One of the significant downsides of being a freelancer is that you have an irregular income. You are very likely to make more money in some months than others. Unlike full-time workers with a relatively stable paycheck, most freelancers don’t know what to expect. Managing your finances or planning ahead with these uncertainties might be difficult.
If you ever feel this way, you are not alone. This article curates proven tips to show you how to budget as a freelancer and manage irregular income.
Follow these steps to help you manage your finances better.
It is important to nail down the baseline expenses first. Note the following:
Highlighting and stratifying these expenses based on priority helps you allocate your earnings accordingly. This also helps you know the minimum amount you need to earn for a hitch-free month.
Read also: Freelancer's guide to handling currency fluctuations
Having an emergency fund ensures you have something to fall back to. Aim to save up at least 3 months’ worth of expenses. While you might be great at what you do, you might have seasons where you can’t work or earn as much as you’d typically. An emergency fund ensures you are not stranded if you lose a client, take a break, or face unexpected bills. Start small and build your emergency fund over time.
One trick that works for many freelancers: pay yourself a fixed “salary” each month from your business or freelance earnings. Even if one month you earn double and the next you earn half, your personal expenses remain steady.
Set up two accounts:
This approach builds discipline.
Being constantly aware of your finances is a great advantage when managing your income. This is why it is important to track your incoming payments, pending invoices, expenses and savings goals. The more visibility you have, the better decisions you’ll make. Use tools like Notion, Google Sheets, and YNAB. Using a versatile payment platform with an automated invoicing tool helps you streamline your finances.
If you’re freelancing full-time, you’re likely responsible for your own taxes. Don’t wait until tax season to scramble. Find out about your country’s tax requirements and set aside a percentage of your earnings. You can even consider opening a separate account just for taxes. Mark your calendar to ensure you pay on time and avoid surprises and penalties.
Relying on one client or platform is risky. Try to build multiple income streams. Try to maintain more than one freelance client. You can look into digital products like eBooks, courses, and templates. This ensures that if one stream dries up, others can help you stay afloat.
Have realistic expectations of your monthly earnings. It’s tempting to plan based on the best month you’ve had. But that’s risky. Instead, consider your income from the past 6–12 months and calculate your monthly average. Draft your monthly budget based on that average. This way, you’re prepared for slow seasons and will be pleasantly surprised when you earn more.
A simple way to manage your money is to split your income into buckets. For example:
You can adjust these based on your lifestyle, but the system helps you stay organised and proactive.
Freelancing doesn’t have to mean financial chaos. With a clear budgeting strategy, some discipline, and a bit of planning, you can enjoy the freedom of irregular income without the stress.
Using a payment platform that integrates multi-currency bank accounts with an automated invoicing tool ensures you keep track of your earnings without breaking a sweat. You can receive money.
Get started with Grey today by downloading the mobile app to manage your freelance earnings without hassle.
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