So handing in my notice on Wednesday to go freelance. Am I doing the right thing?

[Thandeka]

Still got a few days to decide and am aware grief may be clouding judgement (Had a missed miscarriage of first pregnancy at 10 weeks- 2weeks ago).

So I have a contract for 2 days a week (@£300 per day) work for a year from now (so until end of this new financial year) potentially it could be extended but not guarentees. Also chatting to my boss about it although the money is there and earmarked for me it is being held in a very cash strapped place and am worried they could pull the plug on my funding.

I also have various smaller projects running with odd days booked up between £300 -£500 per day and this is hopefully going to expand. Also finishing off a masters and have a contract to write a book (money for this is shite but the publicity may help get more freelance work?)

So I think I have plenty to keep me busy and the three days a week I do at school (I work in education) just won't fit any more and I can't reduce my hours any further (however I will be allowed to do supply there the odd day and my boss would definitely have me back for that- dayrate is £130 I think so not as lucrative but good for keeping in touch with my friends, and the kids etc and for money during times when no contracts about.

Issue will be there will be no work in the summer holidays (potentially I could do writing projects though) so I will probably still get the same school holidays but not get paid for them so need to take this into account.

Bit worried about my pension as currently have a teachers pension which is best pension around.

Bit worried I may be lonely and miss the buzz of school (though when am there the buzz of school can drive me mad!)

Basically am kind of viewing this as a "year out" to see what happens and fingers crossed I will get pregnant again (and it work this time) in the next year and then while the kids are small I can still do freelance and maybe go back to teaching later. Obviously I am going to lose out on maternity benefits but to be honest since I wouldn't go back to work anyway I would have only taken SMP and since I think I will be entitled to MA I think it will be fine. (I will be entitled to MA won't I?)

Anyhow can anyone help me make sure I am making the absolute right decision? (My heart says yes and my head is 99% sure- its just the niggles!)

I think that if you are 99% sure, you should probably do it. Look at it from the other POV - if you didn't do it, wouldn't you always wonder if it would have worked out?

I guess it depends on the sort of person you are, but for me it is always better to try. Even if it didn't turn out to be a success, you would have given it your best shot. I think it is better to do that than to teeter on the sidelines, wishing you had the courage to join in.

Your concerns are valid, but no one can look into the future and know what is going to happen. You can only make decisions based on the information you have right now. So as long as you have thought through the implications of this choice and you feel that the chances are good that it will work out ok financially, give it your best shot and go for it.

When I went freelance I worked part time (18 hours a week) for the first year, and then full time freelance. Make no mistake, it is hard work. You have to pour all your energy into getting work, putting your name out there, pestering people to give you a chance etc. (I am a freelance writer.) But for me it worked and I am still freelance six years down the line.

Seeing it as a year out to try to make it work sounds reasonable and to do that you have to give yourself the best chance possible. At first you are bound to have some days when you are twiddling your thumbs - use those times to market yourself. I viewed it almost like I was the product I had to sell. I sent hundreds of letters and emails, and followed them up with phone calls to chase if I didn't hear back. I had lists of names and numbers printed off from yell.com of companies who work in my field and I made contact with them all and kept records of names and responses.

On the financial side, why don't you go and see a financial advisor and get some professional opinions about your position and your best routes for the future? Paying for a bit of informed advice is a good investment to help you feel clear about where you stand financially. There are a lot of uncertainties when you are freelance, so the more things you can be certain about the better.

Hope something here is useful. Good luck for the future!

Thankyou so much for taking the time to respond. Potentially I could do a halway house of stay at school three days a week and do this contract for 2 days a week but that leaves no time for other bits and bobs. I have been a part time consultant for last year so have already dipped toe in water so now is time to decide about taking the plunge. Hmm nah that option feels wrong.

The financial advisor idea is a very good one, thankyou. Will definitely do that.

Thandeka - it sounds like you have it all worked out. You are massively better organised and have thought about it a lot more than lots of people who start down the s-e route, which is half the battle.

IMO you are right to see book as loss leader BTW. If you're selling yourself as an 'expert' (which you are) it always helps to have a book lurking about.

MrsB

Cheers MrsB that massively helps as i really respect your opinion given your previous fab advice to me.

Was supposed to spend this weekend thinking about it but erm instead watching lost episodes with a bottle of wine! Still think its a yes tho- since am not even worried about properly deciding as have pretty much made up my mind. Fingers crossed it all goes okay. Gulp!

Hello Thandeka - I work two days per week in school and I am just starting as self employed and have DS at home.

I love it (depite my outburst re website)
It is giving me so much and I think I was ready to move away from teaching! As soon as I earn just enough I am out of there.

As it is timetable time of year is it possible to ask if you can go down to 0.4 or 0.3? You never know it might be doable.

School holidays are a thing though, marking or moderating as and when required?

It sounds like you have some good opportunities in front of you.

I would like to send my kindest to you re your recent loss HTO. Maybe you are still in cloud of grief sa you put it but this give you a perspective you otherwise may not have had? x

I am a HoD so they cant reduce my timetable further (0.6) without losing my role which means they would have to employ someone new and it all gets a bit complicated. I did ask but they sort of waffled back at me and didnt want to push it since really I only want 0.2 max at school and no body would employ me on that!

Well I think in that case go for it - no more development plns or middle management meetings or having to justify your soul after results day!

I used to be HoD in my last school I did miss it at first when I moved school but not now.

You have solid work and opportunties in front of you - go for it and best wishes.

Well I was sorted on this plan until I had a really vivid dream about it and what a mistake it was so now I need to have long summit meeting with DH tonight before handing in the official thing tommorrow. Nargh argh argh! I HATE DECISIONS!

(P.S I teach a non-examinable subject so no justifying soul after results day- but explaining the teen pregnancy rate on the other hand......

So whats have you decided?

Still haven't! Nargh (see my other WWYD post!) have a meeting with AH in charge of timetabling next lesson. Gulp.

decided now. Thought sod it and did it today!
Nargh!

wrong thread. Sorry Thandeka!