02/01/2023
Starting the New Year with an unpopular perspective (re)set
Lazy day on the first day of the year so I just lounged in bed with Molongskitten and the wife, played some news via youtube and perused through the posts sa Molongskiverse Freelancers, and found this thread. Read it and skipped it, but after a few posts, it nagged me and I felt responsible so I was like, "Okay, why not. Let me share another kontrabida perspective to start the year and share something personal. Reward na din para sa mga actually nagbabasa ng comments"
So here's my response:
"Hindi ko alam ano ang mukha at value ng pag-asa sayo or anong lifestyle meron kayo at kailangan niyo ng $3,200 a month or P175,000 at month — pero here’s a context from isa sa mga states na may pinakamataas na cost of living sa US.
Ang average rent ng bahay dito eh nasa $1,800-$2,500 a month. Rent namin is $2,600 and mura na yon for a family of 5. On top of that, almost lahat may car insurance na binabayaran from $75-200/month. Car insurance ko nasa $315/month. Gas prices are at about $4/gal in a month that’s $200-400 added gastos. With the current inflation, a dozen of eggs is at $17-20. So a weekly grocery can range from $200-400 depende sa size ng family. Last grocery namin was about $700+. Basic pa lang yon. May mga medical premiums pa, rent or property insurance, wala pa dun mga utility bills etc.
So, ganyan yung ground level point of view ng “cost of living” na sinasabi nila. Di ko alam magkano na presyo ng itlog or gas or renta sa Pilipinas pero Im sure it’s not like the figures above. And ganyan ang gastusin and more ng mga nasa US with a sahod that’s close to a figure na magbibibgay sayo and pamilya mo ng pag-asa.
And your clients know these data. They live it and the information js available conveniently online and parati nga nasa news lately lalo na sa looming recession.
So a regular direct client named Joe will go: “Why will I pay you almost the same amount as someone located in a place with much higher cost of living?”
I’m not saying you can’t charge like pano sinisingil ng mga tao sa west.
I actually advice you should.
Lalo na if your skill, expertise and experience is comparable sa mga tao sa west or sa first world countries.
Dito na naman papasok yung masarap basahin na comments na “wala pake pake sa locations basta kaya mo you should charge as much din. Walang keber sa cost cost of living na yan. Basta know your worth ses.” Or some version of that. Favorite niyo yan and you immediately subscribe sa ganyang linyahan pero it gives you a false sense of self worth.
In short, wala talaga laman. Hangin lang.
Know your work and yang worth worth na yan will follow.
Kung may premium client ba ng magbabayad ng $20/hr at 40 hours a week?
Sure. Andami.
Kayang-kaya yan.
But (this is directed sa lahat) ask yourself, premium ka ba? Kung hindi pa, are you actively making ways para maging premium?
Are you in the right place na pinaghahanapan ng clients na premium?
Alam mo ba magidentify at magdetermine at profile ng clients?
Or gusto mo lang din ng $20/hr at 40 hours a week kasi ganun yung rates ng iba?
Rhetorical.
Happy new year. ☺️"
This isn't a direct response kay TS (threadstarter) but a perspective based on data and basic business concepts to help y'all navigate your freelancing journey better. 🥰
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