“Some months I feel like a boss babe… other months I feel like I’m surviving on iced coffee and hope.” ☕💸
Welcome to the real life of a freelancer.
It’s flexible.
It’s empowering.
But oh girl, it can be financially terrifying if you don’t have a plan.
I used to think budgeting was only for people with fixed 9-5 paychecks.
You know… the ones who know exactly what’s hitting their account every Friday.
But when you’re a freelancer, your money doesn’t work like that.
Some months? Overflowing.
Other months? Crickets. 🦗
So I had to stop using “normal” budgeting rules —
and create a system that actually works when your income is inconsistent.
Let me show you how I did it (and how you can too).
“Your budget isn’t a cage. It’s a compass.” 🧭
Once I stopped seeing budgeting as punishment and started treating it as a form of self-care, everything changed.
It wasn’t about cutting out joy or living on ramen.
It was about creating freedom — the kind that says,
“I’ve got this, even when income is unpredictable.”
Here’s the thing… freelancers can’t budget based on hope.
You can’t assume you’ll land 3 new clients next month.
Instead, I calculated:
This includes:
Rent/Mortgage
Utilities
Groceries
Phone/Internet
Insurance
Debt Minimums
✨ I call this my “bare bones budget.”
For me, it’s around $2,000/month. If I make that much, I’m covered.
Even if I earn less, I know what I must prioritize.
I started using a method called the 80/20 Rule for Freelancers.
Whenever I get paid:
50% goes to Essentials (from my bare bones list)
30% goes to Taxes & Business Savings
10% goes to a “Feast or Famine” Fund (hello, slow months!)
10% goes to Personal Fun/Self-Care
This helped me stop the feast-and-binge cycle I was stuck in.
No more “Woohoo! $2,000 client!”
Followed by “Oops… overdrafted again.”
Now, even a $300 invoice gets split with purpose.
Sounds weird, right?
But I created a fake paycheck system.
All my freelance income goes into a business account.
Each month, I transfer a set “salary” into my personal account.
Even if I make $5,000, I only move $2,200.
The rest stays in my buffer — for leaner times.
This changed my entire relationship with money.
I stopped living in feast/famine chaos and started feeling in control. 🙌
Freelance life is beautifully unpredictable —
but your money doesn’t have to be.
You don’t need to be a finance nerd.
You don’t need to earn six figures.
You just need a system that fits your life.
Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
Tools. Habits. Real-life stuff.
Because a cute planner can only get you so far — you need a system that works when life doesn’t go as planned.
No fancy spreadsheets or MBA needed here. These are the exact tools I use:
🖥️ Simple. Customizable. Free.
I use one sheet for income tracking, one for expenses, and one for my “feast or famine” savings.
✨ Bonus: You can use pretty colors & emojis to make it actually fun.
This helps me:
Send invoices
Track payments
Separate business vs. personal
Prepare for taxes (without panic 😅)
Perfect for creatives, writers, designers — basically any solopreneur.
Yes, old-school works too!
I print a monthly tracker that goes in my budget binder.
Why? Because sometimes writing things by hand makes it feel realer.
Want mine? Just ask, Bhai bana ke de dega! 💌
Freelance taxes = not fun.
But you know what’s worse? Being blindsided.
So here’s what I do:
Every time I get paid, I set aside 30% for taxes
I keep it in a separate savings account labeled “Uncle Sam” 😆
I use a Google Calendar to remind me of quarterly deadlines
Result: No last-minute panic.
No “where did all my money go?” breakdowns.
Budgeting isn’t just about rent and ramen.
It’s about joy. Comfort. Peace.
Here’s how I make space for happiness:
Every month, I budget $50 for guilt-free fun.
Coffee dates, a cute mug from Etsy, a spontaneous sushi night. Whatever makes me smile.
Even when income is tight, I always save a little for things that make me feel like ME —
A fresh haircut, comfy PJs, a new candle.
Because when you feel good, you manage your money better too.
On the last Sunday of each month, I:
Review my income + expenses
Reflect on how I felt spending my money
Reset goals for the next month
(It involves tea, soft music & fairy lights, of course.)
It’s not a chore. It’s a check-in with future me. 🌙✨
Freelancing is not easy.
It takes grit, grace, and a whole lot of Google Docs.
But I promise you — when you start tracking, planning, and treating your money like it matters… everything shifts.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to start.
Budgeting won’t fix everything overnight — but it gives you a map when life feels messy.
And babe, you deserve peace with your finances.
Even on the craziest, most unpredictable freelance days.
Because you’re not just budgeting…
You’re building a life that honors your freedom and your future. 💖✨