddamn link...."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAaa!!! NO!! This is my life, every five minutes!! I have to explain and explain and explain over and over and over again!! I can't take it anymmore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!!!!!"
And then quiet.
"I'm done. I can't live with you any longer. I can't take it."
So my marriage is falling apart. It's been falling for a while, I just haven't had the money to get away. I still don't. If I did, I would be gone, already.
He's not a bad man. He genuinely, with all his heart, loves me. And I love him. He's kind, not judgemental, interesting, and fun when we go places and do things together. But living with him is a nightmare. I can't do it anymore. But how do I get away? I have no savings, no assets, hell, I don't even have a car that runs. I'm trapped.
Lord help me.
I spent a large portion of yesterday considering if I should go to the ER and turn myself in because I was suicidal. I can't live this way anymore.
This is how it went down. I sent him a link to a house I wanted to look at to consider renting. As I walked by the dining room, I see a picture of the house I wanted him to look at on his computer screen. The next day, while on the way to what I think is the house in the link I sent, it turns out He never even opened the link.
While we're tooling down the freeway through the mountains on my way to a doctor appointment, I ask my husband about where we're going after that.
"So do you know how to get to that house on X Street?"
"What house on X Street?"
"I sent you the link."
"I couldn't find it."
"What do you mean? Was the link broken?"
"I thought I could find it on Craigslist."
"That's why I sent you the link."
"Well, I thought I could find it. It wasn't under ABC city housing."
"That's because it was on JKL city housing. Why didn't you just click on the link? Wouldn't that have been easier?"
"I looked for it but I couldn't find it!"
"That's why I sent you the link."
"I thought I could find it under housing for ABC city."
"So do you not click on links I send you? Or just this one?"
"No, I thought I could find it!"
Now he's shouting at me.
"If you're going to yell at me, just pull over and let me out at the next (freeway) exit."
"I told you I couldn't find it!"
"But I sent you the link straight to it--you didn't have to search for it. I don't understand. So if you didn't look at the link, where the hell are we going, now?"
"We're going to 123 location."
"What? I don't even know where that is. You didn't mention it to me."
"Yes, I did. The blue house."
"What blue house?"
And so on until I'm ready to get out of the car and start walking. In the mountains. Which have snow on them.
Finally, screaming, I throw my travel mug of coffee at the dash and splattered us both with hot coffee.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!" I screamed!!! :Pull over! Let me out! I can't take it any more!! I swear to G*D, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to someone who doesn't even speak English!! I tell you things and you ignore them or assume you know better!!!!"
"It's just a goddamn link...."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAaa!!! NO!! This is my life, every five minutes!! I have to explain and explain and explain over and over and over again!! I can't take it anymmore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!!!!!"
And then quiet.
"I'm done. I can't live with you any longer. I can't take it."
So my marriage is falling apart. It's been falling for a while, I just haven't had the money to get away. I still don't. If I did, I would be gone, already.
He's not a bad man. He genuinely, with all his heart, loves me. And I love him. He's kind, not judgemental, interesting, and fun when we go places and do things together. But living with him is a nightmare. I can't do it anymore. But how do I get away? I have no savings, no assets, hell, I don't even have a car that runs. I'm trapped.
Lord help me.
I spent a large portion of yesterday considering if I should go to the ER and turn myself in because I was suicidal. I can't live this way anymore.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Freelancing: Up- and Down-sides
I've been freelancing, basically, doing different things, since about 2008. It does have its up sides, clearly, or I wouldn't be doing it. So I want to just go over a few things before I get to my main bellyache today. Bear with me.
So on the up side, I can:
--Make my own schedule (for the most part, but varies by client)
--Work from home
--Work in my pajamas
--Few to no phone calls (I hate talking on the phone. Hate.)
--No wasted time or expenses driving to work (or on wardrobe, either.)
--The only person I answer to is the client (and my conscience)
But the downsides? I didn't think getting screwed by a "friend" was one of them. But first, let me list the down sides:
--Work from home on your own schedule. If you're not self-motivating, this won't work for you. It took me about a year to really get it down, and that involved making lists and using Outlook calender for reminders.
--Solitude--no interaction with others. Even a loner like me still likes to hang out once in a while with others.
--No steady paycheck or benefits like paid holidays or health insurance
--You're "always" at work if you're reachable by phone, email, or text. I've answered client questions while sitting in the doctor's office.
So those are the big ones. So I've bellyached on here before about not getting paid promptly by one of my clients. I'm not going to revisit that subject again.
But today I was gobsmacked by the reaction of a friend who I did some work for recently. I've worked on projects for her before, but this was the first one that was of this size. I made things easy for her. I said she could make payments, and I would charge her a flat fee no matter how long it took me to edit her manuscript, printed out on paper and marked up with pencil--her choice.
She said she would mail it to me at the beginning of November, then the end of November, and then well, she wasn't sure. I had lots of time in November and December, notsomuch in January when she decided to send it to me.
About ten days after I'd received it--and when I was slammed with work--she wanted to know if she could have it by the weekend because she wanted to submit it to a publisher and they had a deadline. I told her there was no way I could get it done by then--reminding her that I had time in Nov and Dec, but that January was exceptionally busy and that we'd talked about that--so I also told her if she needed it back that quickly, I would go ahead and refund her deposit ($100-), and mail back the ms. She demurred and I got the manuscript to her by the following weekend.
