Letters to the Editor
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Congratulations on gaining some sanity
You have learned well. I would only add that doing your own taxes isn't all that bad if you maintain a simple life. Over some three decades of self-employment, I've gone through a home purchase, a home office, a home sale, employment, unemployment and a few changes in specialty and managed to do my own taxes the whole time.
Small Time Operator got me off to a good start, and the Well kept me going with high-quality online community. It helps to be an introvert in a good relationship.
I would ratify and double-endorse the importance of exercise and having that occasional beer with lunch. Take in some afternoon baseball. Blow up your TV, as John Prine advised.
Sure, seek like-minded people. But I've found that fellow writers don't float my boat as much as fellow people who love my subject. Stay in touch with your passion, not your coworkers.
Health insurance is the single biggest problem facing American workers. Just imagine how life would change with universal, portable health insurance. Freelancers are in solidarity with everyone else in this respect, no matter how weird we are in other ways.
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Rule #1
Never take advice from people who's introduction is they're addled and crazy they seemingly have the time to pitch an idiot list to a blog.
Rule #2 - Hire, no, better, be friends with your accountant and do what they say no matter what.
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Good Article
This seems like something that would have appeared in the good old days of Salon. Run more articles like this one.
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Health insurance and other advice
I've been a freelance writer going on 14 years, and there are actually quite a few resources for health coverage if you know where to look. The National Association for the Self Employed can give freelancers access to health coverage, although they can be very aggressive about phone solicitations if you express interest, so beware.
If you write books like I do, the Author's Guild is another good source of both medical and dental insurance, as well as basic legal services. The National Writers Union is another source of medical, dental and vision coverage and is open to a wider range of writers.
I opened a SEP IRA many years ago, but I can add some other bits of advice that I've found to be vital now that I'm a father working at home with two little girls and a stay-at-home mom wife:
1. Find a go-to place that can be your "office." With wi-fi and a good laptop, you can escape the distractions of home and work at a Starbucks or any favorite coffeehouse. I do it 1-2 days a week, and without the temptations of playing with my toddler or reading the paper, I get more done at my "office" than I do at home.
2. Keep every receipt. Get your tax preparer (have one; it's very good advice) give you an organizational structure so you can create a file for every gas receipt, parking receipt and credit card statement. When you're freelance, many things are deductible that aren't when you work for a company.
3. Try to carve out a work-only space at home. I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated room I use as my office, but you can simply designate a section of a room or a part of the garage. As long as you only use it for business (no playing in Second Life until 3 a.m.), you can deduct part of your rent or mortgage, utilities, etc.
It's a great life, especially being home with my kids. We're thinking of leaving California for a place that's cheaper and offers a simpler lifestyle, and it's wonderful not to worry about finding a job. By the way, my tax preparer is marvelous and costs $315. If anybody wants her e-mail address, speak up and I'll post it here as long as that's OK with Salon.
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The Actors' Fund of America is a godsend
As well as its associated Al Hirschfeld health clinic in NY. And it's not just for actors. If you work in the theater in ANY capacity, and meet certain income or union membership requirements, you may qualify for free visits to the health clinic. The Fund also has counselors to help connect you to a huge realm of resources for just about anything that's been thought of as a problem for people in the arts--including financial aid. A friend of mine was awarded a temporary stipend to help with living expenses after a car accident left her unable to work.
Would anyone happen to know of a good book you'd recommend on doing one's own taxes as a freelancer?
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Join your professional society
Just wanted to second Catherine's recommendation to join your professional society -- especially if it has an active chapter in your area. They offer opportunities for socializing and networking with people in your field, doing some resume-building volunteer work, finding work opportunities, and keeping up with the latest developments in your field.
While we're on the subject of taxes, you can deduct professional society dues either as a charitable contribution or a business expense.
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ditto
@ claire fontaine
I agree.
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Thank you thank you!
I'm a freelancer, and my husband (bless him) just finished the taxes. Next year, we are going to a real accountant who, as Catherine says, chose this as his profession.
Nice to know there are other freelancers out there.
I just turned down a job today, at a well-known cube farm with great benefits. Just can't bring myself to do it again. It wouldn't be fair to them if I go completely postal in the first two weeks, would it? Two hours later, my email pinged, and another job came in my queue. Sometimes, when I read the financial papers, I think I must be nuts to be a freelancer. But my dread of fluorescent lights, beige carpet, and cubicle mazes keeps me here. And I get to hang out with my dog all day long.
And I even showered before 1:00 today!
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You forgot one thing..
the excitement of driving across town at 11:30 to the one post-office that is still open, and then staying up for another three hours basking in the afterglow, because you made the deadline.
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tax software
Using software like Quicken can make keeping up with the business part of being self-employed so much easier. Even an online tax service like TurboTax has saved me a lot of puzzling over tax forms -- it just walks you through the process.