How Does PayPal work for Online Workers?

If you're an online worker then you're probably familiar with the common payment methods such as PayPal. PayPal has been a trusted online payment site with services such as sending and receiving money.

For online workers in the Philippines you might notice there's a fee when receiving money from other countries. There's a 3.9% fee being deducted from the amount you receive. This is apart from the fee you incur when withdrawing your money to your chosen bank account or card.

To guarantee you receive the agreed upon payment you can advise your employer to cover your PayPal fees so that your payment is received in full. Many employers are considerate of this and happily agree to cover the fees.

*More information about fees can be found in the User Agreement for PayPal Services section.

To determine the fees you are currently being charged when receiving payments go to the 'History' section at the top of your My Account tab.

To calculate the fees you incur over a year's period you can download the transaction for a year and import to Microsft Excel. Follow the steps below:

An easy way to check your fees is with a PayPal calculator at Greg Ledet. For those on the go there's an app you can download to calculate the fees. 

Dropbox: Free Online Storage

Working online requires storage of your files, pictures, projects and even portfolios. If you're a transcriber receiving large dictation files you may need an alternative to receiving it through your inbox. 

The best cloud storage that I've come across by far is Dropbox. I found out about it through one of my past employers who would send me hour long dictations. It's convenient, accessible offline and safe to use.

I've recommended this cloud storage to my other employers and it has made work easier for both of us.

There are many online storage sites but Dropbox has offered me free space and the ability to get even more space by referring friends. I've earned more than 4GB by referring friends and linking my social media accounts. I was on the free plan for 2 years and have now switched to their Pro Plan at $9.99/month for 100GB to better get the benefit of more storage and security. They also offer 200GB & 500GB plans and  a Business Plan at 1TB for 5 users. 

The security is one of its best features as it allows you to store sensitive and confidential documents. You can connect all your devices to your Dropbox account and for extra safety use the 2 step verification they offer for added security. This entails you logging in and then being sent a code to your mobile phone which you will need to enter to get access to your folders and files. If you have a trusted device such as your desktop at home then you can do away with this.

Along with storing the files to the cloud and on your computer they have an app you can use to be able to access it through your smartphones and android phones. I use an iPhone and the Camera Upload feature is a great way to get pictures and files uploaded without the use of cables and memory cards.

You can also create as many folders as you'd like and share particular folders as I do with my employer. They've recently launched a Photo feature where you can create albums that you can easily share with family and friends.

Downloading time is quite fast. It may take some time if the file is large but from experience the files come through quickly. 

13th Month Pay for the Freelancer

December is an exciting month for employees to look forward to with the holiday break (if you're lucky to be working in an office that observes this) and most importantly the 13th month pay!

In the Philippines the 13th month pay is mandatory for all rank and file employees regardless of their position and employment status. As long as you have worked 1 month you are entitled to this benefit.Now how does this fit in with freelancers?

According to Presidential Decree No. 851 (Thirteenth Month Pay Law) those excluded from the 13th month pay law are the following:


1) Managerial employees

2) Those covered under the civil service law

3) Those already receiving 13th month pay or its equivalent. Christmas bonus, mid-year bonus, cash bonuses and other payments amounting to not less than 1/12 of the basic salary are treated as equivalent of 13th month pay

4) Household helpers and persons in the personal service of another

5) Those paid on purely commission, boundary, or task basis, and those who are paid fixed amount for performing specific work except those paid on a piece-rate basis.

Freelancers would fall under number 5. However, this also depends on what has been agreed upon between employer and employee. There are some freelancers that receive a 13th  month pay, some that receive a bonus or some who don't receive anything in December but receive a bonus on their anniversary date.

13th month pay is computed as 1/12 of the basic salary of an employee within a calendar year. This does not include allowances, leave credits, overtime pay, night differential, holiday pay and the like.

13th Month Pay Rules

• Should be given before December 24- some employers split this into two and give it as early as November while other present their 13th month pay to employees in one lump sum. 

•  Non-taxable as long as 13th month pay and other benefits for the year do not exceed Php30,000. Being a freelancer gives you the freedom to work from home and at your own pace. The drawbacks are not receiving benefits such as the 13th month pay.

Arguably, the reason that employers hire freelancers is to save on costs. The 13th month law is not a common requirement in other countries and comes as a surprise to most out of country employers. However, there are some that offer this to further entice the best of the best to apply for their openings. 

