Comments on: I am so screwed

By: Office Accounting Express

Office Accounting Express — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:03:32 +0000

[...] If I knew anything at all about accounting, I’d probably use a lot more of their features, but this program is perfect for my needs as a freelance writer with multiple clients. [...]

By: I need help | Life on Avenue Z

I need help | Life on Avenue Z — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:12:32 +0000

[...] I’m asking for help for 4 hours a week. This will give me a dedicated person to help with my blog and website, follow through with marketing, assist with research and bug me about doing my billing and accounting. [...]

By: Stuffing envelopes may kill me, right? | Life on Avenue Z

Stuffing envelopes may kill me, right? | Life on Avenue Z — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:28:59 +0000

[...] When I’m alone, I have to clear off a reasonable amount of desk space and steel myself for 3-5 hours of mind-numbing clerical work. I put off these types of activities almost as much as I put off doing my invoicing. [...]

By: Still watching the budget | Life on Avenue Z

Still watching the budget | Life on Avenue Z — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:08:30 +0000

[...] full year in business, and I’m still facing money problems, even if they are my own fault (like the invoicing thing). I’ve now implemented several rules to help me continue to control my [...]

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:32:26 +0000

Ok, ok, ok! I just caught up on all of my invoicing. It took about three hours. I also discovered a time-tracking tool in my accounting system that will simplify my invoicing tasks a whole helluvalot.

Thanks for the tips and the encouragement. On to the next challenge.

PS — can any of you chime in on my love life? You were so helpful with the accounting advice… Sigh. Just thought I’d ask.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:52:42 +0000

At 1st thought… ARE YOU SERIOUS? This is your paycheck? Your way of living!

2nd thought… We all have things we absolutely HATE doing – me – grading. Despite the idea that this is my students’ paychecks, I always put it off until I have a 3-inch pile of papers and then it is overwhelming. I then don’t spend near the time I should – just hurry and get it over with (then I find that they didn’t get the concept, and I already moved on!).

Anyway, I still have to do it, and you still have to invoice. There is no other way around it – you have to get paid, and people have already put aside the money to pay you. Some are different (your friend on a tight budget) but a lot is just business.

You have to pay bills, just like everyone else. You are not charging a huge amount, and you are doing them a great service.

Love you, but get to work!

By: steph

steph — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:15:06 +0000

I suck at business and I have no interest in anything “businessy.” But I do my own invoicing (with Quicken, which is quite simple), only because it’s actually rather easy for me, and because I am desperate to be paid. I do the job and I send an invoice. Because it’s mostly for books, there is no scrambling or catching up to do with that, and I usually have only one job, one client, at a time. Most of the time, the invoice is formality and for my own records because I already know what I’m getting paid since they listed the amount in the contract. The problem is they lose my invoice or forget to hand it in to their payroll dept. and I am paid late every single time.

I too do work for free, though I’m often told not to. It’s a guilt, thing, yes, and that’s why I haven’t raised my rates in a while as well, though I could easily stand to according to the going rates now for editing!

Ah, the joys of freelancing. But we still wouldn’t trade it for anything, would we? Have you done any searches for tips on this on other freelancing blogs? I can’t afford help myself either, but I often find free advice on freelancing sites or even in the comments of my own blog!

By: Sara Best

Sara Best — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:08:26 +0000

I actually put my invoicing for each project in my day timer as a task that needs to be accomplished that day. It reminds me when the invoices need to go out and prevents me from getting too far behind.

And I know what you mean about feeling bad. Sometimes I find myself feeling reluctant to send an invoice out – especially to a new client. I feel like we’re new friends and here I am asking for money.

So ridiculous! I think it’s a girl thing.

By: JB Dryden

JB Dryden — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:28:38 +0000

I’m no accountant, but I’d be happy to give you some invoicing tips. I use an online software that works great, and always keeps me on track. I’m also a little disorganized, so it helps a bit with that, too. Let me know. I’d be more than happy to work with you in a trade-payment basis.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:28:56 +0000

After that, I am sure you are not laughing about my anal-ness now, huh.
I do not feel your pain and cannot empathize (sp?). Me, I freak out if I am a penny/pence/euro off my bank statements, and I have 4 accounts going.
Even though you do have the carrot/stick approach going, carrot – will have money to buy food and eat; stick – anxiety. Remember this feeling and maybe it will help you get your invoicing done.