Comments on: Freelance Radio Episode 8

By: kristen

kristen — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:50:15 +0000

$120 a month is pretty decent! I was paying about $350 when I was on COBRA after I left my full-time job but continued with that insurance.

we’re crankin’ them out with even more goodness in the works for more FSw Radio love.

By: riki

riki — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:30:17 +0000

@ Charlene wow $120 a month is good. In Japan I’m currently paying about $400 to $500 per month, compulsory national health insurance, depending on my level of income (which is quite low btw). Plus I still have to pay a percentage of doctor bills and it doesn’t cover operations etc. For that I have pay additional $100 per month for Private cover. So at the moment I’m currently paying around $5000 to $6000 per year. Which sounds outrageous, but in Japan it’s normal to pay $6000 to $10,000 just to get set up with renting an apartment.

By: Charlene Jaszewski

Charlene Jaszewski — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:41:26 +0000

Comment on the health insurance question - since I’m not lucky enough right now to have a spouse to cover my health care needs, I have great health care coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield - it’s called “Simply Blue.” I pay like $120 a month, I get free prescriptions, free “regular” doctor visits (up to like $1000 a year). It’s a high deductible for anything over and above average doctor visits, but I’m young and healthy, so it’s a great deal for me. Wish I’d known about it sooner, I was paying $400 a month for COBRA when I left my corporate job a few years ago. I found that deal on http://www.lowermybills.com.
Now, every state is different. I am moving to NY, and I’ve already checked and this deal is NOT available there. But I did read about the freelancer’s union too and plan on checking it out.

p.s. here’s a contact lens tip: if you go to 1-800-contacts, they will price match + 2% any other price on the web. Last night I got them to knock off $7 per box of soft lenses for me, woot!

LOVE THE PODCASTS! CRANK OUT MORE!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:59:59 +0000

Great podcast as ever but I miss Cyan’s quirky laugh. Also when can we expect to hear more of Collis?

By: riki

riki — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:01:06 +0000

Excellent Podcast. I always enjoy these.

About the worst client. I think even a well written notice of intension to sue can sometimes bring results. Also I think in some places you can sell the debt to debt collection agencies. I’m not exactly sure how that works, but I think they pay you so many cents in the dollar and then send their sharks in to make a tidy profit. That is of course if you have a sound case to start with. I’ve never used this kind of approach myself and sure there’s probably a lot of factors that come into play. But depending on your situation and how old the debt it maybe something worth thinking about.

By: Philip Arthur Moore

Philip Arthur Moore — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:42:28 +0000

Another excellent podcast guys and gal. The question of business etiquette with regard to family is an interesting one, to say the least.

The reality is that a great number of freelancers get their feet wet by doing work for family members and friends before actually making it big. So once we have made a legitimate business from our skill set, I think it is our responsibility to make it very clear, through our actions, our business models, and the way we carry ourselves, that things have changed for us and that family members and friends should no longer expect the same rates that they received when we had no reputation or portfolio.

There is a very fine line to walk, indeed. I have found myself in situations with family members who took offense when I refused to take on any work from them without getting the information that I needed: namely, their business goals, their proposed launch date, their website content, etc. I guess it’s really a matter of education. They need to be taught that what you do is not necessarily what they expect you to do. And I don’t think that’s wrong.

There’s a time for family and a time for business, but always time for a free hug (word on the street is that John’s hugs are coated in 24K gold, which is why they are so expensive).

Keep it up gang. I’m so glad I found this website.