During these difficult economic times, is it best to be self employed or employed?

I would say a little bit of both. It doesn't hurt to have the security of a job with a company and get health care benefits, but also do some freelance work on the side. If there is one thing I've learned in this economy is that you can't rely 100% on any company.

You can be the best worker ever, but when they have to start laying people off, you might be losing your job. If you are already self employed and have a good reputation with whatever you may be doing on the side, you can start doing more of that and not lose everything.

It's better to have an income from both. Self-employment may provide "freedom", but being a "slave" or a company employee somehow provides some secure income, especially when you've got tenure. There are risks involved in going freelance, but if you're tired of serving other people's egos and profiteering goals, then that's the path to take - in spite of the financial instability it can cause.

Otherwise, you've got no choice but to endure and hope that you'd someday find the right time and have much capital to go self-employed.

Whichever you can be most successful at and enjoy.

Right now I am combining both realms. I am submitting articles with Google Adsense support and I have made a little bit of money here and there. In the future, I hope that it will be able to bring me enough extra income to have more time to spend with my family.

I currently work part time for a small company and that is my main source of income. I am hoping that publishing online articles will fill the void in my income. The reason why I started writing on HubPages nearly 2 years ago was because I was laid off from a factory job that I held.

Only the future will tell of my success, but I have faith and determination. What do I have to lose? I am certainly not ready to quit my day job yet!

JSMatthew~.

Right now I am combining both realms. I am submitting articles with Google Adsense support and I have made a little bit of money here and there. In the future, I hope that it will be able to bring me enough extra income to have more time to spend with my family.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.