Time & Money
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- 5timuli
I've worked out that the only solution to my current fiscal misery is to start freelancing outside work hours. Unfortunately, at the moment I work anywhere from 50-60 hours per week (of course, for no more than my salary) which makes it not impossible, but very difficult to be motivated to spend another 20hrs a week freelancing.
My goal in life now is happiness. I don't want to be a workaholic. The 60hr work week is growing increasingly tedious. It's been like this since February and shows no sign of letting up. Plus I have a wife and 2 dogs who I'd like to see more of, and not have to bitch about how much work I have to do. Also, I've no real interest in getting rich. It would be nice, but I don't really think it's necessary to be happy. Being able to pay all your bills and not live of the last $5 of each of 6 credit cards would be wonderful.
So my question(s) for y'all is:
1. Does anyone here work 50-60hrs a week for a salary and then spend another 10-20 freelancing? Are you married/single and does it cause any grief with your significant other?
2. Has anyone quit a good design job to work a standard, no-stress, 9-5 job in order to freelance after hours? Or part-time and ruthlessly pursued freelance at other times?
3. Any other tips/advice on maintaining a healthy work/life/money balance? To reiterate: I don't want to be rich, just comfortable. I don't want to work 60hrs a week, but don't want to do 20 either.
Merci beaucoup. I realize my timing is lousy as usual (Sunday night) so I'll bump in the morning.
- dMullins0
4. Stop working more than 40 hours a week, unless you are getting compensated for it. It's illegal, and you should start documenting that extra time you work every day.
- max_prophet0
If you're not getting enough money working 45hrs a week, find a company that actually respects you and doesn't treat you like a slave.
- ismith0
My dad works about 80hrs a week still, no salary (self-employed/freelance). It's caused a lot of grief I suppose to my mom, and used to bother me but not so much any more. I suppose the only two things I can think of that have kept his sanity are being able to swim a little each day and that I've accepted it. He used to seem pretty low about it (a little bitter, a little guilty) when I was younger (13 and below) and couldn't deal with only seeing him three or four times in the week, and only when he was coming in to get tea.
- blaw0
^ Seriously. Spend that extra 10 hours a week looking for a new job.
- rosem0
I work 40+hours a week, commute to my job 15+ hours a week, and freelance 20+ hours a week.
I'm young, and my girlfriend lives in another state though... so I don't mind the work load at this point in my life—I actually enjoy the pressure sometimes.
- 5timuli0
Well the reason I do 50-60/week isn't because I'm forced to do it, more because if I don't then the work just won't get done. Most of the extra 10-20hrs is done at home. Doesn't help that I'm a perfectionist and want to produce the best work I can. I've not got to the stage where i really just don't give a fuck. Yet.
This work also includes writing case studies and blog posts for the company website, which is difficult for me as I'm not a natural writer. Writing a logo rationale can take me hours. Plus, if you don't have anything interesting to write about then you shouldn't really write at all. I don't have that luxury though, unfortunately.
- 5timuli0
I suppose I'm just bitter as I've been working in this industry for over 10 years, and I'm still no better off than I was five years ago. In fact I'm worse off. Much worse.
- TheDrago0
All that time you spend working overtime your going to regret down the road. Considering you sound like you regret it now and think your no better then you were 5 years ago, maybe your due for a change. If your up for it take the chance and start something new.
- marychain0
About 50 hours a week
+ teach at night
+ freelancemarried....no kids
it's reeaaally hard sometimes
gotta make your free time count
- dMullins0
Well...
are you putting in the extra work to look good for your boss,
or are you putting in the extra hours for yourself?If you're not doing it for yourself, you need to stop. If you set the precedent, don't expect it to ever change.
- For me, so I don't get flak for things not being done.5timuli
- iCanHazQBN0
Open up a deli.
- not a bad idea.akrokdesign
- if money what you want. deli might be very profitbal.akrokdesign
- food sells no matter what but then you have 100% rival businessesFallowDeer
- Josev0
What's driving the need for more money? I'm confused, is your job not paying you enough to live on? Yet you're investing way more time on it than is necessary? Something has to give -- spending, being too much of a perfectionist, giving 120% at work, not saying no, etc. You need to find the balance. Working 80 hours a week wont do it.
- Your work will suffer even more if you take on that much more.Josev
- akrokdesign0
yeah, working 80 hours can't be good. as you wont have any time over for QBN. :-)
- akrokdesign0
long work hours can be though if you're married or going steady with someone. as their won't be much time over to see them.
you have to find the balance. work vs. life.
if you don't make enough. try to cut the spending to the max. not fun, but might be needed. only side effect is their might be a few fights about cash. etc. based on it.
- 5timuli0
We're already spending next to nothing (except bills, repaying loans from family, car repairs). My job pays
ok (prob. not bad for Indy) but my wife's going back to school in August and is looking for part time work. I feel I could make a fortune if I went freelance. My wife has no medical insurance either which is expensive, but then medical insurance is pretty much worthless anyway. Can't get credit either so consolidation is out.Thing is, if I worked 40hrs, no more, I'd have the choice to freelance and make more. Right now I can't, and can't just stop working and risk having no money at all.
Sorry, moan over.
Thing is, I know if I do it I'd be happier.
- Point50
I work 40-50 hrs/wk at my salary job and my freelance work is always 10-20/hrs wk. I'm married with 3 kids and a dog. It stresses the hell out of my relationship with everybody in the household, but I have to keep it up to keep shit paid for and comfortable for everyone.
- Don't you get sick of it? I mean, isn't that just existing instead of living? That's how my life is just now, existing.5timuli
- studderine0
i relate to this thread, i relate.
- utopian0
I am semi retired, about 20-30 hours per week...
- akrokdesign0
yeah, i don't have those hours any more either. not enough work. but i had have it. so know the deal.
- sherm0
40hrs per week
20+freelancing when its heavy
live in girlfriend.
very difficult.
i am a workaholic