Lesley, a 23-year-old freelancer, carried the weight of financial uncertainty on her shoulders. With paychecks that varied wildly from month to month and the responsibility of caring for her handicapped father, she felt trapped between financial stress and family obligations. Her childhood memories of missing school trips because they were "too expensive" had shaped her cautious relationship with money - but caution alone wasn't building the security she desperately needed.
"Managing my finances was always hard as a freelancer. My income was all over the place, and it was hard to keep track of things," Lesley recalls. Despite her careful nature, she found herself overspending on food and shopping without a clear plan for her unpredictable earnings.
Lesley's breakthrough moment came when she realized that waiting for steady income meant waiting forever for financial security. Watching her parents struggle with money had taught her the importance of financial stability, but freelancing meant she needed a completely different approach than traditional budgeting advice offered.
"I was worried about not having a steady income every month, and I wanted to have savings for later. Plus, I really wanted to know how to make my money grow," she said. She knew that if she made good choices with her money and set clear goals, she could create the stability that her income couldn't provide.
Intro: Understanding freelance life
Lesley shared her unique situation of caring for her father while managing unpredictable freelance income. Her Doing Well coach understood the specific challenges of irregular earnings and the stress of being a provider while building her own financial foundation. This was her space to address fears about money risks and inconsistent cash flow.
Categorize: Making sense of variable income
Together, they reviewed all her accounts and spending patterns, focusing on how to handle irregular income. They identified where her money was going during both high-earning and low-earning months, uncovering spending patterns on food and shopping that weren't aligned with her variable income reality.
Budget: Creating freelancer-friendly systems
They created a sustainable budget designed specifically for freelance income. One that could flex with her earnings while still moving her toward her goals. Lesley cut down her monthly spending by $1K, creating breathing room in both good months and lean months.
Plan: Building Her Financial Foundation
Lesley's comprehensive action plan addressed her unique needs: $32K moved to a High-Yield Savings Account with automatic monthly additions, $6K invested in a Roth IRA with regular contributions, and a system for paying down her $5K college debt. Her plan included saving for taxes, a crucial element many freelancers miss.
Check-in: Staying on Track Through Income Fluctuations
Regular check-ins helped Lesley navigate the ups and downs of freelance income while staying committed to her financial goals. She established consistent retirement contributions, proving that irregular income doesn't have to mean irregular progress.
Instead of traditional budgeting that assumes steady income, Doing Well created systems that worked with Lesley's variable earnings, including tax savings and income smoothing techniques.
Understanding Lesley's fear of financial risks, they focused on building a strong foundation first - emergency savings and debt reduction - before moving to investments that matched her comfort level.
Recognizing her role as a provider, they built a plan that balanced her family responsibilities with her personal financial goals, ensuring she could care for her father while building her own security.
The transformation goes far deeper than dollars and cents. Lesley went from lying awake worried about next month's income to feeling confident about her financial future. The unpredictability of freelance work no longer creates constant anxiety because she has systems in place that work regardless of monthly variations.
"Now I feel more in control and confident about my finances," Lesley shared. "They understood my unpredictable earnings and helped me set up a plan that fits my needs. With their help, I learned to save for taxes and manage my money better daily."
With her foundation secure, Lesley can now focus on her bigger dreams: moving into her own place, traveling more often, and building toward the full-time job with benefits she's always wanted.
"Don't worry if you're not making a lot of money, you can still save by cutting back on some expenses. Put some money into savings and investments, even if it's just a little, it will help a lot later on. Saving early means you'll have more money when you need it. So, even if it feels like you're not making much progress now, every bit you save adds up.”
If you own a business and want to build financial stability, you can get the same personalized guidance that helped Lesley create security from chaos.
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