Why I want to be self employed full time and all the reasons I don’t do it

As you may know I have been blogging here on Dinks Finance for just over three years…my how time flies.  My blogging experience is a little bit different than many other bloggers out there. I am a certified financial planner and an experienced financial writer but I don’t actually have my own personal finance blog. I write for several different company websites and blogs in addition to my 9 to 5 job in corporate communications (I was previously a financial planner in a bank).

Giving up the 9 to 5 to be self employed

I love writing and I always have. I don’t want to say that I wish I was a full time writer because as of January when I made the transition from banking to corporate communications I became a full time writer. However I do wish that I was writing my own thoughts and doing it from my own apartment, or wherever in the world I want to be.

I want to be self employed because I want to wake up every morning and write my own thoughts and I want to do it on my own time. Don’t get me wrong I don’t think that being self employed will be all roses and gummy bears, but neither is working for a corporation. I know that being self employed is hard work and I am ready to put in the hours. I am just afraid to make the change.

Reasons why being self employed is scary

I will miss my corporate income. I make good money right now from myself employment income as a freelance writer, it lets me travel when and where I want to (when my 9 to 5 permits it) and it gives me a nice emergency savings fund. But don’t get me wrong freelance money is fun  money, it’s not enough to live off. I am definitely not making $80k a year from my freelance work.

I am scared about not having stability. As a freelance writer contracts come and go. I do have long term clients such as my friends here on Dinks Finance, but freelance work can end at anytime and that is a very scary thought.

I’m afraid to become a hermit. I know myself and if I don’t have to leave my apartment, I won’t. I don’t want to become one of those crazy ladies who are afraid to take a step out of her door. Maybe if I lived in an exciting city like New York I would travel around the city and take my laptop with me to work, but I don’t. I live in Montreal.

Here are some bloggers who took the leap from 9 to 5 to being self employed:

Andrea @ So Over This – she offers web design and hosting services to bloggers everywhere. If you visit a great blog and love the design the odds are that Andrea designed it. If you are thinking about revamping your website check her out, but be careful she is booked months in advance.

Carrie @ Careful Cents – is a former accountant who now uses her own experience and skills to help freelancers and entrepreneurs mange their money and grow their business. She is also an experienced writer, editor and online community manager.

J.Money @ Budgets Are Sexy – he is a former graphic designer who does it all. Jay earns income from a variety of online resources including owning several blogs and partnering with major companies on projects. If you see something online the odds are that J. Money has his hand in it.

Photo by Wonderlane

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.