Rainy-Day Saver

Make Money Freelancing -- Through Networking

Posted by Nicole on August 4, 2010 at 8:12 am

No matter what your field, if you want to become a freelancer, you can’t just wait for the jobs to come to you. You’ve got to market yourself and get on potential clients’ radars. How will they know you have a skill that may be of use to them if you don’t?

It’s all about networking. Making connections with other professionals in your field is the best way to get clients who offer paying gigs. They can also offer professional advice and point new freelancers who need a little help in the right direction.

In this world, image is everything. There are a few things that freelancers can do to make themselves more marketable.

1. Get on Twitter and LinkedIn. Thanks to social media network Twitter, I was able to hook up with someone who could use my services. Communicating in 140-character increments graduated to e-mails, and we’ve established a good working relationship. It all started with one assignment, and now, I’m asked to do other freelance work. Don’t underestimate the power of social media, which is becoming quite a popular way to communicate with others. Join up and possibly find paying gigs.

2. Start a website. This is a no-brainer. The Internet is where it’s at nowadays. And what better way to show off your talents than on a page that could potentially be seen by hundreds of thousands of people? Be sure to have a portfolio on the website in order to show off your best work. If potential clients see what they like, they’ll be more apt to contact you than if they have to ask for samples of your work.

3. Get a dedicated phone number, e-mail address and business cards. Decide if you need a new cell phone or landline number for your freelance business. A separate phone numbers and e-mail address can help keep business separate from pleasure. Business cards are also great to have, as they can be passed to potential clients that you meet while networking — or in the event that you meet a potential client while out and about.

4. Become familiar with industry websites. For writing, there are a number of websites out there that offer tips and information about how to find paying freelance jobs. It helps to know where to look. Some even have job boards where clients post ads for freelancers to fulfill their needs.

5. Join a professional organization. Find out which are well-regarded in your field and add yourself to their membership rolls — but only join groups if you’ll have time to participate in them. These organizations tend to have meet-and-greets with other freelancers and professionals. For example, if you’re a writer (I have to go with what I know here), you can meet other writers and editors who may be able to point you in the direction of a potential client.

6. Attend professional events. Bloggers and social media professionals have conferences such as BlogHer and South by Southwest (SXSW), and there are similar conferences, lectures and networking events for others. You don’t have to be a full-time worker to get into these events, but often you do need to be a part of the organization sponsoring them, or have to sign up and pay a fee. But the chance to make connections within your industry — and meet potential clients — is usually well worth the cost.

7. Talk to people at other events. If you’re attending at a wedding or at a business dinner, keep those business cards on you — you may just strike up a conversation with someone who needs your services after the usual “What do you do for a living” banter.

Personality and Success (or Failure)

Posted by Nicole on July 28, 2010 at 9:00 am

There’s a creepy guy in our office building at work who has been regularly freaking us out for a few years now. All we know is that he doesn’t work in our company. He has some strange habits, not the least of which is a staring problem. For example, if you’re walking up the stairs while he’s walking down, he’ll all but trip and fall to twist his body 90 degrees to look at you once you pass him. If you’re REALLY lucky, you’ll get a short, squeaky “hi” as you pass. And it’s times like these that make me glad I’m a woman, because I’ve heard he’s got some wandering eyes in the men’s room, too.

We never see him with anyone in the hallways. He takes walks around the building’s parking lot on his lunch hour. As far as I know, there’s been no sighting of a cell phone, and his car is pretty nondescript. He’s always alone.

That leads me to believe he’s not in a position of leadership in his company. With severely lacking social skills, how could he possibly be a manager or, even more laughably, a CEO?

Personality & Success

While I don’t know for sure what position Creepy Guy holds in his company, I do know that personality has to do with how much success you have in life, both personally and professionally.

I think most of us would agree that you need to be personable, be able to communicate effectively and make hard decisions in order to move up in the professional world. If you’re a hothead, unless you’re pulling in a ton of money for your company, you probably won’t be finding your way up the corporate ladder anytime soon — or you may find yourself on the unemployment line instead.

