The festive season has set in and the creative space is buzzing. Wedding planners are booked out, photographers and videographers are on their feet, makeup artists and stylists are working around the clock, while gifting businesses and caterers are busy with steady orders. Work is plenty, invoices are rolling in, and life feels good.
Then comes the lean season. The freedom that freelancing promises starts to feel uncertain. Unlike salaried employees with predictable income, earnings fluctuate. That’s where financial planning stops being optional and starts being essential.
I’ve seen this up close. Friends in the creative space often talk about how tough the dry months can be. One week you’re booked solid, the next you’re wondering when the next payment will come. It’s not about talent or effort, it’s just how freelance life works. So how do you find stability when your work isn’t stable? Here are a few ways to stay balanced through the seasons. Emergency fund isn’t optional: You need at least six months of basic expenses saved up. It keeps you steady when projects slow down.
Equipment fund: Every freelancer knows the nightmare of a broken laptop, crashed hard drive, or damaged camera lens. That’s not just an inconvenience, it’s lost income. Create a small, separate fund for repairs and replacements so your work doesn’t stop when tech does.
Buy your own insurance: No company HR is going to provide you health or life cover. Get a term policy if anyone depends on your income, health insurance because one hospitalization can drain a lot of your savings. Pay yourself a salary: This can be a game changer. Open a separate account for freelance payments. Every month, transfer a fixed amount, your “salary”, into your personal account. In good months, let the extra sit in your business account. In slow months, use that buffer to keep paying yourself the same amount. It’s like creating your own mini payroll.
Play for the long run: There’s no company pension waiting at 60. Start small with mutual funds, PPF, or NPS. Even Rs. 5,000 a month invested consistently can build real wealth. What matters most is consistency, not size. Long-term planning gives direction, but it’s the day-to-day discipline that keeps you on course. Sometimes you just need a reminder, especially during the lean months, to stay steady and on track. I hope Moneybar can be that space for you, a small nudge to keep going, and planning better. The lean seasons will always come, but with a system in place, you’ll be better prepared.
Paweii Kayina founder@moneybar.in
Wednesday, October 29, 2025