MONEY MATTERS
MDUDUZI LUTHULI: Self-employed? Four tips to survive on an irregular income
It will pay you to mimic a regular income schedule as much as possible
When you're a self-employed entrepreneur, or someone who depends heavily on commission or seasonal income, you might be tired of hearing everyone telling you that a budget will make managing money easier. When you have irregular income or depend on lump sums to carry you through several months of expenses, creating a budget can be extremely difficult. The trick is that while your income fluctuates, with some careful planning, your spending doesn't have to. Practise these four key steps to survive on an irregular income. Pay yourself a regular salary The key to dealing with irregular income as a business owner is to mimic a regular income schedule as much as possible. Like a traditional job, that pays you every Friday, or in the middle or at the end of each month, you should make frequent, and regular, transfers from your business bank account into your personal account. Set yourself up like an employee of your business (even if you’re a sole-proprietor), for the purposes of accounti...
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