Without a doubt this is a sure fast way to get an employee committed and have them stay happy with their jobs. 

WAHM Interview: Chatting with Len

When I first started contemplating if I could be a WAHM I always hesitated because I wasn't sure if I could make it work and I didn't know anyone who actually worked at home and made a comfortable living.

I hope the interviews here will inspire you to take that step and fulfill your dream of being a work at home mom.

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Len manages a franchise of a well known burger chain called Brothers Burger located in Katipunan, Quezon City. It has made her WAHM life ideal since she is able to work her schedule around her kids which is what work at home mothers aim to do. She has been successful at handling their business and being available to her children. Read more to learn how the WAHM life is treating Len.

Age: 34
Number of children: 3

What has been the best experience of being a work at home mom? 
The best thing about being a work at home mom is you get to experience the best of both worlds without compromising quality time with the kids. Since I have flexible time, I can bring my kids to school, pick them up and help them with their homework.

How long have you been a WAHM?
I have been a WAHM for four years now.

What made you decide to become a WAHM?
I used to be a SAHM when I had my first child and when she started schooling I also started handling our business to help my husband to keep myself busy while my daughter’s in school.

What would you say are the challenges of being a WAHM?
There hasn’t been so much challenge for me since I can easily arrange my schedule. There are times though when I am caught up at work till afternoon or evening, during these times, monitoring and tutoring my daughter becomes a challenge because by the time I get home, she’s sleepy or too tired to review with me. When some of them are sick, of course they are my priority so I just call the restaurant to check and view the CCTV cameras every now and then.

What are the three things you need to be a successful WAHM?
To be a successful WAHM, one must be patient, flexible and creative. Trying to stick to your planned schedule is going to help you get all of your many daily tasks done. However, you do need to prepare for the fact that at one point, something will come up and they will throw your schedule completely off track. Like, if your child just keeps pulling at your pants and wanting all your attention? This is when you know it’s time to take a break and give your child the undivided attention that they need and deserve. After all, one of the main reasons you chose to be a WAHM is to give time to your loved ones while earning at the same time. You also need to be creative when it comes to thinking of tasks that you can give your kids to keep them busy while you're working. 

What is a normal day for you?
On weekdays, I usually start my day at 5am. I'll have my quiet time, then prepare breakfast and kid's snacks for school. Then I'll prepare the kids and bring them to school, usually with my husband. While waiting for the kid's dismissal, I go to the restaurant to check on it. Sometimes I would go back home after dropping the kids off school to spend time with my youngest. If I am at home by 11am, I prepare lunch and feed my 2 toddlers. After lunch they are usually sleepy so I put them down for a nap. I will then pick up my daughter in the afternoon then go back to the restaurant. By 5:30, I have to head home to prepare our dinner, yes, I don't let our helper cook our food. It has to be me and only me.

How has being a WAHM changed your life?
Working and being able to take care of my family at the same time has given me a lot of satisfaction. Knowing that I can help my husband while caring for the kids gives me joy and the sense of fulfillment is always there. Seeing my kids happy because I can attend to their needs anytime is something that I wouldn't want to exchange for any higher paying full time job because the happiness that I can get from being a WAHM is priceless.

Words of encouragement for wannabe WAHMs?
Being a WAHM is not an easy job, but any mom that I know would do their best to make time for their kids. Once you see your kids' eyes light up because they see you spending more time with them, the joy is overwhelming. You will have the best of both worlds and the most important thing is the happiness that no amount of money can buy.

Free PDF Tools

Source: Klaus Tiedge (Gettyimages)

When you work at home you'll often need specific tools depending on the job. Some are provided by employers and some you'll need to have on hand. Personal assistants, virtual assistants and the like will need a tool they can use to convert PDFs, merge and split, etc.

The tools you'll need if provided by you will become a work expense just like the electricity you use and the internet connection you pay for that's why it's great to have free online tools available.

I was needing a PDF converter on a project I had and was lucky to find PDF Fill. It has worked great for me as I mainly use merging, splitting and converting of PDF files which are all part of their free tools.

They also include encrypting and decrypting options, rotating and cropping, reformatting of multiple pages, adding headers and footers, adding watermarks, PDF Form Fields, and more as part of their free package.

When you download the tool you also get their free PDF & Image Writer. There is also a PDF Editor available for a minimal fee.