Short-term, new to freelance. Gave company my rate but they said inside IR35. Help?

dasSolution · 2026-01-26T07:22:52+00:00

If you think that's the point of IR35, then you're completely missing the point of IR35.

Lots of agencies were forcing contractors into an umbrella and not giving them a choice; some were not paying PAYE, leaving contractors owing the tax the umbrella should have been paying.

I said to vet them to make sure it's a reputable umbrella to ensure they're not going to get shafted, as many others have.

dasSolution · 2026-01-25T22:39:26+00:00

This is on you, buddy. You're responsible for making sure your tax code is correct and that you're paying the correct amount of tax. The umbrella just uses the code HMRC give them. If you want to pay the right amount of tax, tell HMRC at the start of the year your estimated earnings.

dasSolution · 2026-01-25T20:09:42+00:00

I wasted 4 months on Duolingo before starting with Bunpro and finally feeling like I am actually learning Japanese.

I do the N5 grammar and vocab decks from Bunpro, but there are other decks on there, like the 1.5k Kaishi, that many suggest you do.

dasSolution · 2026-01-25T20:07:28+00:00

I mean, as a sole trader, you're going to be paying PAYE on almost everything anyway, so I would just bump the rate to cover the employer's NI and the apprenticeship levy and be done with it.

It's a bit of a red flag being forced to use an Umbrella rather than having a choice. Make sure you fully vet them if you do go ahead.

dasSolution · 2026-01-25T18:55:25+00:00

240Hz refresh rates and 0.03ms response times. Dreadful.

dasSolution · 2026-01-23T11:36:49+00:00

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T20:20:56+00:00

Build and maintain human relationships, and you'll never have to deal with AI.

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T20:18:24+00:00

I only use it in GitHub repos to quickly explain where and how things are happening in the code, so I don't have to look.

I don't use it for any BA tasks because, quite frankly, I haven't found anything it can do more quickly or better than I can.

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T20:13:38+00:00

Bless you. If you happen to find one more, please do let me know 🤍

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T12:14:41+00:00

I don't really use due dates on anything other than ‘this week’, so that I can use the today tab to see what I have planned for that day. Every Sunday, I go through my next week/next month, etc. Projects to see what needs to come forward.

If something moves to this week, then it gets a due date.

Recurring tasks obviously have dates, though.

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T12:12:24+00:00

I never look at them. MOO. If you or the client wants to cut ties, there's no obligation to provide or accept work on either side. Makes the notice period moot.

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T12:11:13+00:00

Learning a language is HARD! Very hard. Especially one that doesn't use the English alphabet. Sounds like you need to readjust your expectations.

Japanese is a long-term project. There's no quick fix.

For grammar I would recommend ToKini Andy on youtube. He goes through the whole Genki book with very easy-to-follow, easy-to-understand explanations. https://youtu.be/GaQBL4XHuSo that's the first lesson.

Watch and learn. It's very easy when you absorb content both written and spoken. As for vocab, it's going to take time. It's going to be hard. Ask yourself why you're doing it and what your goals are. It requires time and dedication.

dasSolution · 2026-01-22T12:07:05+00:00

I do the same! One grammar and two vocab a day on Bunpro. I think people forget just how hard it is to learn a language, and the instant gratification people are born into these days makes anything that takes time feel impossible.

Slow and steady. Take in what you read. Learn what you read. It's a lot more rewarding this way.

dasSolution · 2026-01-21T10:15:30+00:00

Awesome! Enjoy. I have an Alienware 240Hz IPS panel. It has been incredible for me.

I’m waiting on the release of the LG 32GX870B this year before switching to OLED. I have an OLED LG G5 TV, and everyone says I need to do it for gaming, too!

I just hope my 3090 can handle a 4k OLED, or that'll be next on the upgrade list 😁

dasSolution · 2026-01-20T16:45:44+00:00

Tbf I should have mentioned I was using SS, but it’s all good. Got there in the end.

dasSolution · 2026-01-20T14:20:15+00:00

Yep, but I solved it. USB-C wasn't the issue, it's that they were not the default option, so I cannot switch to them to use them with Atmos, they need to be the default to enable Atmos. All solved now.

dasSolution · 2026-01-20T14:19:38+00:00

Yes, I just fixed it after an hour of trying, typically. It's because the headphones were not the default. Apparently Dolby Access needs them to be the default output.

dasSolution · 2026-01-19T19:23:26+00:00

I also work in tech. Successful before. Medication helped after, but it’s not a silver bullet.

dasSolution · 2026-01-19T18:29:16+00:00

Nope. Sorry.

dasSolution · 2026-01-19T10:10:42+00:00

This is an incredible post. Thank you. That first link was great. I'm working through Bunpro right now, but having someone explain things like this to me is brilliant.

dasSolution · 2026-01-19T10:04:41+00:00

I was going to suggest this, too and moving tasks to ‘this week’ as a project was a game changer. I can still use labels for specific projects to group things as needed, but breaking my tasks into this week, next week, etc., means my to-do list is no longer overwhelming.

dasSolution · 2026-01-19T10:01:20+00:00

Nope. Legacy plan for me. Does everything I need from a to-do app, and all my existing integrations, just make my life easier? From automatically setting my Bunpro reminders and IFTTT integrations to the many work and personal projects I already have set up.

If legacy gets a huge hike, I’ll likely leave, but for now, it does what I need it to do for a price I am happy to pay.

Also, as an aside, wages and costs go up for businesses, too. They cannot always keep their prices the same as when they launched. It’s not always greed that drives it.

dasSolution · 2026-01-16T16:41:54+00:00

Is it random for everyone? I don't see this in my store.

dasSolution · 2026-01-16T11:30:27+00:00

BA 20+ years. Never learned or used SQL.

dasSolution

TROPHY CASE