The Pros and Cons of Being an Online Freelance Writer

Okay, I know that it has been sometime since I've talked about online freelancing and money on this blog. Oh well, I can't help but feature what I'm hyped about for the moment.

If you've read the about me page and earlier posts on this blog, you'll know by now that I am an online freelancer. Mainly, my role in this Internet world is writing. Yep, I write about rice cookers, standing desks, foreign exchange, accounting software, Louis Vuitton bags, fashion, weight loss, diet pills, Android, and more.

All my jobs as of this time are from oDesk.




oDesk is platform for remote staffing for short-term and long-term work. It's the place where contractors and clients meet. However, as a freelancer, you're not obliged to call your clients "sir" or "ma'am". As a freelancer, you are treated as a professional who knows exactly what he or she is doing.




But so much for that. For those aspiring online freelancers, or those who want to earn extra, here are the pros and cons of online freelancing.

Pros:

• You can work whenever and wherever you want. Yes, you can choose which time of the day to work and where. You can work at home or in a cafe. In fact, you can even choose not to work.

• You can choose which jobs you can work on. You actually have the power to choose which projects to work on. For example, in my case, if I don't think I'm able to work for this particular time, I turn down the job. There are also times, rare times, when I turn down a writing gig just because I don't like the topic. On the other hand, you can also choose to apply only on jobs that interest you.

• You are not a regular employee--you are a businessman in a sense. As a freelancer, you negotiate fees with your client. You don't treat him as a boss, because you are actually your own boss.

• You can negotiate fees with your client. You can ask for a price or fee that you think is the real value for your work. You'll never be stuck with the same fee. It's because as a freelancer you are just not paid for your work, you are actually being paid for the experience you've already acquired in the past.

• You work for clients around the world. This means that you have a larger market for your talent. Likewise, even if you're here in the Philippines, you can earn dollars.

Cons:

• You have to be disciplined. Since you own your time, you have to 'budget' it wisely. For example, since I'm still studying, I have to stretch 24 hours in a day to do everything that needs to be done. Otherwise, I might fail my subjects or lose a valuable contract.

• There are some clients that are not easy to deal with--I know, because I've had one. You need to be patient. And even if the client seems to be crossing boundaries, you have to keep your calm and just end the contract. It's no use dealing with someone who cannot appreciate your talents and works.

• You have to bear with banking fees and payment periods. Since I'm working online and receiving money from the other end of the world, processing payments usually takes time and a lot of fees, particularly if you are withdrawing a good sum.

• You don't have benefits. If you're working traditionally, I mean in an office, you usually receive salary and benefits. However, if you're working online, you don't really receive them. In my opinion, this can be offset if you're like earning big already.

• There is no stable job. If you are looking for stability in freelancing, well, I can't guarantee you with it. But surely, if you prove yourself in your chosen field and seek for jobs, you'll always have clients.

In my point of view, these are the pros and cons of online freelancing. I've been working part-time in this industry for a year now and earning, let's say, a full-time salary (if I have enough writing gigs).

Shopping: Quality vs. Quantity

I know...shopping can be addicting. It really is addicting--that is, if you have the budget. But what would you buy? One or two quality items or more than five so-so items?

Probably, you've already heard about debates here. And some just do prefer to buy a few instead of several items for quality. On the other hand, there shoppers who buy several items at cheaper prices.

I've been in these two situations and been both shopper A and B.

I love shopping at tiangges because the prices are cheaper and you get to choose from several styles. I think, for P1,000, you can already get a whole outfit (e.g. P300 for bottoms, P300 for tops, P300 for shoes and P100 for accessories) for ladies.

Divisoria, Greenhills, St. Francis Shopping Square are just a few out of several places and tiangges where you can buy these items at relatively lower prices.

On the other side of wall, there are malls and boutiques that offer a top for around P1,000, a bottom for around P1,000 and shoes for around P1,000.

However, this does not mean that the 300-peso top you bought is of low quality and the 1000-peso top you bought is of high quality. Sometimes, it's only the brand.

Actually, quality vs. quantity is not an issue if you really look for value. Now, what do I mean here. I mean when you are looking for your stuffs, you have to consider both the price and quality and, of course, your needs.

It does not mean that just because it's a thousand-peso item that it's really worth your money. But of course, you also have to keep in mind that pricing is relative to quality. Manufacturers won't ask for a higher price if their costs in producing the item are not high.

In the end, I'd still recommend going to a sale of your trusted brands. This is a good time when you can buy quality items at lower prices, but that is, if you have the budget.

You can use your credit only if you think you can still pay for all your purchases. But if you really don't have the budget, don't try borrowing money. Just think that there are still several of these sale that will happen throughout the year.

