Javascript Menu by Deluxe-Menu.com
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
transparentAllFreelanceWork Icons Top Freelance Blog Articles Related to Consulting, Finding Freelance Jobs, Self Promotion and Running Your Freelance BusinessList of Freelance Jobs Sites & Job Boards for Consultants Find Freelance Resources with this Category - Lists of Resources for Freelancers All Freelance Work - List Free Creative Portfolios or Browse or Search For Freelancers Portfolios Medical & Health Insurance for The Self Employed and Business Liability Insuruance Information Tips & Advice for Working from Home rom your Home Office Time Management tips for Freelancers & Home Business Owners Advice & Ideas for Self Promotion Tactics & Techniques for Finding New Clients & Freelance Jobs Freelancers & Education - Learning from Home with these Distance Learning programs Freelancing and Finances - Bookkeeping tips, taxes, getting paid, invoicing and much more Business Law & Legal tips for Consultants & Freelancers to write a contract or agreement and how to hire a lawyer



  • Search Distance Schools and Classes
    Search Distance Schools and Classes
  • Graphic design templates
    graphic design templates stocklayouts Creative Graphic Design Templates

    Take a look at these creative templates for brochures, flyers, newsletters, stationery, postcards, ads, menus and posters for a variety of businesses. If you're faced with time limitations, budget constraints or simply need new creative ideas, let these designs do the work.

Home ArticlesCAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY AT HOME?

CAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY AT HOME - Do You Have Enough Money Saved Up to be Self Employed and Work From Home as a Freelancer?

by Sharon Davis

A few years ago, after the birth of our second child, my husband and I were trying to decide whether or not it would be possible for me to stay home.

At first we thought that since we were just about breaking even, there was no way we could ever make it happen. But when we decided to actually put pen to paper and calculate our bottom line with and without my salary, we were quite surprised.

 

SPOTLIGHT CONSULTANTS FROM OUR FREELANCE COMMUNITY

  Freelancer Portfolio Images 2 Freelancer Portfolio Images 3 Freelancer Portfolio Images 8733 Freelancer Portfolio Images 6
  Freelancer Portfolio Images 6 Freelancer Portfolio Images 6 Freelancer Portfolio Images 66268 Freelancer Portfolio Images 162007


What we found was that it was actually costing us to have both of us working.

While that may not be the case for everyone, you may find that the second salary brings in much, much less than you think it does.

According to Jan MacGregor, a financial consultant and former analyst, "There are people out there who are expecting to be able to meet their bills better (after they re-enter the work force) and never realize they are either working for a loss or for something like $4,000 a year (after expenses)."

That may seem hard to believe, but if you consider the many "hidden" expenses of a two-income household it is often the case. There are, of course, the obvious expenses such as child care and commuting costs. Some of the hidden expenses are the money spent on lunches, more take-out and convenience food for dinner, dry cleaning bills professional clothing. There can be higher medical costs due to increased exposure to illnesses for children who are in daycare.

Many families hire a housekeeper or gardener to keep up on the household work that they don't have the time to do.

A significant factor is your taxable income. A second salary can push your taxable income into a higher tax bracket.

While the tax issue in and of itself does not eat up the entire second salary, when you add in all the other expenses of a two income family, you might find that it's not worth it to have both parents working.

Here is a link to MacGregor's cost of living chart that uses a second salary of $40,000 as an example: Cost Of Living Chart

If you are considering having one parent stay at home, the best thing to do is to actually calculate your income and expenses, taking into consideration the difference in taxation. You may find that you can in fact afford to stay home with your kids.

--------------------------------
Sharon Davis is the Mother of two girls, the owner of 2Work-At-Home.Com and the Editor of the site's monthly ezine, America's Home. In her spare time she reminisces about what it was like to have spare time.



Articles from the ALL FREELANCE ARTICLES & RESOURCES BLOG Add to Technorati Favorites

How to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Customers - A Guide to Customer Relationships for Freelancers & Self EmployedOne of the best ways to run a good business as well as keep the clients which you currently have is to build a strong relationship with your clients. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and this is true for those who have a business relationship. The clients want to feel as if they matter to the business owner as they are part of the reason why the business is still in existence. There are a few ways for business owners to build a strong relationship with their customers as doing so will not only maintain their client base but possibly expand it as well through recommendations.

Mar 31

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Client Relationships - Client Referrals | Trackback | No Comments »

SPOTLIGHT CONSULTANTS FROM OUR FREELANCE COMMUNITY

Freelancer Portfolio Images 2 Freelancer Portfolio Images 3 Freelancer Portfolio Images 6 Freelancer Portfolio Images 6 Freelancer Portfolio Images 6





    Billing Orchard Invoicing and Billing for Freelancers
Billing Orchard - Billing and Invoicing Software for Freelancers Billing Orchard's Invoicing for Freelancers

A complete, secure, online billing application that maintains hourly service billing, flat fee billing and recurring charges. Integration with Authorize.Net and other leading payment gateways provides hands-free recurring billing with a sophisticated CRM system.

