Freelancing as a Way of Clearing Debt
If you have debts, working as a freelancer is an extremely good way to start to clear them. The fact that you can choose your own working hours while freelancing means that you can potentially fit it around your day job and family obligations. Most of us have a skill that we can use to earn a little income online.
You could write, edit videos, create artwork and logos for businesses or sell another service. There is currently a high demand for life coaches and people who are happy to teach others what they know. You do not need to invest in a lot of tools and equipment to be able to get started.
Freelancing can be a viable way to clear debt for some individuals, but its effectiveness depends on several factors, including your skills, market demand for your services, work discipline, and debt level. Below are examples of the free or low-cost or free apps, software, and other resources you could use to help your freelancing hustle.
Freelancing as a Way of Clearing Debt
A free way to create your freelancing invoices
By using this free customisable freelance invoice template UK you can quickly and easily bill your clients. These templates are fully customisable. They look clean, crisp, and professional.
You can also use PayPal to invoice but be aware that you will be charged a fee for using the PayPal platform. I personally choose to send a word doc/pdf invoice with the details of my business account – that way you don’t incur any fees in the transaction process.
Free calendar apps to keep you organised
Most of us already have access to Google or Outlook calendar. Both can be used to keep track of any tasks we may need to tick off. To map out what needs to be done when, as well as what the agreed price was. You can make a note of when an invoice was sent out and set up a reminder on the date that it is due to be paid. That way, if someone does not pay you on time you will know that you need to chase them for payment.
When freelancing it can be hard to hold yourself accountable and easy to procrastinate – make sure to set yourself deadlines and goals to keep on track.
Free communication tools
Communicating with clients is easy. You can use email or one of the many free messenger mediums to discuss projects, agree on the price, ask questions, and make deliveries. If you want to video chat with them, then standard versions of Zoom* or Skype are both free to use.
For voice calls WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger are also both viable options if that is what your client prefers – this is a great idea if you are in different countries, as these approaches use the internet without incurring phone bills, just make sure you have a fast WiFi connection. You can find more suggestions here.
Free ways to market yourself
Of course, you will have to seek out customers, at least initially. Later, you may find that you easily get new work via word of mouth. Or another great marketing tool – social media. Make sure to be visible across at least Twitter and LinkedIn as a freelancer.
There are lots of ways to find customers without having to pay to do so. Using free classified sites is surprisingly effective, as is going around local businesses and offering your services. You can also use social media to tell others about what you have to offer or to find potential work. For digital services, Facebook is a surprisingly good place to find clients. If you want more suggestions, just click here.
If you do decide to try freelancing as a way of clearing your debt, try to ringfence what you earn. That way you will not end up wasting any of it and will be able to pay off your debt much faster.