10 Best Cities for Freelancers

Hate going into the office day in and day out and always wished for a freelancer's life? Freelancers have some coveted perks surrounding flexibility and need willpower and a go-getter attitude to keep at it in order to maintain their careers, but sometimes their location makes it difficult to get their jobs done effectively. Then there are those places throughout the world which seem to be tailor-made to suit a freelancer's lifestyle perfectly.

That's where Hoofdkraan, a Dutch freelance platform's study of over 90 countries comes in handy. If you're wondering where in the world to work as a freelancer with the best set-up for success, be it good weather, speedy internet speed, varied and plentiful workspace availability, etc., their findings using 23 ranking factors will be useful for anyone willing and able to take their work virtually anywhere. Heck, isn't that what the freelance life is all about?

Imagine consulting from a charming café in Marseille or writing essays and books beachfront in Miami. Sounds like a dream compared to trying to drown out the endless noise at your local Starbucks or staring at a bare brick wall inside a shared (and outrageously expensive) workspace cubicle.

The study's top 10 findings all seem like wonderful places to visit, and if you can maintain and grow a freelance career there too, it's a bonus beyond one's wildest imagination.

The top ten best cities as per Hoofdkraan for freelancers are as follows, with some of their biggest perks as to why they were chosen:

1.Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is an inexpensive place to live, the internet is fast, and it's beach-adjacent. Sounds like a freelancer's dream locale!

2.Miami, Florida, USA. Miami weather is perfect, the internet speed is like lightning, and the quality of life can't be beat. Will Smith knew what he was rapping about!

3.Seville, Spain. Warm weather, totally affordable, and fast internet speeds make Seville a freelancer's home a great place to work from. Hola amigos!

4.Las Palmas, Spain. Another Spanish location with ideal weather, beachfront workspaces, and natural beauty. If you're not distracted by the dreamy surroundings, this seems like a blissful place to work from.

5.New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. There's so much to do in New Orleans; after work, the nightlife is second to none. Plus the internet is fast and the quality of life is extraordinary.

6.Bristol, United Kingdom. The high quality of life, safe surroundings, and a variety of places for freelancers to work from make Bristol a terrific choice for those seeking to head "across the pond."

7.Marseille, France. This small city feels homey, yet the nightlife is pumping. There are lots of places for freelancers to work from, and calling France "home" is something many people have only dreamt of.

8.Bratislava, Slovakia. While not too many people have even considered Bratislava as a place to freelance from, the area's low taxes, inexpensive cost of living, and fast internet make it something to think about.

9.Vancouver, Canada. Peaceful, natural, and close to the beach. Seems like a retreat, but as long as you can get your work done, Vancouver is an ideal place for a freelancer to make a living from. Plus, "freedom of speech" was ranked as a plus by the creators of the study.

10.Porto, Portugal. Safety is important, and Porto is considered a very safe place to live. Add the area's great weather and sandy beaches, and a freelancer can do their job well while enjoying the breathtaking surroundings.

For the full list which ranked 117 cities in all, see the full report.

Are you a freelancer? Here are some tips about obtaining health insurance you may benefit from. You may also be seeking a place to work from aside from your dining room table. Consider a co-working space for a little variety and human interaction.

Have you become inspired to move to one of these top 10 best cities for freelancers? The temptation is understandable. Working freely and in a desirable location make for a dream job scenario!

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Landscaping Options to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

Home garden and porch

As anyone who has ever sold a house will tell you, you must prioritize curb appeal. Before a potential buyer even considers looking inside your house, they notice the outside first. Does it attract the right kind of attention? Does it take away from the feel you're going for? If you plan to sell sometime soon, you must think about these things. Here are some landscaping options to increase your home's curb appeal, so you can get the best price on your home.

Extensive Plants and Greenery

A barren front yard won't get you the price you want on your home. So, invest in at least a little bit of greenery to keep the surrounding area from looking too dead. Shrubs and bushes tie the house to the lawn that precedes it, and flower beds bring a pop of color to an otherwise drab structure. You can also strategically plant some trees to improve the overall feel of your home's exterior.

Lawn Care

As we mentioned, your lawn is one of the most prominent features of your home's exterior. A patchy, dried-up lawn will quickly drive your home's price way down. Some of the best landscaping options for your home's curb appeal involve improving your lawn for the next inhabitant. Overall fertilization, ground aeration, underbrush removal, proper mowing—all of these lawn care tasks contribute to a greener and more lively area that invites people to see your house, rather than stay away from it.

Paved Pathways

There's nothing like a broken and disheveled pathway to make someone think twice about buying a property. Just as you want the entryway in your house to be welcoming, so too should the pathway leading up to the house be inviting. The pathway from the street to your front door provides plenty of real estate to get creative with. You don't have to settle for a boring concrete pathway. Consider something more eye catching, like a cobblestone path or intermittent brick patterns, as a way to better welcome potential buyers.

