Third place is an academic term for community building, where first place is home, and second is work.  But only a community can instill a sense of place.

Ray Oldenburg wrote in his book, Great Good Place, in 1989, that third places are important for civil society, democracy, and other social engagements.  While you live at home, you actually spend more time at work.  Third places are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction.

Have you been camping out in cafés?  Or libraries?  Or even hotel lobbies?  You're craving for a community of like-minded neighbors.  You're seeking for a third place.

Sit and interact with non-profit groups and tech start-ups alike.  At BLANKSPACES, we don't mind being third.

Grow Your Business presentation by Freelance Meetup Group member Rebecca Quinn, MAOM.

Rebecca will spend the first part of the meeting showing you:

How to create a simple marketing system to make the most of your time.
How you can stand out from the competition and attract clients to you.
Free and low-cost methods to get found where your prospective customers are looking for you.
There are so many ways to market yourself these days...which are right for you?
Come prepared to explain the quick version of what you do and who your ideal client is, and if you have a specific marketing challenge you are welcome to explain. During the second half of the meeting, the group will brainstorm ideas to help each member with their marketing strategy and/or challenges. You'll leave with specific tips you can put into action right away to grow your business and get more clients.

3 Money Tips for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed Workers

So you're working on the next great Web 2.0 startup, or you're finally
shedding your corporate past to work for yourself. You spend all your
free time thinking about your business, how to get more clients, and
even dabbling in SEO. Well, let's take a few minutes to make sure your financial house is in order. Here are 3 simple money tips for
entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, or anyone going through a career transition.

1. Don't invest your rent money

If your income is not stable yet and you expect to dip into savings to
pay rent or other living/business expenses, that money should not be
invested in the stock or bond market. Any savings you expect to use
within a year or two should be in very safe, "cash" investments. We're
talking about the boring stuff here: savings accounts, CDs, and money market funds. You'll need the money soon, don't gamble it away.

2. Consider a Roth IRA conversion

If you expect your income to be unusually low this year because your
business is not yet making Zynga money, or you're just getting started as a consultant, you may be an excellent candidate for converting your old IRAs and 401k's into a Roth IRA. By converting, you would be prepaying your taxes this year, when you're in a low bracket, instead of paying them later, when you return to a high bracket. Obviously, many factors go into this decision, so consult a tax expert.

3. Contribute to a small business retirement plan

Once you start making a decent income, saving on taxes becomes a high priority. As a business owner or contractor, an easy solution is to
set up a small business retirement account, like a SEP IRA or
Self-Employed 401k. Your contribution limit depends on your business income, so you may even be able to contribute more than you did with your old corporate 401k. Take a look at Fidelity's comparison chart to find the right option for you. And if you're still working a job while starting your business, you may be able to contribute to the small business plan on top of your plan at work.

Edwin Choi is an investment advisor and owner Mariposa Capital Management. Prior to starting Mariposa, he spent several years as a portfolio manager and trader with Merrill Lynch in New York. Subscribe to Mariposa's quarterly newsletter at http://www.mariposacap.com/join-our-mailing-list/

David on an adventure in Morocco.

David Rothschild

Investing for Retirement using Asset Allocation
Wed June 2nd 7:00-8:00pm

LA Freelance June Meetup
Sun June 6 3:00-5:00pm

Most of our events are open to the public and some are free for members! For more information regarding our events & seminars, please visit our online calendar