The last 10 years of my life have been spent doing radio shows. I loved this so much. It was my dream job and I got it at 20. Now I am over 30 and it looks like some changes needed to be done.

Aside working in the media, 7 years ago I started web design. One site, another one, you learn how to design a layout, code it, in no time you realize you kinda have some skills and experience. And then you work more, you start earning some dollars and consider a possible fulltime job. And still you have that nice radio job, well paid, coleagues, fun. And just develop your tiny web business while still relying heavily on the radio wage.

Well, it’s all gone now. My changes in the media are small. Well, I can work for 200 USD a month or can earn this money on my own. I chose to freelance fulltime now. It’s been 3 months and I LOVE IT. Here is why:

• no more pesky coleagues or bosses. Well, I can’t say I had a bad relation with any of them, but there were times I didn’t like how someone spoke to me or the fact some used to “backstab” me. Yes, it’s normal at most jobs, even the fun ones as in the radio business.
• I don’t have to dress “nice” every day. I have to admit I don’t like wearing “fancy” stuff, even if I am a woman and some think I should. I can work in my pijamas or some tshirt/pants “home version” and not have to worry about my clothing.
• My car doesn’t need so much fuel. Having to drive each day to work and fro made my monthly budget lose money on the fuel. Now my car is parked outside and my “trips” in the city are less frequent. Of course, I “feel” the increase in my savings.
• I make my schedule, my time is MINE. I was sick for some days. I didn’t work and recovered. We wanted to visit Berlin, we went. No worries about not getting permission to leave the job, “do I have enough vacation days”, “do I need to cut off my journey to solve some job issues” .. My time is well spent or not, it all depends on me. As a freelancer and web designer I need to work based on deadlines. As long as I respect this, I can decide on how to spend my spare time, what workload to take etc.
• I earn FOR ME. All the money I get is mine. Of course there are taxes, but I am the one earning the “bucks”, taking the profits and having to benefit from all.

Freelancing does have its risks. You depend on your clients, you need to work A LOT to succeed, but, with good organization and budgeting you cannot but succeed. For me these last 3 months have been a blast. I do work immensly, I have to keep an eye on my spendings, especially since there’s no more wages to rely on, but it’s the best thing in my life. My social life is better, I can meet my friends, I can offer my clients better meeting hours (since I don’t have a strict schedule), I can go on trips or just take a day off.

Related:

• May 18, 2010 -- Age ain’t nothing but a number: true in freelancing, too (2)
• January 9, 2010 -- Freelancing: what to be prepared for (3)