Examine Your Personality

If you’re antisocial, you’re definitely going to have a problem gaining and maintaining employment. You need to get out there and go on interviews in order to get a job. And most positions require interaction with others, whether they be your co-workers or customers.

If you’re introverted, perhaps you’re not making as much of a splash in the office. You’ll likely be passed over for promotions and your earning potential could be severely limited.

If you’re the type who has severe social awkwardness, don’t count on climbing the corporate ladder. You need to be able to make (and maintain) social connections. Think networking.

But if you’re a true go-getter who likes to “make things happen,” this tends to bring you success. A heaping helping of strong work ethic and the ability to get along with others — and not use them or walk all over them — are the keys to success.

We can all make changes for the better when it comes to personality. While I don’t advocate being downright fake, sometimes you need to finesse your interactions with others at work or in personal relationships in order to make more meaningful connections with others. Who knows — maybe you’ll be up for that promotion thanks to a change in the way you present yourself, or you’ll get along better with your co-workers, making for a more pleasant working environment.

Lazy Is as Lazy Does

Posted by Nicole on July 26, 2010 at 7:00 am

There are so many things that are calling out to me to get done around the house, yet I’ve somehow slipped into lazy summer mode. All I want to do is sip some lemonade, get some sun (without melting from temps in the upper 90s the past two weeks) and relax.

A co-worker jokes that “lazy” for me is probably more like a normal day for him. I know, I know — I don’t like to sit still. But occasionally, it truly does happen. I can follow your definition of a nice, lazy day of doing nothing, Carlo!

But what I really need to do is give this house a thorough cleaning. That, and we need to get the spackler back here to finish the job he started a month ago. My father-in-law recommended the guy, but his appearances have been few and far between, much to my chagrin. He showed up twice while we were on vacation at the end of June, but has only been back twice since then — and there’s another coat and sanding that needs to get done before we can move on to painting. And if you know me well, you know I don’t abide folks who don’t do things in a timely manner — and don’t show up when they say they’re going to show up.

So for now, I’m waiting impatiently, but biting my tongue. It’s not an easy task, since I’ve become an outspoken person in my old age. Mark my words, I won’t be hiring this guy again, nor will I be recommending him to anyone else.

All I can think about right now is the fact that after this room is (finally) completed, we’ll need to finish the rest of the second floor, which includes a small hallway, full bathroom and another bedroom (which is the one we’re in right now). We’ll have to move all our stuff into the renovated room and then tackle everything else. It’s taken 9 months to get this far, with the help of Mr. Saver, my father-in-law, and especially my dad and brother, who have spent many a Saturday here working their asses off — THANK YOU! — and it will be wonderful to have it finished. But besides gutting the rooms and painting them at the end, I think we’re gonna leave the rest to the professionals this time.

Oh, and there’s the kitchen, too, which needs to be painted. I had gotten some samples and made my choice of color, but the can of paint has been sitting there throughout this heatwave — even I’m not that much of a glutton for punishment.

So here’s to being lazy — at least, as lazy as I get, in my world. I think it’s time to sit in the yard, sun myself and sip on that glass of lemonade.

The Pros and Cons of Online Savings Accounts

Posted by Nicole on July 22, 2010 at 7:00 am

This post was written by PT, who blogs about things like savings accounts and the best cash-back credit cards on his blog, PT Money.

I’m a big fan of using online savings accounts to help you save for emergencies or any short-term needs you might have. On the surface, they appear to be just like a normal savings account, thus, I believe, people haven’t felt compelled to make the move to save their money there. And with the recent collapse in savings interest rates, they appear to have lost their luster. However, I think moving your savings online still has it’s merits. Here’s my list of pros and cons of online savings:

The Cons of Online Savings

Change – Simply put, unless you’re brand-new to the banking world, opening up a new bank account isn’t something you think to do. And it’s not necessarily on the top of any one’s bucket list, either. It only takes around 15 minutes to open an account and a wait of 2 or 3 days, but that’s usually enough of a barrier for people to say, “Eh, I’ll skip that and go watch some more videos on YouTube.” And if you already have a banking relationship, you likely have auto drafts and direct deposits to contend with before switching to an online bank.

