The Benefits of Freelancing

Freelancing offers a wide variety of benefits and we will discuss a few of them here. That doesn't mean, of course, that there are no disadvantages to freelancing; on the contrary, there are those as well. But let's look for a moment at the distinct advantages freelancers enjoy.

Save Money by Working at Home

Not only is working at home more convenient, it can save you a great deal of money as well. This is important as many beginning freelancers struggle financially while they're building their businesses. Since you're working at home, though, you'll save a ton of money on commuting costs, lunches, dry cleaning, and clothing costs in general. If you've been used to working outside of the home prior to beginning your freelancing career, you might notice a spike in your utility bills now that you're home all day but you'll more than recoup that cost by saving money elsewhere.

Just grabbing lunch, coffee, sodas, and snacks at work or on the way to work can really add up so most freelancers will notice an immediate savings in that area. Not only will you save money, you'll likely eat healthier too as you will be able to raid your own refrigerator instead of the company vending machine. You'll also save a ton of money on gas, not to mention wear and tear on your vehicle.

Flexibility

Now that you're the boss, your work schedule won't be as rigid. While it would be prudent to establish regular working hours, you get to decide what those hours are. In addition, you won't have to ask the boss for time off when you have an appointment or when your child has a school activity you'd like to attend. You can take vacations anytime you like and you can roll over in bed when you hear your neighbors scraping their windshields at six o'clock in the morning. No more rush hour traffic or driving to work during inclement weather.

Gain Control over Your Time

There is never enough time to get everything done, regardless of your work situation. However, being your own boss and working from home does give you a distinct advantage when it comes to managing your time. For example, instead of stopping at the grocery store after work when it is crowded, you can shop at off peak hours, at your convenience. You'll have more time to attend to household responsibilities because you're already there. When you get up from your desk to stretch or take a break, instead of walking around the company break room, you can toss in a load of laundry or start dinner. Furthermore, in addition to saving money driving back and forth to work, you'll save time.

While freelancing is not all wine and roses by any stretch of the imagination, it does offer distinct advantages that you won't find by working for someone else outside of the home. More than anything else, the freelancer retains control over things they have no control over in the workplace. While freelancing isn't for everybody, the sheer number of attractive benefits has propelled more freelancers to take the plunge now than ever before.