Jackie Lam is a personal finance writer. Her work has appeared in Investopedia, Magnify Money and The Bold Italic, and she’s been featured in Money, Kiplinger, Forbes and Woman’s Day. She runs heyfreelancer.com, a blog to help freelancers and artists with their money, and to balance their passion projects and careers.
During my first years of freelancing, I diligently logged every assignment, its due date, and the rate. I was proud of staying on top of my freelance work spreadsheets. How naive I was. When I finally hired an accountant to...
If you’re like me, the upcoming holiday season brings with it a mix of excitement and dread. While you might love the spirit of Christmas — holiday jingles, festive gatherings with those near and dear to you, the aroma of...
When I graduated from college *ahem* eons ago and it came time to pay off my federal student loans, I had no clue there were different options. I opted into the standard repayment plan because I didn’t know any better. Looking...
A few months ago, I was hanging out with a good friend at a bar. In between rounds of drinks and amid the din and bustle, she shamefully admitted that although she had nearly $20,000 of credit card debt, she...
Know what’s a major buzzkill? When Saturday hits, and your pals want to convene for bottomless mimosas — but your bank balance is nearing zero. Not only can you not afford to go out, but you’re probably anxious about having...
Want to hear something funny about freelancing? While a lot of people make the switch to freelancing to “be their own boss” or “do their own thing,” the popular construct of “the ideal, successful freelancer” seems to consist of a...
When I was first curious about freelancing, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I wasn’t quite sure how to get started, and feared I didn’t have what it took to be a successful solopreneur. But here’s what I learned: The beauty...
Amid the typical bustle and hair-tearing stress of the holidays, I prefer to keep my professional life as relaxed as possible. That means taking off a few weeks from work at the end of the year. Adding the freelancer hustle...
Not much of a football fan? Don’t know what all the cheesehead hat-wearing and face paint-smearing is all about? Skip hanging out at the local sports bar or sitting in the stands at a game, and put on your entrepreneurial...
You’re doing the best you can with your money situation, but somehow, you’re still barely staying afloat. Besides staying on top of your bills, you might have a mountain of debt to pay off — student loans, credit cards, and car...
During my first years of freelancing, I diligently logged every assignment, its due date, and the rate. I was proud of staying on top of my freelance work spreadsheets. How naive I was. When I finally hired an accountant to... 
