If you get summoned to another person's world as a white phantom and help them complete a task you'll be turned to human in your world. Which saves you an effigy.

Thanks, I didn't know that

Yeah if I can't solo a boss I usually put my sign near it later and help someone else to learn the bosses movements. If you die as a white phantom you don't lose the souls you aquired. It's a win win situation. Ivory King DLC the final boss when fighting as a white phantom nets me like 40K souls so I try to farm them when I want to max my titanite or level up quickly.