Things To Do Before Leaving the Day Job

It’s been more than a year since I had to swipe my badge. Making the move to full-time freelancing wasn’t easy. For me, it was about two years in the making. Most people can’t simply wake up one day and decide you’re not going back to work.

I recently ran across a great blog at My Dollar Plan, a blog run by Madison DuPaix who’s also a fellow About.com Guide (Kids and Money). 29 Steps I Took to Leave the Workforce at 29 details what Madison did to prepare for the big leap. I did quite a few of the things on the list. #2 Save Aggressively was one of the most important steps for me. Because my freelance writing income was nowhere near my take-home salary, I needed a cushion to help cover living expenses.

Something I’d add to the list that’s kind of covered, but not explicitly stated - Spend like you’re already freelancing. If you go ahead and reduce your living expenses while you’re still gainfully employed, you’ll have an easier time transitioning.