Being self-employed can be really difficult. You never know when your next piece of work will come in and you never know if you’re going to consistently earn the same amount each month. It would be lovely to be able to say that we don’t rely on the money I make each month but we do, especially now that Erin is at nursery and we don’t get any help with fees at the moment. Being self-employed has changed how we deal with money because something had to change. Here are some tips for dealing with dry spells when you’re self-employed.
Savings
It’s quite obviously a very sensible idea to have some savings put aside. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Some people don’t have the luxury of having much, or any, disposable income. We didn’t have too much before we had Erin so now we have even less. Children cost a hell of a lot of money and there is always something they need. However, we do try to put something aside when we can, even if it’s not much. Having a few hundred pounds put aside can really be a life saver though, especially if something goes wrong at home or you have an emergency.
Cut Down Monthly Bills
Most of us will have plenty of bills that come out of our bank accounts on a monthly basis. There are some bills that can be paid yearly instead like your TV licence, water bill or council tax bill. Saving up and paying some bills off in full when they’re due could really help you out later in the year. Imagine not having that £100+ a month to shell out for the council tax. Smaller bills like the TV licence may be a good place to start though.
Earn More
I know, this is easier said than done but there are loads of ways to earn some extra money online. For years now I have been using sites like Swagbucks and Branded Surveys to earn money in the form of Amazon vouchers or PayPal cash. These kinds of sites can help you to build up a nice sum of money read for big events like Christmas and birthdays. This way, there’s no need to scrimp and save each month and it also just takes a bit of pressure off.
Cut Down
Do you really need that extra Sky subscription or Apple Music subscription? There are plenty of things that would be classed as a luxury and if you need to make sure your monthly outgoings are a bit more realistic then these are the first things to go. It’s easy enough to set some up again if you find yourself in a better position as some services are on a month to month basis.
When your income isn’t guaranteed there are places like Northcash to help take some of the pressure off from time to time. Being sensible and careful with your money is always best!
Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post. All opinions are our own.
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