Comments on: Monthly Assessment: March 2014

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:17:08 +0000

Booyah indeed, Gabriella! Now you can breathe.

Eileen, it's great to have it though, isn't it? My daughter's wedding is in June, and there are bills to be paid. I'm working feverishly to fill the bank account now.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:56:09 +0000

My March was great. Steady retainer work, which comprises the bulk of my income, plus another large-ish project with a nice hefty fee. So I'm a happy camper. But with two kids needing help with tuition, and two teenagers needing vehicles, it's going out the door as fast as it comes in.

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:46:39 +0000

Hi all.

I don't know how I did it, but my March was pretty decent. I'm glad to be the outlier on this one, though I'm not doing anything differently than all you talented souls.

My April's on track to be busy, too. Good thing because, like Paula, tax time is painful. I always have the money set aside for it, but it's just a gut punch to see savings take a hit. HATE IT!

Can I mention one other positive for me? I edit this weekly e-newsletter for a client, and it's a good, solid monthly income generator. But this horrid woman was my "boss," and she was just awful to work with. Not as smart as she thought she was and wholly imperious.

SHE LEFT! Booyah!

That, my friends, has made March all the more "rich" for me!

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:24:19 +0000

Not a bad idea, Devon. I don't mind a rush job, but clients do have to understand that my working overtime (which often I'm forced to do with rush jobs) has to be compensated.

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:23:18 +0000

Now I need to ask: Didn't anyone have a great March in terms of income?

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:02:10 +0000

Yeah, March was definitely low income. I've also updated my author services page:
http://www.fearlessink.com/authors.html to reflect my policies on same-day turnarounds and on-call, because I've had some nasty exchanges with people who don't want to pay, but expect me to drop everything because they're disorganized.

Um, no.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 01:11:13 +0000

Paula – ouch and double ouch. Sometimes you have to wonder, what the heck good is insurance when it's not there for the pricey stuff?

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:37:55 +0000

That's always my goal, Eileen.

But last April the costly cleanup from a flooded basement (complete with blocked sewer line) wasn't covered by my home owners insurance - that cost more than 10% of my income for the first and second quarters. Decimated the savings I'd set aside for taxes. And then the giant tree limb fell on the garage...that would have been covered but cost less than my $1700 homeowner's deductible.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:41:37 +0000

Paula, you have company with March sucking at least.

It will be, Jenn. Let's hope the checks come in sooner rather than later -- I have a wedding to help with!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 01:08:13 +0000

@Paula, about owing the tax man – I've found a system that works for me and may be helpful for you. I set aside a fixed percentage of every single check that comes in. It's a rule I never violate. When quarterly tax bills are due, it's all there.