Limitations on Depositing Money – Since online-only banks don’t have a physical branch, making a deposit leaves you scratching your head. Do I mail it in? Do I deposit at another bank and then transfer the funds in? These banks are doing a lot to combat this problem, but it still exists.

Slow Transfer Time – It takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days to move money from your online bank to another institution. For some people, this is just too long of a wait for what is supposed to be liquid savings.

Low Returns – Let’s face it, the interest rates on online savings account ain’t what they used to be. The rates barely keep up with inflation these days. If your goal is a higher return than 2%, then look somewhere else.

The Pros of Online Savings

No Minimums or Fees – 99% of these online savings accounts don’t have any type of restriction or fee that would negate the benefits of saving. Plus, there are no direct deposit or spending requirements associated with the accounts. Just a simple, fee-free account.

FDIC Insured – These accounts have FDIC insurance just like any other bank account. Your money is safe from a potential bank failure up to $250,000.

Slow Transfer Time – I contend that the slow transfer time of these banks is also a pro for those looking to save more. The time lag creates a natural barrier between you and your savings. You usually won’t spend what you can’t get to quickly.

High Returns – Compared to traditional savings accounts, the mere 2% you get with an online bank is still 4 times better than the average brick-and-mortar savings account.

I think the future of online savings is strong, as many of these cons will disappear with the advances of technology. What’s your opinion?

Finding Fulfillment in Life

Posted by Nicole on July 21, 2010 at 7:30 am

Everyone finds their fulfillment in different ways. For ee musings at Musings of an Abstract Aucklander, it will be traveling. For me, it’s nesting, having a home and a family. Who’s to say that one is better than the other? It’s all about what makes each one of us happiest.

ee musings wonders about her priorities — is there more to life than getting an office job, getting married, having children, retiring and worrying about money all the time? She wants to leave her country (New Zealand) and travel. How can she balance being fiscally responsible with the desire to live life to the fullest while young?

I’ve never felt I had to live up to anyone’s expectations, other than the expectation of doing well in school and graduating with a college degree. I wasn’t forced to be an athlete, although I did play softball in the town recreational league when I was younger because I loved the game. No one sat me behind a piano before I could read so I could become a musician; I willingly took piano lessons and learned the violin in school because I loved music. There was no parent hovering above me, drilling these interested into my brain. They were just there, and they fulfilled me.

Depending on who you talk to, I think people see me in one of two ways: Someone who is “settled down,” holding a steady job in a solid career, carefully watching her finances, not taking part in any major hobbies and needing minimal entertainment in her life. On the flip side, there are those who think I’m ambitious, motivated and frank with my opinions — someone who will stand up for what she believes in.

Trying to be someone you’re not will eventually backfire, whether you’re doing it to keep up appearances or to please others. The facade will crumble, and no one will be there to pick up the pieces but you. It will only lead to unhappiness and misery. Finding a happy medium may just be the best way to live a life without reservations.

How You Find Fulfillment in Your Life Is Up to You

Some people search their entire lives for the few things that make them happiest, while others achieve it through their everyday actions.

If you want to be the budgeting queen, then do your thing.

Driven by ambition to be at the top of your field? Go for it.

If you absolutely must take that trip to Europe, plan it today.

Happy to be home surrounded by friends and family, like me? You know what to do.

How we live our lives is an individual choice — no one can tell us how to go about it. There’s no right or wrong way, and your priorities may change over time. As long as you’re responsible with your money, respectful of others and true to yourself, you can’t go wrong.

$25 Visa Gift Card Giveaway Winner Announced

Posted by Nicole on July 19, 2010 at 12:44 pm

Rainy-Day Saver has teamed up with Snubbr.com to give one lucky reader a $25 Visa Gift Card!

