We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Crisis of confidence!!!
dazzer21
Posts: 74 Forumite
I'm pretty much in the doo-doo financially (about 12k! until about 2 years ago, had NEVER been in debt for single cent) and am desperately trying to find a way out. There always appears to be something that gets in the way - the car needs servicing/taxing, something breaks, the boiler goes kaput...
The latest is that, as a self employed graphic designer whose business is pretty much currently going down the pan, I'm now paying income tax on what was a fairly good year during a period where available funds just don't allow it!! Tried getting some sort of assistance benefit but no dice...
I've been hawking around for other work (I do have a pretty mainstay client who keep me fed, and a couple of other accounts although they don't add up to much...) but it's so difficult to come by and what there is has to be done for peanuts!
So I've really been putting some HEFTY man-hours into a potential sideline INSTEAD of concentrating on securing new clients, which I think could really work - I decided that I was only ever going to earn so much during the course of a day working on an hourly rate basis; so I wanted to try a different approach.
I was bequeathed a large format inkjet printer last year and was determined that it was going to work for me. So I feverishly started putting my plan together and started to produce what I intend to merchandise. The majority of my time recently (the wife isn't happy about it and I'm wearing matchsticks to keep my eyes open) putting together a website - it's an awful lot of work...
...but last night I woke up bolt-upright. I haven't slept properly for ages anyway, worrying about my situation in general, but last night was a real 'wake-up call'. I'm now convinced I'm wasting my time and the the faith I've placed in all of this is misplaced! What's more, just recently, the printer broke and requires in the region of £300 to have it fixed. So now my dilemma is - do I gamble £300 against the possible success (or as my mind is currently suggesting, probable failure) of this venture? As the title of my post suggests, I've got a real lack of confidence in this at the moment.
If it were to work it would be a dream come true - doing something I love, working to MY OWN deadlines and no truly annoying clients to have to deal with - but the trouble is, my luck is NEVER that good - you only have to look at the broken printer to get a handle on that!!!
Below is the website address, but this is not me advertising or trying to sell anything - I don't have the facilities anyway. It's rough around the edges but I just want some impartial opinion and advice - could I make a go of it; could I make a decent income out of it; should I devote my time to it? I don't even know how to go about marketing this thing even if the opinions are positive - has anyone here done anything like this before?
smartcarz.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
I'm at the end of my tether - if this has all turned out to be a folly, I don't know what I'm going to do... Thanks
Really sorry for the lengthy post. I was never able to say in less than ten words what could otherwise be said in one!
The latest is that, as a self employed graphic designer whose business is pretty much currently going down the pan, I'm now paying income tax on what was a fairly good year during a period where available funds just don't allow it!! Tried getting some sort of assistance benefit but no dice...
I've been hawking around for other work (I do have a pretty mainstay client who keep me fed, and a couple of other accounts although they don't add up to much...) but it's so difficult to come by and what there is has to be done for peanuts!
So I've really been putting some HEFTY man-hours into a potential sideline INSTEAD of concentrating on securing new clients, which I think could really work - I decided that I was only ever going to earn so much during the course of a day working on an hourly rate basis; so I wanted to try a different approach.
I was bequeathed a large format inkjet printer last year and was determined that it was going to work for me. So I feverishly started putting my plan together and started to produce what I intend to merchandise. The majority of my time recently (the wife isn't happy about it and I'm wearing matchsticks to keep my eyes open) putting together a website - it's an awful lot of work...
...but last night I woke up bolt-upright. I haven't slept properly for ages anyway, worrying about my situation in general, but last night was a real 'wake-up call'. I'm now convinced I'm wasting my time and the the faith I've placed in all of this is misplaced! What's more, just recently, the printer broke and requires in the region of £300 to have it fixed. So now my dilemma is - do I gamble £300 against the possible success (or as my mind is currently suggesting, probable failure) of this venture? As the title of my post suggests, I've got a real lack of confidence in this at the moment.
If it were to work it would be a dream come true - doing something I love, working to MY OWN deadlines and no truly annoying clients to have to deal with - but the trouble is, my luck is NEVER that good - you only have to look at the broken printer to get a handle on that!!!
Below is the website address, but this is not me advertising or trying to sell anything - I don't have the facilities anyway. It's rough around the edges but I just want some impartial opinion and advice - could I make a go of it; could I make a decent income out of it; should I devote my time to it? I don't even know how to go about marketing this thing even if the opinions are positive - has anyone here done anything like this before?
smartcarz.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
I'm at the end of my tether - if this has all turned out to be a folly, I don't know what I'm going to do... Thanks
Really sorry for the lengthy post. I was never able to say in less than ten words what could otherwise be said in one!
0
Comments
-
Hi I'm a freelance graphic designer and finding it hard also. It seems people just dont want to splash out at the mo. I'm considering going back to work for someone else just so that we've got a regular wage coming in rather than being self employed. Have had a look at your website - the only advice i can give you is have you tried advertising your services on the modified car forums (my oh is into that sort of think and is regularly on the mod car forums - which there is loads out there). Might even be worth you going to a couple of car shows and taking a few pics of the cars then asking the owners if they would like them blowing up as big prints for their walls.
Not sure if thats of any help. Best of luck.
Ps website looks great0 -
Lea
I tried that - what a daunting prospect that was!!! I've been self employed for the last 15 years and although regular employed status sounded good in principle at the time, I wasn't ready for it. I took the test they set, seemed to do alright, but it wasn't until I got the 'I'm sorry, but...' call that I was told that over 200 people had applied for it!!! So obviously , I'm NOT as good as all that so yet another knock-back!0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.3K Spending & Discounts
- 247.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards