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Pro tip: quitting the 9-5 for freelancing was a total mistake in my case
I spent 2 years saving up $14,000 to leave my desk job at a marketing firm in Austin. Thought freelancing would give me freedom. Nope. Spent 8 months hustling for clients on Upwork and ended up making less than minimum wage. My buddy Kevin stayed at his corporate gig and now he runs their whole department. He works from home 3 days a week anyway. The security of a steady paycheck beats the "freedom" of stressing about rent every month. Has anyone else here jumped ship and regretted it?
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elliot_gibson2724d ago
Totally different experience for me, but I started freelancing on the side first before ditching my day job. Did you have any regular clients lined up before you quit?
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Did you read that study about freelancers making 28% less than salaried workers on average? I remember seeing it on the news last year. Your story sounds exactly like that data. The whole "be your own boss" thing is a trap if you don't have clients ready to pay. My cousin tried the same thing with graphic design. She burned through her savings in 6 months and had to move back home. It's not freedom if you're constantly chasing work and worrying about money. You're better off building a side hustle slowly while keeping the steady job.
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torres.thea24d ago
lol yeah that 28% less stat is real cozy when you're staring at an empty bank account wondering if "freedom" includes the freedom to eat ramen for the third night in a row.
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the_claire24d ago
28% less" stat ignores that I control my hours now, worth more to me than the paycheck bump.
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