So I said as long as she paid me something every month, we were good. Well, yesterday I was sitting here, and I realized it had been a while since she'd sent a payment. So I checked my PayPal account, and I was right; it was over a month. So I sent her a friendly e-mail, how's it going, how is the book going? When will you publish? Yada yada, and oh yeah, by the way, do you think you could let me know when I might expect the next payment?
Holy cow! Fireworks and brimstone!! She chewed my butt, but good! "...I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm having trouble making my bils...property taxes are coming due...tax refund....blahdy blah."
Wow. I did not expect that. But here's what she doesn't get: If she couldn't afford me, she shouldn't have hired me. Also, if her boss told her, "well, Jane (not her name), the balloon payment on the building you work in is due this month, so we'll need to delay payroll until after we do our taxes...." How well do you think she might have been understanding or forgiving? None, right? Well, this is my job. This is what I do. And when my clients can't pay me? I can't pay my bills either. *fume*
I wrote her back and told her, but in much nicer and more courteous terms, "Yeah, I get it," basically, because I do, but that is not the point. Because she's my friend, she thinks she can push me to the end of the line, that I matter less than her other bills. And yes, I understand that when you're trying to pay a $1000 bill budget with only $800 in the bank, sometimes some juggling and creative financing has to take place. Hell, if we didn't have a nice landlady, we'd be living in our car, seriously. She's working with us on catching up on back rent. Thank Gawd!
But seriously I expect this kind of behavior from corporations or other non-human entities--it's not personal, it's business--but from my friend? I admit to being surprised. But here's the deal, now: I won't work on another project for her. Period. Done. I will never have time or be available for her, so she'll have to go somewhere else and pay retail. And all because she couldn't play nice. That's too bad. Perhaps if she'd been a little more proactive, or apologetic, or friendlier, something, I wouldn't be having this bitch session. KnowhatImsayin'?
So on the up side, I can:
--Make my own schedule (for the most part, but varies by client)
--Work from home
--Work in my pajamas
--Few to no phone calls (I hate talking on the phone. Hate.)
--No wasted time or expenses driving to work (or on wardrobe, either.)
--The only person I answer to is the client (and my conscience)
But the downsides? I didn't think getting screwed by a "friend" was one of them. But first, let me list the down sides:
--Work from home on your own schedule. If you're not self-motivating, this won't work for you. It took me about a year to really get it down, and that involved making lists and using Outlook calender for reminders.
--Solitude--no interaction with others. Even a loner like me still likes to hang out once in a while with others.
--No steady paycheck or benefits like paid holidays or health insurance
--You're "always" at work if you're reachable by phone, email, or text. I've answered client questions while sitting in the doctor's office.
So those are the big ones. So I've bellyached on here before about not getting paid promptly by one of my clients. I'm not going to revisit that subject again.
But today I was gobsmacked by the reaction of a friend who I did some work for recently. I've worked on projects for her before, but this was the first one that was of this size. I made things easy for her. I said she could make payments, and I would charge her a flat fee no matter how long it took me to edit her manuscript, printed out on paper and marked up with pencil--her choice.
She said she would mail it to me at the beginning of November, then the end of November, and then well, she wasn't sure. I had lots of time in November and December, notsomuch in January when she decided to send it to me.
About ten days after I'd received it--and when I was slammed with work--she wanted to know if she could have it by the weekend because she wanted to submit it to a publisher and they had a deadline. I told her there was no way I could get it done by then--reminding her that I had time in Nov and Dec, but that January was exceptionally busy and that we'd talked about that--so I also told her if she needed it back that quickly, I would go ahead and refund her deposit ($100-), and mail back the ms. She demurred and I got the manuscript to her by the following weekend.
So I said as long as she paid me something every month, we were good. Well, yesterday I was sitting here, and I realized it had been a while since she'd sent a payment. So I checked my PayPal account, and I was right; it was over a month. So I sent her a friendly e-mail, how's it going, how is the book going? When will you publish? Yada yada, and oh yeah, by the way, do you think you could let me know when I might expect the next payment?
Holy cow! Fireworks and brimstone!! She chewed my butt, but good! "...I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm having trouble making my bils...property taxes are coming due...tax refund....blahdy blah."
Wow. I did not expect that. But here's what she doesn't get: If she couldn't afford me, she shouldn't have hired me. Also, if her boss told her, "well, Jane (not her name), the balloon payment on the building you work in is due this month, so we'll need to delay payroll until after we do our taxes...." How well do you think she might have been understanding or forgiving? None, right? Well, this is my job. This is what I do. And when my clients can't pay me? I can't pay my bills either. *fume*
I wrote her back and told her, but in much nicer and more courteous terms, "Yeah, I get it," basically, because I do, but that is not the point. Because she's my friend, she thinks she can push me to the end of the line, that I matter less than her other bills. And yes, I understand that when you're trying to pay a $1000 bill budget with only $800 in the bank, sometimes some juggling and creative financing has to take place. Hell, if we didn't have a nice landlady, we'd be living in our car, seriously. She's working with us on catching up on back rent. Thank Gawd!
But seriously I expect this kind of behavior from corporations or other non-human entities--it's not personal, it's business--but from my friend? I admit to being surprised. But here's the deal, now: I won't work on another project for her. Period. Done. I will never have time or be available for her, so she'll have to go somewhere else and pay retail. And all because she couldn't play nice. That's too bad. Perhaps if she'd been a little more proactive, or apologetic, or friendlier, something, I wouldn't be having this bitch session. KnowhatImsayin'?
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