The lucky winner, chosen by Julia from Snubbr.com, is

Daniel Packer of Sweating the Big Stuff

for the following money-saving tip:

My best money saving tip has to be to negotiate everything. There are always people who will trade a few bucks for your business. I save $5 on each haircut because I cut a deal with my barber last year. Plus, what’s the worst that can happen? They’ll say no and you’ll have to pay the regular price?

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

Weekend Link Love: Wedding Edition

Posted by Nicole on July 17, 2010 at 12:59 pm

Love is in the air! Lots of weddings going on lately — Mr. Saver and I are heading to yet another one today, his cousin is tying the knot in Central Jersey. So we’re going to splurge and stay overnight at a local hotel (and likely continue the celebration into the wee hours, knowing his family). Staying at a hotel tricks me into thinking I’m on a mini-vacation.

Since I still have to pack and get ready, here’s a quick roundup.

Posts That Piqued My Interest

Plunge Into Summer With Savings at Little House in the Valley

Do Any Of Us Have A Chance In The Stock Market? at Money Beagle

Keep It Simple Stupid: Sometimes We Make Things Too Complex at Smart on Money

Everything Happens for a Reason at My Financial Objectives

Will Spending Smarter Make You Happier? at One Money Design

Rainy-Day Saver on the Web

Adjusting to a New Mortgage Payment was an Editor’s Pick over at this week’s Carnival of Money Stories – Signs of Summer Edition, hosted at Suburban Dollar.

How Do You File Your Paperwork? was featured in the Carnival of Personal Finance over at Funny About Money.

2010 Is a Good Year To Die -- If You're Rich

Posted by Nicole on July 15, 2010 at 6:30 am

As a lifelong Yankees fan, I was saddened that we lost two members of the organization this week: longtime stadium announcer Bob Sheppard and Yankees majority owner George Steinbrenner.

Love him or hate him, Steinbrenner just wanted to win — at any cost. The Yankees have the highest payroll of any team, thanks to his need to land the biggest free agents in the game at the most exorbitant salaries. I remember when they gave Bernie Williams (one of my favorites) a seven-year deal worth $87.5 million, at the time making him the highest-paid player in the major leagues.

And who could forget the hirings — and firings? As a kid coming of age in the 1980s, I loved seeing whether or not Billy Martin would be back for another year — or if he would even MAKE it through the season (not once, actually).

Steinbrenner even had the audacity to “win” in a financial sense by kicking the bucket in 2010, rather than in 2011 — making his heirs very, very happy. Why? Because according to MSN Money, they will save $600 million in estate taxes.

How It Happened

The most recent estate tax (a rate of 45% on inheritances valued at more than $1 million) put into law under President George W. Bush expired at the end of 2009, and the new 55% (!) tax doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1 of next year. Which means anyone dying in 2010 can leave 100% of their assets to their heirs. Steinbrenner is estimated to have been worth $1.1 billion, well over the $3.5 million exemption threshold.

However, Congress can choose to come up with a new version of the estate tax bill, perhaps raising the exemption to $5 million and lowering the percentage of inheritance assets lost to taxes.

In theory, dying with $3.5 million in assets isn’t too shabby (for your heirs, obviously, not for you, who would no longer be roaming the Earth). But if you’re running a small business (a retail store, a farm, etc.) and the government comes and takes 55% of that from your estate if you die next year, your family likely will have to sell the business. Or, if it’s property that makes up the majority of the estate, the homes would likely have to be sold.

George Steinbrenner died this week, and still managed to come out a winner.

Get Better Auto Insurance, Better Service and Better Savings by Following These Steps

Posted by Nicole on July 14, 2010 at 7:00 am

You may be thinking about switching your auto insurance to save some money. Considering the economy, that’s not a bad idea. Just be sure you get it right!

Car insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company. But choosing a plan based solely on price, not standard features and quality of service, can cost you more than you’ll ever save on your premiums.

Auto insurance is more than low rates and getting your car repaired quickly. It’s serious financial protection in case you’re ever in an accident. And it’s estimated that there were more than 33 million automobile accidents in this country last year — that’s more than one accident for every second of every day! So your chances of filing a claim at some point are pretty good.

