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HOW TO SET YOUR FREELANCE RATES - A GUIDE FOR FREELANCERS & CONSULTANTSThere are many factors which business owners must consider on a daily basis as it relates to the running of their business. Things such as how to find good help, where to acquire supplies and how much to pay one's employees are all pertinent matters which must be addressed. There are a few ways to go about figuring out your rates when it comes to how much to charge the customers.How to be a cheap freelancing parent
By Lori Tate
When you decide to become a freelancer, it can be a difficult decision, especially financially. If you're a parent, the decision may be even harder. However, did you know you can save significant amounts of money without clipping coupons or spending lots of time comparing prices?
The following tips are easy things any parent can do in less than 15 minutes.
For pregnant moms
· Let people know you're pregnant, so they can throw you a baby shower, where you can receive blankets, clothes and diapers. We got most of our first child's clothes from the baby shower. These people may also continue to give you hand-me-downs.
· Sign up for free baby and parenting magazines, like BabyTalk and American Baby. Not only do these magazines offer great parenting tips, they also offer free coupons for baby items. You can sign up for these magazines at your doctor's office or at Toys-R-Us, which has several free copies of American Baby in their aisles.
· Sign up for free stuff at the hospital. Among the several hundred forms you'll fill out, you'll probably get one asking whether you want your name added to mailing lists for offers for new parents. Check "yes." OK, you will get a lot of stuff you don't need, but you'll also get free parenting magazines with coupons for free formula, and you'll get coupons for baby items. When I signed up for the mailing lists, I got three cans of Enfamil formula for free.
· Check out the WIC (Women, Infant, Children) program in your area. This is a free government-sponsored program that offers parenting classes and coupons for free food - including milk, cheese, cereal, and eggs. The program is for pregnant women and new moms, and their kids (up to age five). The income requirements are quite lenient, and it takes only a hour or two to find out if you're eligible. However, WIC heavily emphasizes breastfeeding.
· Check out other free programs. For example, when I signed up for WIC, I also signed up for a car seat program, where I attended a one hour educational seminar, and got a convertible car seat (one that can accommodate infants and toddlers) for $20. If I had bought that in the store, I would have paid $50 to $80.Breastfeeding
· Breastfeed. Not only does this benefit the baby and you, it's also free and portable. You'll never be without your breasts. If you sign up with WIC, they'll give you a free breast pump. You'll need one anyway, but a manual one only costs about $20 to $25, and it's something you'll use every day. You'll also need to purchase bottles to put breastmilk in, but those will only cost about $5 for three or four. However, before deciding to go this route, practice breastfeeding with dolls, attend classes, and get all the information you can, so you can make the experience as successful as possible.
· Buy formula at discount stores, like Costco. The deals are better than at grocery stores.For both parents
Buying clothes and toys
· Go to thrift shops and second-hand stores. Keep in mind you should never pay more than $5 for any clothing item for your infant or toddler, because you can find clothes at this price in most children's thrift stores. Thrift stores usually carry quality items in a variety of sizes. For example, I bought my son's entire summer wardrobe (ten complete outfits) at a thrift store for $30.
· Accept hand-me-downs. Even if you hate the color of the shirt, it's one less item you'll have to buy. It also opens the door for future hand-me-downs - items you may like more, like toys.
· Offer to swap toys with other parents.
· Rotate your own child's toys. For example, put some toys away, then bring them back out in a few weeks. Your child will probably have forgotten about them, and they'll be just like new toys.
· Make your own toys. For example, we have a box with holes in it, and our toddler loves it! He puts it on his head, and pokes his fingers out the holes to touch my fingers. I put it on my head, and do the same thing.
· CAUTION: Don't buy strollers, cribs, car seats or playpens at a thrift or second-hand store in an attempt to save money. These items can be recalled very quickly, and you don't want to put your baby in something that may be unsafe. If you do get a hand-me-down item you want to use, call the company, and ask if the item has been recalled. Having fun
· Swap babysitters. Know another couple with a child? Offer to watch their children one night, if they'll do the same for you one night.
· Go to parks. Parks are a great, cheap way to have fun. Most parks have a playground for the kids, but even if they don't, there's always dirt and those wide open spaces for running around. Most parks charge a minimal admission fee, or none at all.
· Take advantage of your local library for books and videos.
· Give memories instead of gifts. When your child's birthday arrives, use the money you would have spent on a gift for an event, like going to the zoo or park. It will probably be cheaper, and your child will likely remember it more.
· Check out local fun spots. Maybe the zoo in your area has cheaper admission prices than you thought. Maybe a local museum has "family fun days" where admission is free. Maybe there's a children's museum in your area that you never knew existed. Look in the phone book under "Things to do" for listings, or consult your local Chamber of Commerce.
· Make up games, like "horsey" (with you as the horse), catch, tag or peek-a-boo. For example, my 23-month-old loves to stand on a chair and play in the dishwater while I wash dishes. He will even hand me recently cleaned dishes to rinse off.Items you don't need to purchase
· Crib bumpers. Think about it. You put them in when the baby is born, when he can't roll over or stand up. You take them out when the kid is five or six months old, so he can't use them to climb out of the crib. What have you accomplished?
· Baby wipes. Instead, make your own by taking some paper towels, putting them in a container you can seal (like a zippered plastic bag or a plastic storage food container), adding enough water to moisten, and leaving it. If you don't like this idea, buy your baby wipes at a discount store, like Costco, (they're SO much cheaper), or buy the store brand at regular stores.
· Baby food. The stuff is half sugar, and one jar lasts for one meal, but is priced at $.50. You can make your own baby food. For example, with carrots, boil them for about 15 minutes, then toss them in the blender, and hit puree. Then use a spatula to scrape the sides. You've got lots more food than in those tiny jars, and your stuff doesn't have any sugar. Trust me; your child will never know the difference.
· Disposable diapers. OK, I can hear you screaming, "WHAT?" But if you think about it, the only time you need to use disposables is at bedtime, naptime, and possibly, when you go on a trip out of the house. If you're just hanging around the house, why not use cloth diapers? They're cheap and better for the environment. Three packages of ten each only cost about $20. Plastic pants cost about $4 for three. That's your only cost. Of course, you do have to wash the diapers, and rinse them out in the toilet, but if you weren't able to tolerate yuckiness, you wouldn't have had children.·CAUTION: If you decide to use cloth diapers, get a Diaper Genie to store the used diapers in. It works great for sealing out odor, and when it gets full, you can just cut the plastic away from the diapers, and dump them in the wash.
It doesn't have to be terrifying to be a freelancing parent. There are several, easy things you can do to make your financial burden easier. Know that many other freelancers are going through the same thing you are, and as your business grows, so will the money you earn, and your financial burden will ease.
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LORI TATE
Lori Tate has ten years of professional writing experience, including four as a journalist. She is looking for research, writing and editing work. You can contact her at onehappyperson30@yahoo.com.
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