Oh, speaking of money. Question for freelancers or those who work with same: I have to bill a client for the first time. I found an invoice template, but it seems so formal. Should I use it, or just use my "letterhead" with a couple of sentences on it?

I make $29K right now, but that comes with a footnote because I took a big paycut when I started this job. (Different industry, plus I had been fired, and any job beats no job.)

That's very similar to my situation. I'm making about half of what I made at the old job right now. It'll be interesting to see what I can scrounge up in St. Louis.

Should I use it, or just use my "letterhead" with a couple of sentences on it?

I'd go with the latter.

It'll be interesting to see what I can scrounge up in St. Louis.

Hey, a fellow Missourian to be!

Hey, a fellow Missourian to be!

Yup! I'll be back in MO in early April, it looks like.

Are you sad to sell your house, Anne? It's so cute....

Currently, my freelancing is bringing in an around $500/month. Which sounds pathetic, but isn't that bad considering I've barely done any marketing at all. I'd love to quadruple that, but given that I'm committed to spending a lot of time working on my novels and that Annabel will be of an age to need a lot of time and attention for the foreseeable future, I'd settle for doubling it. That's my goal for 2005, in fact.

Being self-employed and working from home is weird in that I no longer have work and not-work compartments for my life. Which is not to say that I don't track my hours carefully when I'm working with a client who pays by the hour rather than by the project, nor that I make no distinction at all between work and recreation, but there's no longer this strong dividing line where one part of time is MINE ALL MINE and the rest is grudgingly traded to an employer in exchange for regular pay and health insurance.

The "grudging" was a key part of it for me--I really had a messed-up attitude toward work. I think it was a combo of a really horrible first experience in a full-time job, the fact neither of my parents especially enjoyed their work, and my natural hierarchy-hating personality expressing itself. Even when I liked the work, I always kind of resented my bosses and was uncomfortable supervising others.

So it's been a huge revelation for me that it's possible to work and enjoy it. I honestly thought I was inherently a lazy ambitionless person before I found work I enjoyed and the right way to motivate myself. Now, I almost understand workaholics, because it is awfully hard for me to step away from my writing to relax or be with Dylan and Annabel. Which is not to say that I manage time well or don't spend too much time online. But I'm getting better.

Are you sad to sell your house, Anne?

You could trade it to me, for, umm,., I have some bottle caps and twine. And comics. And 23 bucks. And then you'd know it was still in the Buffista community!

Should I use it, or just use my "letterhead" with a couple of sentences on it?

I'd go with the latter.

Me too. I usually just have a brief description of services provided, hourly rate and hours worked (if not a flat fee job), the amount due, and whatever payment instructions I think are relevant/necessary.

Thanks, y'all. This is all so exciting!