RE: FN-FORUM: The first six months..

date posted 16th August 2004 11:56

I'd like to second Lindsey's point about helping technically challenged
people for some income during slow periods. Quick example, a mortgage
advisor who was visiting got chatting to me about his PC when he =
realised I
was in the IT game... 3 weeks ago he went to a local PC shop for a =
repair to
his PCWorld "still under warranty but we can't even touch it for 3 =
weeks"
PC. The guy told him that it had so many viruses that he should really =
just
buy a new one (!!!). His PC had several browser "search toolbars" that =
had
infested his system and left him with very little viewable space for the
web-pages... the PC shop advised getting a larger screen (!!!! !!). =
This
chap eventually talked my mortgage advisor into buying a new base unit, =
and
then charged him =A3400 for an entry level box (even Dell do them =
cheaper than
that!). This kind of thing really annoys me when we all know all it =
needed
was an OS reinstall after copying off the customers documents.
I think there is probably a *huge* market for HONEST PC help and repair.

There... got that off my chest ;o)

Dave.

__________________________________________________
Dave Boulden, Director. DA Media Limited
web: http://www.da-media.co.uk/=20
Tel: 01795 559456 Fax: 07092 011488

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED] [EMAIL REMOVED] On Behalf Of =
Lindsey
Hill
Sent: 16 August 2004 11:24
To: FN-FORUM / [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM: The first six months..


> I got extremely low on money back in March, i.e. the whole "how the=20
> hell
> am I going to pay the rent next month, and I'm being chucked out so =
how
> I do cover the move and deposit" type situation. I managed to land a
> healthy contract that I had to travel to, so I could use my credit =
card
> to cover my costs in the meantime. However, I didn't have anything all
> ready borrowed on the card.

Yes, nobody said it would be easy, but we can all relate to what Aaron=20
is going through.

When I started, it was part of an early mid-life crisis a week before=20
my 30th I just packed my job in. No clients, no money in the bank, only=20
a few contacts, I also lived alone and had a mortgage to pay, I must=20
have been mad when I think about it. I sent mailers out, joined=20
agencies and despite what people say about agencies, they get you=20
started and pay sooner than direct clients and its easy money. My first=20
ever freelance job through an agency is now a regular client 4 years=20
later, though obviously not through the agency anymore.

I used to panic every now and then but I found somehow, something just=20
turned up out of the blue and saved the day. Yes its hard, and though I=20
always seem to be busy I rarely have excess money in the bank and I'm=20
sure I should be earning more than I do but the lifestyle choice=20
outweighs the cons.

It helps to have a backup plan and be prepared to do most things. If I=20
got stuck, I could always ring round and get a couple of weeks=20
artworking at a design agency. If you can fix computers, like Dave said=20
you can make money helping technically challenged people. If I had that=20
skill and was short of cash I'd put a card up in a local post office=20
offering help, I know so many people who have trouble with email etc=20
and don't know where to turn without being ripped off.

Hang in there!!

Lindsey

____________________
Apperley Design
design | create | innovate
T: 01274 421410
www.apperleydesign.co.uk


--=20
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