How To Budget As A Freelancer

As an online freelancer, I have to find a way to create a budget with my fluctuating income each month. I never make the same amount, and as an online freelancer income isn’t always stable. Some months I don’t make any income for a few weeks, and then it all comes in at the end…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: June 5, 2023

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Find out how to budget as a freelancer.As an online freelancer, I have to find a way to create a budget with my fluctuating income each month. I never make the same amount, and as an online freelancer income isn’t always stable.

Some months I don’t make any income for a few weeks, and then it all comes in at the end of the month.

Other times, all of my income comes in one week and the other 3 weeks almost feel like a complete loss. This is usually because work can vary from week to week, and also because sometimes clients have a 45 day or 60 day wait before they can pay me for my services. As a freelancer, weeks where I don’t get paid much almost feel like everything is just going downhill, even though I know it’s not.

It’s really difficult to get out of that mindset.

There are also several parts that going into online freelancing that I have to include in my budget, such as having an emergency fund, paying for my own health insurance, saving for retirement, paying my own taxes, and so on.

Head on over to Diversified Finances to read further.


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. Hannah @ Wise Dollar

    It’s really hard to budget especially if it should have to be with those several others that are significant. Me too, I do budget for my efund, for my retirement and so on. It is really better to be secured in the future.

  2. Christine Berry – Wealth Way Online

    I struggle with this. Last month was CRAZY busy for me, I had to even turn down work. This week? Dead. Planning a budget is really hard when there’s no consistency.