Money mindset tips that help me run my business

Simple business moves that keep things organized and uncomplicated

Author

Diana Kelly Levey
October 08, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

In partnership with

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

#ad

Let’s talk money. Not in the “I need it right now” sense, but in the “how do I make my freelance income last longer and feel less anxious about it” kind of way.

After years of running my own business, I’ve learned that the simplest systems are usually the ones I stick with.

Here’s what helps me stay on top of my freelance finances without turning money management into another full-time job.

1. Trim what you don’t need.

Every few months, I review my recurring expenses. If something isn’t serving me, I pause it. I once carried business insurance for a specific client, but when that contract ended, I put it on hold. Savings about $50/month. When I need it again, I’ll renew.

I also cancel subscriptions now and then. Some companies immediately send a discount offer, which makes it easy to sign back up when I actually need the service.

2. Outsource when it makes sense.

If my workload is heavy, I’ll hire help virtual assistant help, design work, or website management project help. During slower seasons, I take it on myself. Some months the effort is in protecting my time, other months, it’s in saving money.

3. Keep tracking simple.

I’ve tried plenty of accounting and invoicing tools (many of them are great), but I always end up back in my Google Sheets. It’s easy, clear, and gives me a quick snapshot of what’s coming in and what’s going out each month. I still use Word docs for most of my invoices, too. Editors and managers don’t seem to mind. If it ain’t broke…

4. Check in often.

I look at my bank accounts a few times a week and my retirement account at least once a week. Seeing progress there gives me peace of mind and reminds me that even small contributions for my future add up over time. I tend to have a savings number in mind that makes me feel more comfortable and less stressed about work. I pay off any credit card balances on time and tackle debt quickly so I know the money I see is mine. (Other than 25% of earnings I put aside for taxes in a High Yield Savings Account)

5. Think long-term.

Freelancers can get stuck thinking month-to-month, but I try to zoom out. Investing, saving, and having a cushion for quiet months help me feel steady and confident about the future. Yes, even in 2025 when it’s a weird year with AI, search and algorithm changes, and the ever-evolving media landscape.

Money mindset is about paying attention, making small tweaks when there’s room for improvement, and celebrating the progress you see along the way.

You don’t need fancy tools or a finance degree to feel in control of your freelance money. You just need to keep showing up for it.

In my bestselling “Get Paid to Write” online course on Teachable, I share strategies to help you run a successful business, what you should think about in terms of freelance rates, and the necessary tools you need to get started as a Freelance writer. Freelance students have gotten published in Food Network magazine, Muscle & Fitness, Real Simple, and more.

Student Ellen Kergosien recently completed this course and said, “The editor got back to me and said he believes my article would be a great fit for the magazine.”

Enroll today to see the lessons and find out how you can get similar results.

Diana

P.S. Missed last week’s newsletter or a recent post? Check them out here.

Have some friends who you think would love this newsletter?

Send it using this link and you’ll get a digital PDF as a thank you when they subscribe.

🚨 Automate Podcast Guest Bookings for Your Clients With PodPitch

Stop wasting time checking Muck Rack or Cision for broken podcast email addresses. Podcast Index and Rephonic don't help you determine the best ones for your client. Booking dozens of incredible podcasts quickly has been impossible to all but the most famous clients until now.

PodPitch.com is the NEW software that books your clients as a guest (over and over!) on the exact kind of podcasts they want to appear on – automatically.

⚡ Drop your client's LinkedIn URL into PodPitch.
🤖 Scan 4 Million Podcasts: PodPitch.com's engine crawls every active show to surface their perfect podcast matches in seconds.
🔄 Listens to them For You: PodPitch literally listens to podcasts for you to think about how to best get the host's attention for your clients.
📈 Writes Emails, Sends, And Follows Up Until Booked: PodPitch.com writes hyper-personalized pitches, sends them from your email address, and will keep following up until they're booked.
👉 Want to book on 7+ podcasts every month? Book a demo now and we'll show you what podcasts YOU can book ASAP for your clients:

#ad

📚What I’m Reading / 🎧 Listening to /👩🏽‍💻 Publishing

Freelance / Content / Media / Editor/ Writing Jobs I Found

This roundup includes freelance writing jobs, media jobs, FT jobs, creative jobs, and content writing jobs for creatives. Good luck!

Let’s Work Together!

Reply

or to participate.