You quit your corporate job and decided to join a ghostwriting service and you haven’t looked back. You can work in your pajamas, sleep until noon, and be in control of your destiny. You even get to take vacation whenever you want without having to worry about getting approval from your superiors. There’s just one problem: Unlike your nine-to-five counterparts, you don’t get any paid vacation. If you want days off over the holidays (which you deserve!), you have to sacrifice your income to do so. You may as well cut your gift-giving list in half now. Or is there a better way?
Take a Cue from the Bears
When the bears know they want (or need, however you want to look at it) to take some time off from hunting for food, they stock up. They grab a little extra here and a little extra there to ensure they have enough to last through the winter. Luckily for you, you don’t have to worry about saving up enough money for the entire season, but a few days or weeks off can be very good for your soul. Plan ahead and do an extra article each week building up to your vacation so you don’t have to stress about the bills while you are away.
Pickiness Pays Off
Your time is limited. No matter who you are and what other responsibilities you have, there are only 24 hours in a day (surprise!). You need to make the most of the time that you have, and this means choosing the articles that can make you the most per hour. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the ones with the biggest payday. Sometimes, those smaller articles can be completed at a rabbit’s pace and lead to higher per hour earnings, which is what really matters.
Eliminate Expenses
When you have completed so many articles your mind is mush and you just can’t get your brain to compose one more sentence, it may be a better idea to cut some items from your bottom line. Is that Eggnog Latte really worth another product description? When you view your purchases in terms of how many articles you have to write to pay for them, you may suddenly find you don’t need as much as you thought you did (and neither do your kids).
When it comes down to it, the holidays are all about enjoying time with your family and taking some much needed rest and relaxation for yourself. When you look back on this holiday season, you will not remember what bill you struggled to pay or what toy you had to skip on your kid’s wish list. But you will reminisce about the fun times you had with your loved ones as you gathered around the fireplace, and you may even recall the delectable pie that your Aunt Karen made.
So take that vacation. Set your status to “Away” and enjoy every single minute of it.
Rachel M is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
