Comments for carolineduffy.co.uk

Comment on How I became a freelance graphic designer by Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:05:03 +0000

thank you, Lawrence! some sound points there.

Two of the best bits of advice I had when starting off was to save a third of my income and put it in a savings account to pay my tax, and the other was to read up on how to keep accounts. The Teach Yourself Small Business Accounting book I bought (and linked to above) was excellent in this regard – up until going VAT registered last year I did all my own accounts using the method described in that easy-to-follow book. HMRC have never deemed me worth investigating, so far at least. I’m pretty honest, so not too worried about that!

You’re right about the pension – but I’ve seen how badly designers get paid in Cardiff, compared with Bristol, even, so elect to earn more money freelance and save for the future myself. Could do with saving a bit more though…

Comment on How I became a freelance graphic designer by Lawrence Hourahane

Lawrence Hourahane — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:37 +0000

Very interesting, Caroline – and so many similarities to my own experience when I left a safe, full-time job to go freelance as a TV producer.

It’s definitely worth working out how much you’ll need to live on – and you must be honest with your expected budget.

Having worked out what I needed, I decided to take the plunge when I was guaranteed 50% – 66%
of it as a freelance. The rest would come, I hoped. And it did.

In my latter months in salaried employment I had mentioned to a number of people and companies that I was thinking of going freelance. They were interested, but non-commital. “Get in touch when you’ve gone freelance”, they all said. Once I’d taken the plunge, they did offer me work, shedding their previous reticence. I’d proved that I meant what I said.

One final point: do as much preparatory bookwork as you can, keep all your receipts, etc., but then hand it to a reputable accountant to prepare your Inland Reveue returns. If you do so, the Revenue are far less likely to put you under their microscope.

But if you do it all yourself, or use an accountant with whom they have already had run-ins regarding their slaphappy approach to claiming on behalf of their clients, they’ll take an interest in you. And that can cost you.

I had a great decade as a freelance, but now I’m back in salaried employment. Why? Because I was offered a great job – and a pension. An employer’s contribution to a pension is not to be sniffed at, even today…

Comment on Ted Shiress’ website by Ted Shiress

Ted Shiress — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:57:09 +0000

Indeed I did! :<)

Comment on Fat Tuesday by Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:19:02 +0000

thank you!

Comment on Fat Tuesday by Maeve

Maeve — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:44:14 +0000

gorgeous!

Comment on Routine maintenance by Eleanor

Eleanor — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:35:19 +0000

Enjoy reading your posts Caroline, keep up the good work.

Comment on Lovely children’s activity booklets by Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:22:40 +0000

Why thank you! Always a pleasure x

Comment on Lovely children’s activity booklets by Grace Todd

Grace Todd — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:56:56 +0000

Hi Caroline
Just wanted to say the booklets are fab and have been really well received by our visitors. You came up trumps again!
x

Comment on New website. AGAIN. Why? by admin

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:53:32 +0000

Merci beaucoup, Noreen! Am really enjoying writing ‘proper’ posts rather than “here’s some work I’ve just done. They’re a wonderful space to solidify ideas & such x

Comment on New website. AGAIN. Why? by noreen

noreen — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:02:37 +0000

Hurrah! Especially hurrah for this:
At the moment I’m all, “this is my business, you should hire me”. I want to be, “this is the energy and attitude I bring to the world – you want some?”

Awesome. Awesome awesome awesome. xxx