The festive period is quickly upon us. The countdowns have started. The stores are all filled with gift ideas and festive decorations, and it’s only a matter of time before the streets are lined with lights, and Christmas music is blaring out from every speaker. Many of us are looking forward to getting dressed up in Christmas jumpers, buying presents, and preparing holiday meals. But, many of us are also worried about money and taking time off work.
This can be even worse for freelancers. If you work for yourself, as a freelancer, work can be irregular. You might have periods throughout the year when money is tight, and you have to manage your income well to create a balance. You might also struggle to take time off.
Many people think that when you work as a freelancer, you can take time off whenever you want to, which is technically accurate. But, you don’t get holiday pay and have no other entitlements, which can make it difficult. You might have trouble financing holidays, which can make festive shopping more stressful. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at some ways to cope with the festive period as a freelancer.
Find Ways to Save Money
The Christmas period is expensive, and it becomes even harder when you are also trying to save enough to take time off or to cope with a slow work period. So, it’s crucial that you find ways to save. You might want to shop online, looking for deals and sales, but make sure you are on the lookout for counterfeit electronics. Budgeting for festive expensive is another excellent idea, and many people save money by making their own gifts.
Budget for Some Time Off
Don’t forget to add some time off into your budget. Look at how much you earn on an average week, and how much you’d need to be able to survive with no pay. Start putting aside a little each week to cover a break. It’s an excellent idea to carry this on throughout the year, giving you the chance to take more time off later on.
Organize Your Work
You might not have to take time off at all. Could you manage your workload so that you can work less over the holidays, or just do a small amount each day? Could you start working a lot more now to allow time off later without losing any income? Organize your work well, and the festive period becomes much less stressful.
Check in with Your Clients
On the other hand, you might not have any choice. Many of your clients might be taking a week or two off for the holidays. There might not be any work for you to do. Check in with them now, to ask about their plans, and organize your own time and finances accordingly.
Double Check Deadlines
Deadlines might also be different over the holidays. Some clients might want large batches of work completed early, and others might give you more time if they are out of the office. It’s something else to check.
Are you a freelancer?
What tips do you have for the holiday season?
I am not a freelancer, but these are very helpful tips! I can see these things working in other instances as well. Thank you so much for sharing!