Is Working From Home For You?

Jerrin Finney is the owner and author of blogs on The 1099 Life. Remember to always do your research and gather all the information necessary to make the best decision for yourself possible.

DISCLAIMER! No part of this website or any blogs written here is career advice and it should not be taken as such. These blogs are written from the experience of me, Jerrin Finney, and only express my opinions and thoughts - which could and more than likely will in some cases - change. I'm learning and evolving as time passes and so will my thoughts and opinions. So nothing here is set in stone, nor is it professional and/or legal career advice of any kind. Take what you read with a grain of salt and do your own research to find the best solutions for your career/business goals. I don't claim to be correct in everything I do, either. Some things may be wrong and if you want to have a discussion or call me out on something, reach out to me on social media. Please make sound and reasonable financial decisions and please have discussions with qualified professionals if it makes sense to do so. With that out of the way, enjoy reading! Glad to have you here!

The Promise of Remote Work

Read any post on social media or watch any YouTube video talking about remote work and they'll make it sound like a dream come true - an escape from the 9-5 grind! But is that really what it is?

Spoiler alert: Nope.

Remote work is still work. What you believe sucks about going to your 9-5 remains the same. Remote work isn't easier. In fact, it's harder. You have to play the role of your own boss, meaning it's your responsibility to find work for yourself. Also, it means you have to set your schedule and do the work before your client's deadline. And also, you have to make sure you save up enough money for taxes. Remote work adds extra work that shouldn't be taken for granted.

But if you can get past all those hurdles, then sure. It may be the thing for you. Of course, this isn't groundbreaking news. That applies to anything in life, yeah? My point here is, don't fall for the fluff. If someone is trying to make remote work sound all sexy and cool and the way to make easy passive money, then 9.98 times out of 10, they're trying to get money from your pocket. They want your views so they can get more sponsorships and affiliate links. And hey, I want you to click on my affiliate links and my sponsorships too, should I have them.

But I also would like to be honest with you about it all. Remote work isn't sexy. It's work. Don't get hung up on the "remote" part of "work." Work is still work, and work is boring, draining, and sucks ass to be blunt.

Now, let me tell you why you need some remote work in your life.

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Diversity.

Diversity's good. It's just a fact of reality. Diverse genes are helping us survive. A diverse diet will ensure that you have something to eat when one food source runs out. And a diverse investment portfolio protects you from major losses that may occur in one sector of the economy. So we want diversity in order to create stability and growth.

So why not use some spare time and get a part-time remote job, if possible?

Look, I know the economy is jacked up right now. I also know that some people are working two to three jobs and still aren't able to afford rent or food. I'm not saying that having two jobs will guarantee your success. What I am saying is if one job can even barely cover your expenses, then having a second part-time job that you can do any time you want could be very beneficial.

Of course it will be beneficial in an obvious way - you get more money!  Some other benefits include learning how to manage your time, how to negotiate your worth (especially if you're doing freelance contract work or providing a service to a client) and you can scale it up as you build credibility and a portfolio. With one traditional job? Nope. Can't do that. You have to beg your boss for a raise or "wait your turn."

And if something happens to your traditional job or your remote job, you'll still have income coming in. If one or both of your jobs support your lifestyle alone, then that means you won't have to make too big of adjustments to your living situation should you lose one job.

Also, if you're building up different skillsets by doing two different jobs that require different skillsets, then you're upping your value! When looking for a job, you don't box yourself in - giving you a greater chance to survive an economic downturn. For example, I work in a warehouse at my traditional job as of December 17th, 2024. One of my remote jobs involves working with Artificial Intelligence. Those are two different skillsets I'm using, which means I'm opening doors to different job opportunities. If one door closes, another could open. So being diverse in skills gives you options.

Extra Pay, Duh!

Obviously working remotely and keeping your regular job, if that's possible, is great because it gives you extra money. But it doesn't just give you extra money to play with. It gives you a chance to not have to work so hard in the future by working a little bit harder in the present. Life ain't easy. Sometimes it requires a sacrifice from today to have a better tomorrow. That's just the way life is as far as I know.

So really, the extra pay translates into a better future for you and those you care about. It means you can leave some money for your kids. It means you can save up for retirement - maybe even retire early. It goes deeper than just putting a few extra numbers in your pocket. Those numbers lead to the real valuable things you want to do in life. It leads to the freedom you long for.

But in some cases, it may not be worth it to work so hard. Maybe you just don't have the strength. Sometimes it's like that in life. I don't have any solutions for you, but I get it. I had to make myself push on because there was absolutely no other acceptable alternative. That's how strongly I felt about it. I would push through and make a change or I'd die trying to change my situation with the best of my energies. But I couldn't sit by and let things stay the same. So that's why I made myself get used to doing two jobs. That's why I made myself learn how to do remote work and build a business on the side while maintaining full-time employment. It was that damn serious to me.

And I'm not saying you don't take your life seriously. I know nothing about you. Hell, as far as I know, nobody will ever read this blog so I don't even expect you to be here reading this blog. At least, that's how I feel at this moment. But I'll address you anyway, as though I always knew you'd be here. And I'll say, sure. We all have our situations. You know yours best and I know mine best. What worked for me may or may not work for you. It's up to you to decide.

But extra pay equates to extra opportunities. Once I realized that, I jumped on the part-time remote work bandwagon. I had to earn money to get myself closer to the way of living I desired.

Declaration of Freedom

Finally, working in a different way than just relying on a traditional job is my way of saying, "Screw the traditional systems that don't work for me! I'll forge a different path since tradition doesn't wanna work in my favor!" Look, one job isn't enough. One job isn't going to get me the life I want. It won't even really give me a life at all. Okay, maybe it'll barely get me by. With rent rising and wages stagnating, what choice do I have but to get another job?

But to be honest, I don't spend a lot of money. I don't go out much because there's really nothing I enjoy doing "out there." I stay home and have low cost to no cost entertainment. I mean, working on building new skills costs a few dollars, but it pays off in the end. And I would maybe struggle initially, but I don't have a problem with rent costs. Inflation is a minor annoyance, but not a major issue for me. I don't have any problems buying what I want. And I'm not rich by anyone's standard. And also, I'm not counting the remote work I do. I'm just counting my one salary from my one $20/hr job.

I live away from the city - out in the country. Nobody wants to live here, so it's cheaper here. And quieter. Perfect for sleeping and studying. But if I want, I can drive to the city. The thing is, I don't want to. Keep your traffic, your crowds and your crazy expensive stuff. I'll stay out here in the country and build wealth and skills. I know I can't afford to live in the city. That's why I'm not going to live there any time soon. 

But since I'm in a good financial situation, having an extra job won't hurt. In fact, it will help me declare my freedom from feeling trapped. I can leave my job or get fired from it and I'd still be doing decent. I wouldn't say I'd be perfect, but it wouldn't be a whole economic disaster for my personal finances. And having that freedom reduces stress, which gives me better quality sleep and an overall better quality of living.

There are a lot of good reasons to work remotely. Also, there are some red flags and caution signs you need to be aware of. However you choose to work, you have to make the most of it and be sure it's a choice that can support the lifestyle you want. Working from home may be for you. Or it may not be. You're the only one who can decide that in the end.