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It’s Summer, I’m Still Self Employed, and a Beans Update

  June 3

This post may contain affiliate links.

Hi lovely blog readers. I wanted to give a life update. It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a wrap up and there are a lot of things going on at once per usual. The best news is that it’s finally starting to feel like summer here, and I don’t just mean the weather.

We are celebrating because the hubs is lucky to be off for the summer for probably the last time in his life. Well, he is studying for quite an important board exam that he takes in just a few weeks, but his hours are normal people hours now, which means he gets to spend a lot more time at home and a lot more time with the beans. Basically he’s not falling asleep the second he gets home from pure exhaustion. #winning

It also means that I’m able to get some more work time in, which is great since I’ll be launching my new course, Get Paid to Write for Blogs, at the end of June, and I’m still putting the finishing touches on it. We all love having him home more!

Here is a pic of the hubs and Beanette at a recent outdoor festival. The Beans are getting sooo big and long. They take up their entire cribs now, and Bean is walking all around the house now quite proudly and we’re sure Beanette will follow very soon. They are, somehow, over 14 months old now.

park pic

Business Update

My business here continues to challenge me in unique ways. Just recently, I had to think long and hard about taking a full time job that was still blogging but just for an employer. The idea of benefits and a salary was very tempting, and I thought I really wanted it even though things are going well here.

Then, interestingly enough, while I was waiting to hear back about everything, the hubs and I took a totally spontaneous weekend trip using our Southwest points and we took the Beans with us. We left on a Friday and flew back to New Jersey on a Wednesday, and I was still able to get work done and phone calls in.

I had the thought during that trip that I still really enjoy having control over my schedule and I still feel like the best is yet to come. I’ve already had three people purchase my course, and I feel like it could be a game changer. I want to see what will happen with it. I still might work with that client, just on a few projects, and that means I’ll still have to pay $7,000 out of pocket for my health insurance in a few months. There are always downsides to self employment, and the issues with health insurance are one of them. Still, we have just one more year before the hubs is a doctor with a job and full benefits and then I’ll be on his insurance so really it’s all just temporary.

Interestingly enough, this is the second time that I’ve had to think about a full time job offer. Once, right before Christmas a different company asked me about blogging for them full time too, and after a similarly long and thought out discussion and even a month long trial with them, I decided to keep working for me.

I want to share this because many people who read my blog are interested in self employment, and I want them to know that even self employed people are tempted to go back to a steady paycheck. It’s the curse of the grass is always greener. The important difference, though, is that when you’re self employed, your paycheck can go as sky high as you allow it. You don’t have to wait for an annual review to get a raise, and for that reason I will continue on this path and see where it leads.

Now, on to the writing wrap up that I’ve been meaning to share for weeks!

COMPANY SHOUT OUT

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned Swagbucks before which is weird because I’ve been using it for years, but if you’ve never heard of it, it’s basically a search engine that awards you points for doing what you normally do. Then, you can redeem the points for moneyyyy. So, instead of using Google to look up things, you instead sign up for Swagbucks and use their search engine instead. You’ll win varying amounts of “swagbucks” as you search, and there’s honestly no rhyme or reason to how much they give you to my knowledge. Sometimes it’s just one swagbuck and sometimes it’s randomly 50 of them. They also sent me some via e-mail because I had a birthday recently. Anyway, you can redeem the points for products or Amazon gift cards which is what I usually do, so it can be pretty awesome. Sign up using my affiliate link HERE and you’ll get $5 in your account automatically.

POPULAR POSTS I WROTE FOR OTHERS

As many people know I took a course from Jon Morrow early in my blogging career, which is one of the main ways I was able to learn how to write for blogs like these:

Disney Has Been More Profitable Than Usual: What it Means for Investors Any Option

Does Earning More Really Lead to a Better Life? Frugal Rules

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Online The Simple Dollar

How to Break Even on Baby Purchases Magnify Money

Separate or Shared Bank Accounts: What’s Better? Personal Capital

How to Balance Work, Finances, and Free Time When You’re Self Employed Personal Capital

POSTS I ENJOYED BY OTHER BLOGGERS

Things David Letterman Taught Me About Personal Finance Debt Discipline

Husband is Hoarding Money and Jeopardizing Relationship Canadian Budget Binder

Tell the Joneses to Go to Hell, They’ll Respect You for It Enemy of Debt

There is No Secret Mom and Dad Money

Financial Update: Why I’m No Longer Budgeting Journey to Saving

How to Make Saving Money Fun My Alternate Life

Can Single People Afford to be Self-Employed? Shoeaholicnomore

Why I’m Grateful for Morning Sickness Frugalwoods

My Best Early Retirement Advice Retire by 40

Saving Money While You Freelance Your Way to Financial Freedom Diversified Finances

KEEP IN TOUCH! :)

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

12 responses to “It’s Summer, I’m Still Self Employed, and a Beans Update

  1. I’ve got some similar issues on my end. I am having to decide whether to pursue a HUGE raise – one that would allow us to be debt free in one more year. Or whether to just stop working all together in a few months – possibly with a few months of self employment to cover us while our house sells. It’s that grass being greener. Debt pay off is HUGE, but so is the chance to stay home. I’m praying a lot, that’s all I can do 🙂

    Good luck to your husband on his board exam!

  2. Oh I love your updates Cat! I’m so excited for your new course – make sure to send me a link when it’s live so I can promote the heck out of it! 🙂 The Beans are so big now! It took my second child awhile to walk too – my first walked at 9 months and I thought I was going to go crazy and then the second just wouldn’t walk….for like ever. :-/ Funny how kiddos can be so different!

  3. Interesting to hear that blogging has led to job offers for you. I think blogging is a “side hustle” for many people, so the idea that it can both provide that side income and eventually lead to full-time employment is quite appealing.

  4. I think your new course is going to do very well! I wish you the best of luck with it 🙂

    Yes, I know what you mean when you say that the grass is always greener. Getting a more stable job with benefits, real vacation time, and everything else sometimes seems nice, but I don’t think I will ever give up being self-employed.

  5. I enjoyed the newsy update – enjoy the summer schedule. I am looking forward to being a student of Get Paid to Write for Blogs!

  6. Beannette looks so tall! Not to mention adorable! Huge congrats on your course–looking forward to hearing more about the launch. And, many thanks for sharing my post. I really appreciate it 🙂

  7. Thanks for the mention, Cat! The beans are just too cute. I know there are amazing things for you in the future – really excited for your course to launch! So many people are going to benefit from it. Glad to hear the hubs is back to normal hours, too. I hope all goes well with his exam!

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