Usable Outdoor Furniture

Landscaping doesn't just involve the ground you walk on; also included are the items you use as extras to the overall look. Outdoor furniture is one such extra that you don't necessarily need but can look quite attractive if done correctly. Staging is important with outdoor furniture. Old, broken-down pieces will only look like more work to the potential buyer. A few comfortable chairs, a bench, or a table with an umbrella really go a long way to improving your outdoor aesthetics.

A good tip for deciding on curb appeal items is to decide what you personally would want to see as a part of a welcoming home's exterior. You don't need to go overboard, but a little bit of forethought could net you quite a lot of extra cash in the sale.

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Common Mistakes Made When Giving to Charity

Unfortunately, giving back can sometimes go haywire. If you're ready to make a donation, first consider common mistakes made when giving back.

Many people strive to support their community by donating their time or their money. When you find a meaningful cause, you might be quick to cut a donation check. Though it's admirable to be quick to act charitably, you should be wary of several common mistakes made when giving to charity. Being mindful of these mistakes and learning tips for making informed charitable choices can help you make the most out of your generous check.

Acting Quickly Out of Emotion

Mission statements are meant to be compelling. If you're an emotionally driven individual, it's natural to pull out your wallet at the sight of a sad puppy on TV or when informed about food insecurity over the phone. Unfortunately, not all charities are as effective or official as they may seem.

Take your passion for helping others one step further by making sure your chosen charity is legit. Speaking with a representative, reviewing their website and social media accounts, and looking at testaments online can give you a better idea of whether the organization is worth your donation.

Forgetting to Keep Record of the Donation

Don't forget that you can reap some financial perks from giving back! With the proper documentation of your donation, you can acquire a better tax deductible.

If you donate more than $12,400 as a single filer or $24,800 as one of two joint filers, you're eligible to deduct that amount from your taxes. So, when a charity asks if you'd like a receipt of donation, always answer yes.

Donating Unusable Materials

Most charities can utilize a monetary donation—it's the physical donations that usually cause some issues. Providing a local nonprofit with irrelevant materials or gifting them with unusable products are surprisingly common mistakes made when giving to charity.

Always check your intended charity's website for a list of things they do and do not accept. The majority of places will provide a guideline to donating or offer contact information to clarify any questions.

Strictly Giving at Year's End

As more and more people get into the holiday spirit at the end of the year, nonprofit organizations see an influx of donations. While it's great to spread holiday cheer via a monetary donation, it's important to keep that spirit going year-round.

With regular donations, charities can more effectively allocate their annual budget. Setting up an automatic monthly donation with the charity of your choosing can maximize your impact. You can account for a monthly donation by foregoing a costly coffee every once in a while.

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How Much You Should Spend on Home Maintenance

Knowing how much you should spend on home maintenance each year is hard to figure out and may be preventing you from buying your first home. The types of costs you'll incur depend on the house you buy and its location. The one certainty is that you should start saving now. Read on to figure out how much to start setting aside based on the home you own.

The Age of Your House

Consider several factors when budgeting for home repairs. If you've purchased a new home, your house likely won't require as much maintenance for a few years. Homes built 20 or more years ago are likely to require more maintenance, including replacing and keeping your windows clean. Further, depending on your home's location, weather can cause additional strain over time, so you may need to budget for more repairs.

The One-Percent Rule

An easy way to budget for home repairs is to follow the one-percent rule. Set aside one percent of your home's purchase price each year to cover maintenance costs. For instance, if you paid $200,000 for your home, you would set aside $2,000 each year. This plan is not foolproof. If you bought your home for a good deal during a buyer's market, your home could require more repairs than you've budgeted for.

The Square-Foot Rule

Easy to calculate, you can also budget for home maintenance by saving one dollar for every square foot of your home. This pricing method is more consistent than pricing it by how much you paid because the rate relies on the objective size of your home. Unfortunately, it does not consider inflation for the area where you live, so make sure you also budget for increased taxes and labor costs if you live in or near a city.

The Mix and Match Method

Since there is no infallible rule for how much you should spend on home maintenance, you can combine both methods to get an idea for a budget. Average your results from the square-foot rule and the one-percent rule to arrive at a budget that works for you. You should also increase your savings by 10 percent for each risk factor that affects your home, such as weather and age.

Holding on to savings is easier in theory than practice. Once you know how much you should spend on home maintenance, you'll know what to aim for and be more prepared for an emergency. If you are having trouble securing funds for home repairs, consider taking out a home equity loan, borrowing money from friends or family, or applying for funds through a home repair program through your local government for low-income individuals.

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