Mar 26

Free Online Business Courses, Workshops, and Seminars for Freelancers

If you feel like you are just going through the motions, and that you have no idea whether or not you are running your business properly, then you will be happy to know that there are many free small business courses, workshops, and seminars online. Below you will find a large list of these free educational courses.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Lists - Freelance Resources - Education & Online Courses & Seminars | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 25

MARKETING PLANS : List of Marketing Plan Tools, Utilities, Samples, Kits, and Software

A freelancer developing an effective marketing plan must have the right tools to foster success in business. The following list contains several links of marketing plan tools to produce a successful business.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Working From Home - Getting Started - Self Promotion - Freelancing & Self Employment - Lists - Freelance Resources - Marketing | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 20

MARKETING PLANS : A Collection of Articles for How to Outline and Write a Marketing Plan for Freelancers Starting a Home Business or a Small Business

A solid, well-prepared marketing strategy is the foundation of success in business. The freelancer or any type of business owner must become informed on the development of an effective marketing plan. The following links will focus on marketing plan articles for the freelancer to have a successful business.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Getting Started - Self Promotion - Marketing | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 18

BUSINESS PLANS: Business Plan Examples, Samples, Templates, Software and Tools

In any type of the business including those people that perform freelance work, the proper tools are necessary to become a success. The following links consist of selected online tools for the freelancer to develop an effective business plan.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Getting Started - Freelancing & Self Employment - Lists - Freelance Resources | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 16

BUSINESS PLANS : A Collection of Articles for How to Outline and Write a Business Plan for Freelancers Starting a Small Business

Business plans are necessary in all types of businesses … and this also includes freelancers. Writing an effective business plan will help you plan out the success of your future business. Factors such as customer base, profit potential, as well as many other factors will be placed in this document. The business plan will help you, the freelancer, think through every aspect of your future successful business. We found the following business plan articles to be very helpful and we hope that you will find them to be useful too.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Getting Started - Lists | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 11

Online Tools and Software for Task Lists and To Do Lists - Perfect for Freelancers & Self Employed Business Owners

A freelancer’s time is precious and he/she must follow precise tasks to maintain productive performance and income. The following link list will examine useful online tools that will keep the freelancer in a productive manner. The following list is a list of To-Do Lists and Task Management Lists tools and software.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Freelance Projects - Staying Organized - Time Management - Freelance Resources | Trackback | 1 Comment »

Mar 9

How to Invoice Your Customers Properly : A List of Online Guides on Invoicing for Freelancers

In a previous list, the freelancer was presented with a list of tools for creating invoices. The following links will present the manner and methods in which to develop a proper invoice for the freelancer of any business type. With the following helpful guides and tutorials, you as a consultant will understand the steps that you will need to take in order to invoice your customers properly.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Freelance Finances | Trackback | No Comments »

Mar 4

Invoicing & Billing Tools / Software for Freelancers Needing Help with Invoices

The Invoice is an important part of any type of business out there, including for the freelancer as well. The basic definition of an invoice is a detailed list of goods shipped or services rendered with an accounting of all costs included in the document. As a freelancer, we might not feel comfortable dealing with invoices or money in general. The links below offer a vast variety of online invoicing and billing tools for the freelancer in all business types.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Taxes - Freelance Finances - Staying Organized - Lists - Freelance Resources | Trackback | 1 Comment »

Feb 25

How to Defeat Writer’s Block - Tips & Hints to Overcome Writer’s Block

Helpful hints and tips to overcome the dreaded White Page Syndrome - There is probably nothing more dreadful and problematic for a writer than not being able to get going, being stuck on a menacingly white page. Many a time, one or more writing assignment make us feel like Jack Nicholson in “The Shining”; one step shy of freezing to death in a haunted hedge maze. Once the choke has started its nefarious effect, it becomes quicksand, drowning us further and further into an inability to come up with something to properly put down on paper.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Lists - Freelance Writing Tips | Trackback | 1 Comment »

Feb 19

Ways to Get More Customer Referrals for Your Freelance Business

In the world of freelance, customer referrals are everything. The amount of customer referrals will often determine how successful one’s business can really be. As word spreads quickly, having customers refer others to you and your services is a wonderful way of gaining new business and making more money. There are a few distinct ways to get more customer referrals for your business.

BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | Netscape | Onlywire | RawSugar | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Yahoo MyWeb |

Category: Client Relationships - Self Promotion - Client Referrals | Trackback | 3 Comments »


Add to Technorati Favorites


  • Billing Orchard
  • Billing Orchard Invoicing and Billing for Freelancers
    Billing Orchard - Billing and Invoicing Software for Freelancers Billing Orchard's Invoicing for Freelancers

    A complete, secure, online billing application that maintains hourly service billing, flat fee billing and recurring charges. Integration with Authorize.Net and other leading payment gateways provides hands-free recurring billing with a sophisticated CRM system.

    Read more
  • Search for Online Schools with Distance Learning Classes Perfect for Freelancers
    Search for Online Schools with Distance Learning Classes Perfect for Freelancers
  • Free Trade Magazines
    TradePub - Free Trade Publications for Freelancers Free Trade Publications & Magazines

    Browse through our extensive list of free Business, Computer, Engineering and Trade magazines, white papers, downloads and podcasts to find the titles that best match your skills and interests; topics include management, marketing, operations, sales, & technology. Simply complete the application form and submit it. All are absolutely free to freelance professionals who qualify.

    Read more
  • SitePoint Web Design Business Kit for Freelancers
    SitePoint Web Design Business Kit for Freelancers SitePoint's Web Design Business Kit 2.0

    The followup to Brendan Sinclairs successful Web Design Business kit is a comprehensive look at all the business aspects of working as a web designer. It's thorough and has some excellent advice in it.




  • Fatal error: Call to undefined function _e() in /home/allfree/public_html/article003.html on line 692