Self-control is a precious ability that must be exercised. So...

Do you really need a smartphone? Do you already have lots of mascaras yet still want to buy one? How will you wear those shoes--everyday, once a week, once a month or once a year? Do you have the budget to buy all these?

PisoBid.com - Overview and Tips on How to Bid (Smartly)

I've already known about fast-paced online penny auctions before I've seen PisoBid.com--the first Philippine online penny auction site. As a matter of fact, I worked on the online and email content of one penny auction site based in the US. So technically, I know something about the rules of this kind of auction sites.

Penny auction sites are online bidding sites that offers items, usually gadgets such as iPad, iPhone, Sony Playstation, etc for pennies. Meaning, once you win an auction, you only need to pay for a dollar or two for the item that you've won. Really nice, eh?

Oh, but I forgot--you need to buy bids that you can use in the auctions.

Though I know several of these sites, all foreign, I've only tried bidding in PisoBid because: 1.) If I win, there'll be no hassles in shipping (because shipping fees are always shouldered by the buyer) and 2.) I've been given 10 free bids by this auction site.

In my humble opinion, I think these penny auction sites are really addicting. Why? Because of the fast-paced environment, your eagerness to win (fabulous) items is increased. You might not even notice that your bid credits have already run out because the 20-second timer really ticks fast. Plus, you can get to pay only PHP5 for a PHP1,000 peso Globe load or maybe even less depending on the winning price.

And probably because it really is addicting, there are already hundreds of people who have purchased 1000's of bids from PisoBid to join the auctions. But of course, isn't it fun?

Additionally, I'm thinking that this is similar to gambling--though of course, not totally. It is similar in the sense that everyone wants to win badly. In fact, they'll buy n bids just so that they can win.

And mind you, I find the bids expensive. You see, these bids are usually available in bid packs. In the US, one bid costs USD0.60 and the bid packs are calculated based on this price. However, I find that the prices of bid packs in PisoBid varies. The first bid pack which includes 10 bids costs PHP300 and the fifth bid pack which includes 500 bids costs PHP3,000.

Really, this online auction isn't for the poor.

Oh well, what can I say to these people but enjoy. Enjoy bidding! In addition, I would like to give useful tips on how to be a smart bidder.

Tips on How to Bid (Smartly) in Penny Auction Sites

• Before bidding, be aware of terms and policies including the rules and regulations of auction site. Reading these materials can guide you into what to expect in the ongoing auctions. Plus, you can also create a strategy for an effective bidding (and eventually winning) by going over the rules of the site.

• Make sure to have your research first. Read forums, Facebook pages and blogs before buying bids from the auction site. If they'll give you free bids, use them first and see if you like their bidding system.

• Do not buy bids more than you actually can. If you're on a tight budget, don't try buying 1000's of bids just because you want to save (or so you thought you can save).

• Create a threshold of how much you can spend on these auction sites. By doing so, you can control your spending habits and be able to avoid overspending.

• Lastly, choose a good time of the day (or night) when bidding. Bidding on these auction sites can take more time than you can imagine. Make sure that you're not in the middle of your work when you bid!

On Spending Habits and Living A Frugal Life

Today is one of those days that I have spent rather extravagantly for myself. Usually, I spend my money on food and on other people. And right now, I don't know whether to feel guilty about spending for myself or not.

Some people would say that it's okay to spend more in a while, while some would not, for sure. But still, the fact that we must live a frugal life is essential during these hard times in our country. We need to save in order to get away from what they call "rat race".

Probably, you've heard the phrase "rat race" before. Rat race is the race where nobody wins. The idea is gotten from a guinea pig running inside a wheel on an experiment. And in the professional world, these "rats" are compared to employees. These employees are usually working from 8AM to 5PM. Yes, they are working hard to earn a minimum of P400 ($10) per day.

An image on the Internet that has captured my attention.

Some are lucky to be promoted and have a raise. But what if you're not that lucky? Or better yet, do you want to spend your life running the rat race?

Of course, the answer is a big NO. With this answer, why do you think there are still several employees aged 40's and above?

To answer that, think about this when you're living independently as an example. Of course, you've got to pay for food, utility bills, and maybe even credit card dues every month. And what more if you already have a family to feed?

With so many bills to pay, people seem to have no choice but to continue running in the rat race. Probably, they are thinking that they are not lucky to become intelligent enough to be a millionaire or win the lotto draw.

But as you see, living a frugal life is the answer. It can free you from the rat race. Save your money and accumulate it. Start small but think big. This is the key to being "lucky".

And though I'm still starting small today, I'm already thinking big. Likewise, I'm also challenging myself to live a frugal life. How about you?