Let’s get one thing straight: you’re a creative, not an accountant.
You didn't become a graphic designer, a writer, or a musician because you have a fiery passion for spreadsheets and tax codes. You did it because you have a talent, a vision—something inside you that needs to be made real.
But then reality hits. The thrill of landing a huge project is immediately followed by the quiet panic of, "Okay, how much of this do I have to set aside for taxes?" The freedom of being your own boss feels a lot less free when you're staring at an unpredictable income, trying to figure out how to pay rent next month.
If you've ever felt a wave of anxiety just thinking about your finances, you are not alone. We, as creatives, are often taught how to perfect our craft but are left completely in the dark about how to manage the money that comes from it.
So, let's change that. No confusing jargon. It's late Friday afternoon. You're probably tired. The last thing you need is a lecture from some productivity guru on Instagram telling you to "optimize your weekend" or "crush your goals." Honestly, that whole hustle-culture narrative is exhausting, and it doesn't work for most real people.
So here’s a real piece of advice, with zero condescension.
Stop trying to do everything.
That’s it. That’s the advice.
The pressure we feel doesn't come from having too much work. It comes from the belief that we have to make progress on all of it, all at once. Our to-do list becomes a monster, a constant reminder of everything we haven't done yet.
So, let's try an experiment. Not for today—today is done. For next week.
Every evening, before you shut down your computer, look at the chaos of things you "should" do tomorrow. Find the one thing. Just one. The one thing that, if you get it done, will either make you the most money or relieve the most stress.
It might be sending that big proposal. It might be finishing that difficult client project. It might even be finally making that doctor's appointment you've been putting off for weeks.
Write that one thing on a sticky note and put it on your laptop.
Tomorrow, that's your only job.
You wake up, you have your tea or coffee, and you do that one thing before you get lost in the swamp of email and social media. Before anything else has a chance to steal your best energy.
Once it’s done, the day is a win. Everything else you get done after that is a bonus. If you only do that one thing and nothing else, you still moved the needle on what actually matters. You fought the inertia.
This isn't about being lazy. It’s about being strategic with your limited energy. It's about building trust with yourself again, one important task at a time. It’s about ending the day feeling like you accomplished something instead of feeling defeated by a list of 17 things you never got to.
For now, just close the laptop. Seriously. The week is done. Go enjoy your evening.
Our income ebbs and flows like the tide.
Instead, we need a system that's flexible and simple. Meet the "Bare Minimum" budget.
It's easy to begin—all you need is a basic notebook or a Google Sheet. List out only your essential, non-negotiable monthly expenses. I'm talking about the "I'll be in big trouble if I don't pay this" stuff:
- Rent/Mortgage
- Utilities (Internet is a utility for us, period.)
- Groceries
- Loan Payments
- Essential Subscriptions (like your Adobe Creative Cloud or portfolio website)
That's it. Add it all up. This number is your survival number. It's the absolute base amount of money you need to make each month to keep the lights on. Knowing this number with absolute clarity is the first step to killing financial anxiety. It's no longer a vague, scary cloud; it's a target you can hit.
Step 2: The Magic of "Paying Yourself First" (and Your Taxes, Ugh)
When you get a big payment from a client, it's so tempting to feel rich for a day. But we both know that entire amount isn't actually yours. A big chunk belongs to the taxman.
Ignoring this is the single fastest way to get into financial trouble. Here’s a system that has saved my skin more times than I can count.
- Open a separate savings account. Right now. Name it "Taxes & Profit." Seriously, giving it a name helps.
- Create a rule: The moment a client pays you, before you do anything else, transfer a set percentage of that payment into your "Taxes & Profit" account.
- What percentage? A safe bet for most freelancers is 30%. This might feel painfully high, but it's designed to cover your income taxes and leave a little extra buffer. If your income is lower, you might get away with 25%, but starting at 30% is a smart defensive move.
This habit is non-negotiable. It hurts at first, but the feeling of peace you'll have when tax season rolls around, knowing the money is already sitting there waiting, is priceless.
Step 3: Building Your "Oh Crap!" Fund
The freelance life is a roller-coaster. You'll have incredible, high-income months, and you'll have months so dry you start questioning all your life choices. This is normal. A cash buffer—what I like to call the "Oh Crap!" fund—is what allows you to ride out those slow months without panicking.
- Your Goal: Aim to save 3-6 months' worth of your "survival number" expenses.
- How to Start: It sounds daunting, I know. So don't think about the big number. Just start small. Can you automate a $25 transfer into a separate savings account every Friday? Awesome. Did you have a great month? Before you celebrate, throw an extra $500 into the fund.
- Where to Keep It: Put this money in a high-yield savings account. It needs to be accessible in an emergency but not so accessible that you're tempted to dip into it for non-emergencies. This is not your vacation fund.
This fund is your creative freedom. It’s the safety net that allows you to say "no" to a terrible client or take a week off to recharge without fearing you won't be able to pay your bills.
You Are a Business Owner. Start Thinking Like One.
Let me say that again. You are a business owner. Your creativity is the product, but the structure around it is a business.
Shifting your mindset from "starving artist" to "creative CEO" is the most powerful financial move you can make. It means you respect your work enough to manage the money it generates. It means you value your peace of mind as much as your portfolio.
You don't need to become a financial guru. You just need to build a few simple, powerful habits. Start with these three steps. The confidence you'll gain is about so much more than money—it's about building a sustainable, long-lasting career doing what you were born to do.