✂️ How to Stay Ahead of the Money Game

One thing

Author

Jesse Koepke
April 29, 2025

Tell me if any of these scenarios sound familiar:

  • Work is humming and bills are met—but then your car breaks down, and you have to pull out the credit card to fix it. Now you owe interest and not sure when you can pay off the debt.

  • You are working overtime and getting projects left and right—then the next month comes and there’s no work in sight. But bills still come in and any savings you had are gone.

  • Debt payments are due, interest is piling up, and it feels like you’ll never get out of it.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced every one of these things. The sudden emergency, or the slow month, or the debt payments from the last slow month—all these things can eat away at your goals for your money.

Because we all have goals. Whether it’s to pay bills this month, or go out to eat every now and then, or go on that long-desired vacation, we all want our money to accomplish things.

But then pesky life comes along and ruins it all. You don’t have bills for the month, or can’t enjoy nice things in life, and forget vacation.

Life will always throw curveballs at you. Emergencies happen and we can’t plan for everything.

The good news there is one mindset change that will help you weather the ups and downs life throws at you, whether you are a staff or freelance editor.

Ready? Here it is:

The goal is to prevent future debt.

There it is. All of those unexpected things? Those are all opportunities for debt to happen in life. And take it from me, debt is an anchor you don’t want around your neck.

At all costs, you have to prevent future debt. Here are four steps to do it:

  1. Look at the past year and ask, “What were times when I did or almost did take need credit card to cover things?”

  2. Look at this year and ask, “What are times when I might be tempted or need to use debt to cover things?”

  3. Write those items/events down, along with their estimated cost

  4. Now ask, “How can I put money aside to prepare for that?”

Your future self will thank-you. Because those times come for everyone, and the best way to staying on track financially (being ready for slow months, emergencies, and the nice things in life) is by preventing future debt at all costs.

In my editing journey I’ve struggled to have the money I need when I need it. That makes it extremely hard to meet this month’s needs, let alone prevent future debt.

On Thursday, May 1 (two days!) I’m hosting a free webinar in two days about a key to preventing feast-or-famine. If you’re like me and wish someone had explained how to have a consistent flow of money as a freelance editor, this webinar is for you. (A replay link will be available afterward.)

Just sign up at the link below:

Thanks for reading!

I hope this issue gives you a vision for how to be ready for life’s unexpected twists.

As always keep cutting, and I hope to see you on Thursday.

– Jesse Koepke

When you're ready, here are a few ways you can grow your editing career: