Switching to a Blogging Career: Can You Afford to Work from Home?
Many people are now somewhat adjusted to staying home as a result of COVID-19. As businesses begin to reopen and resume some sort of normalcy, many of these employees are wondering if they can give up their 9 to 5 jobs and keep working from home. Should blogging be in your list of target careers, here are pros and cons of working from home. A few of each are listed below.
Freedom
Possibly one of the most important pros to working from home is freedom. Freedom to create your own work schedule, come and go as you please, and wake up when you want. With no time constraints, you can do what you want, where you want, and how you want. However, for those who need structure and restrictions, freedom can actually get in the way and make it much harder to earn a decent income.
Uneven Income
As a freelance blogger, there are profitable months and those that are not. It takes some getting used to and good money management skills. The months where the earnings are high even out those that are low. If you can budget your income and use the extra earnings to support the next month, you will live comfortably. However, if you spend what you earn without budgeting, you will end up falling behind on your financial obligations. If this happens, you might be able to borrow money from a loan company from time to time to stay afloat.
Discipline
A person who works independently and doesn’t require another looking over their shoulder to perform at their best is a good candidate for working from home. You are your own boss, which means you must meet all deadlines on your own without anyone’s influence. If, however, you need someone to push you along through each step, then working from home may not be in your best interest.
No Cap on Earning Potential
Freelancers who work from home independently have unlimited earning potential. If you’re ambitious and dedicated to your work, you can earn what you want. Unlike working for an employer where you have a set income, there is no cap on your salary. However, if you don’t possess these skills, you may not earn enough to support yourself.
Missing Out on Life
Long commutes and limited time off often leads to missing out on many important events in life. A child’s first school play scheduled mid-day, a grandmother’s 80th birthday in a distant state, or a family reunion are a few examples of some of the things you miss out on when you work for an employer. When you work from home, you take your computer in tow and enjoy all family gatherings and a child’s concert is something you factor into the day’s schedule.
Healthcare and Retirement
One of the biggest drawbacks of working from home is the lack of provided benefits. Unlike working full-time for an employer where the benefits package includes healthcare and a retirement fund, you must provide this on your own. Healthcare alone can cost a thousand or more for a family plan, and the deductibles are higher and coverage less. It’s also up to you to secure and fund a retirement plan such as a 401K.
No Vacation or Sick Time
While you can schedule a vacation several times a year with no blackout dates, there is no reimbursement. It’s all out-of-pocket. The same applies to sick time. You can take a day off freely due to feeling ill, however, there’s no monetary compensation.
The workforce that currently works from home is on the rise. Whether a blogger or content writer, if you have discipline, are ambitious, and can work independently, it may prove to be very profitable and a comfortable way of life.