Jim Cramer is the guru responsible for Mad Money, the high-energy cable investment program. MSNBC quotes this pro-investment, pro-stock market man saying some radically different things than you’ve heard from Cramer’s books and programs. “I don’t care where stocks have been, I care where they’re going, and I don’t want people to get hurt in the market,” Cramer said in the MSNBC.com piece entitled, “Jim Cramer: Time To Get Out of the Stock Market”.

Cramer is reversing course in a major way, advising retreat from the stock market as a strategy for the first time ever–at least as far as I can tell. This economic chaos is leading to massive world uncertainty, layoffs, and an ever-shrinking bottom line for once-strong companies. In the 90s, it was the dot-coms who were the casualties of the bursting bubble…this time, it’s EVERYONE.

What does this mean for freelancers?

In the midst of layoffs, budget cuts and extreme financial fear, it’s true that some freelance opportunitues could become scarce as companies tighten their purse strings, but I believe the current financial difficulties could actually make things better in the freelance sector. When the bosses cut jobs, they don’t cut output expectations. The same work is required to get done. What happens to a staff that gets overworked to the breaking point? They ask for help.

Enter the freelancer. Employers don’t pay taxes on us, they don’t pay our insurance, and they don’t give us 401Ks (which could be worthless soon anyway). We cost far less and do far more than simply provide some work to help make deadline.

Employers, editors, and CEOS–take note. Using us prevents your remaining work force from getting so bogged down that productivity suffers. Using freelancers insures that your fulltimers aren’t tempted to leave for greener pastures because of excessive stress. Yes, times are tough for everyone. No, we can’t all afford to quit our gigs at present. But how you treat your employees in a crisis is sometimes the make-or-break factor when it comes to loyalty after the worst has passed. Do you want your frustrated, harried fulltimers to leave the firm once the storm has passed?

Of course not. That’s why you’ll be hiring US.

Freelancing is becoming closer to being less of an alternative lifestyle and more of a serious vocational option for the average person. We’re going to lose some of our uniqueness in the next five years, but for the average worker, this is a good thing–learning how to live a better life in pursuit of the next paycheck should be considered part of our natural evolution.

The key to finding your freelance pot of gold while traditional employees are losing their shirts is a combination of smart financial planning and determination. Yes, we are going to see a cut in freelance jobs. I think this is a temporary setback. Once employers realize they can actually improve the bottom line by using us to replace the work of the force they had to lay off, those jobs are going to return in greater numbers. It’s going to take some time for our clients to catch up with those of us who already know this. Be patient. Give them time.

When the lull in gigs happens, I predict it will be the big-money markets that dry up. I think small to medium-sized freelance work will still be available. Those at the top will feel the worst of it. The impact on small to mid-sized markets? When the dollar-per-word pros start chumming for work, the noobs and the not-yet-theres will feel the pinch. Competition will get very fierce in some quarters, so if your chops need some work now is the time to brush up. Make yourself the best writer and freelance business person you can be–the pros are coming to your small part of the world soon. Can you hold your own? If not, learn how.

In the meantime, give yourself some added breathing room as a fulltime freelancer by saving as much cash as possible. Don’t tie up your assets, you’re going to need operating capital to maintain your credit rating, stay connected to the Internet and keep up your professional subscriptions. Oh, and you need to eat, too. I personally was contemplating paying off a loan, but I think I’ll settle for cutting it in half, lowering my monthly payments and staying liquid for the duration of the crisis.

I’ve made fun of some of the pay-for-content sites in the past, but folks, if you need some extra cash I recommend getting into those sites now and flooding them with content quickly, saving up the bucks. Those sites will be the first casualties when the freelance crunch begins. Don’t delay–take their money now and you’ll be glad later. There IS a crunch coming, but it’s just a market correction. Some of the chaff will be eliminated by the crunch, but the pros will remain. Dig in, save your pennies and wait for the return of the freelance gigs in force once calmer heads prevail. The accountants are always the first ones to panic and cut the budget. When the bottom line is in jeopardy, that budget will quickly re-inflate to include some of us.

Time COULD prove me wrong, but I really don’t think that’s going to happen. Just wait and see, and don’t forget that you READ IT HERE FIRST.