That’s why it pays to follow these simple rules when shopping for auto insurance.

Rule #1: Make sure you have what you need.

If you want to compare auto insurance quotes, you need accurate information. So before you start, take a few minutes to make sure you have the following auto insurance information available.

Your Current Insurance Declarations Page: By matching your current deductibles and coverage limits you can be sure you’re getting the same protection.

Vehicle Information:

– Year, make, model, and VIN

– Annual miles and distance to work

– Value of any custom or after-market equipment

– Type of alarm or theft-recovery device

Driver Information (for each household member old enough to drive)

– Driver’s name, occupation, gender, number of years licensed, and Driver’s License number.

– Any accidents or violation in the past 3 years including dates, who was at fault, if someone was injured and the claim amount.

Rule #2: Don’t stop at one.

If you’re only getting one quote to compare with your current policy, you’re probably going to end up spending too much. There are a lot of car insurance companies out there and each one has its own way of determining rates. Multiple quotes will give you a better opportunity to make the right choice. Some website aggregates will give you an opportunity to get several quotes from a limited number of companies. But to get a better understanding of the features and service a company offers, you should contact them yourself. The service you get while shopping around is a good indicator of what you can expect if you purchase a policy.

Rule #3: Look under the hood.

When shopping for car insurance, you need to consider more than price. Find out what you’re getting for your money. Know what’s covered and what isn’t. It’s not hard – just remember these final tips:

– Get your quote in writing and confirm the accuracy of each vehicle and driver you are insuring.

– Make sure your deductibles and coverage limits match your current policy.

– Ask about special features, such as Emergency Roadside Assistance.

– Find out if there are additional membership or broker fees.

– Are repairs guaranteed for as long as you own your car?

– What kind of payment options are available?

No Vacation With the 'Rents This Year -- and a Giveaway

Posted by Nicole on July 12, 2010 at 8:00 am

The beautiful beach at Wildwood Crest, NJ

Have you ever mooched off your parents and tagged along on vacation with them? Mr. Saver and I have — for the past five summers, in fact. Ever year for three decades, Mr. Saver’s parents have rented an efficiency room in the lovely beach community of Wildwood Crest, along with two-thirds of his dad’s side of the family. It’s like a family reunion on the beach, and we weren’t too proud to stay in the 2nd bedroom for a few days each year for free. We’d try to give them money, or bring some of the food (they’re Italian — they bring trays of chicken cutlets, eggplant parm and so on), but we’re rebuffed every time. They’d usually stay anywhere from 5-8 days, but we’d only come down for a few, that way they’d have time to themselves. Which is the least we could do.

Here in New Jersey, Wildwood Crest is one of the nicest beach communities in the state — it has miles of boardwalk, rides, games, food — and most importantly, wide, clean beaches with free admission. Yes, that means 99% of our state’s beaches require a daily or monthly beach pass that helps pay for the maintenance and staffing.

My favorite thing to do was go boogie-boarding with all the cousins – I could do it all day. Enjoying a Kohl’s soft ice cream cone or a funnel cake on the boardwalk rank up there, too. There are fireworks on the weekends, cocktails on the balconies and card games all night.

But this year, my in-laws called off their trip (the rest of the extended family is down there now, calling and telling us all about how the waves are, where they’re going to eat, and the latest gossip). They thought they’d save the money, what with all the family weddings, the need for a new car and other expenses. I was sorely disappointed by the news, but really, we were merely benefiting from my in-laws’ extreme generosity for the past few summers.

Win a $25 Visa Gift Card!

Rainy-Day Saver is teaming up with Snubbr.com to give one lucky reader a $25 Visa Gift Card!

The new Snubbr.com bills itself as a virtual personal shopping assistant. Want to know what the best personal finance book is? Ask your question and it will be submitted to experts, who then offer buying advice or recommendations based on their research — saving you time and energy. What could be easier?

To enter the giveaway, leave your best money-saving tip below in a comment on this post and Snubbr.com will choose their favorite one! All entries (comments) must be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, July 16 to be considered — so be sure to tell us how you save money!