It’s incredibly common — you go to make a basic purchase or glance at your bank account and something inside you seizes up. You’re not imagining it. Financial worry can impede on every little aspect of life — from personal care decisions to setting long-term career goals. Many lash artists hope to go out on their own and start a business. But until you are confident in your ability to manage your personal finances, you won't be ready to manage your business finances. Regaining control of your financial wellness is a gradual process, and just as much about addressing financial fears as it is about finding structure. Most importantly, understanding how you spend, determining your personal short- and long-term goals, and removing guilt is the best path forward for banishing money worries for good.

Anxiety-Free Budgeting

For many, budgeting is a four-letter word. It feels like a constraint, a limitation. But understanding your spending habits and income timing — especially for freelancers — actually frees up mental space at the end of each month. With confidence, comes independence.

Begin by tracking your expenses for one month. See this as an experiment, without judgment or fear of what you may find. In either an Excel spreadsheet or a secure online budgeting tool, break your expenses into categories — from "essentials" to "lifestyle" purchases — and observe how reality lines up with predetermined guesses. Now you can see the big picture and whether small purchases are adding up or larger expenses are holding you back from finding balance. Budgeting does several things: it clarifies spending habits, removes confusion about upcoming bills, and reveals a clear path for reaching your personal money goals.

Set Debt and Savings Goals

Julie Chang of Learnvest recommends setting aside three to six months’ salary in an emergency fund, depending on the size of your family.  At first, this goal may sound daunting or even laughable. But small contributions do add up.  By following the “pay yourself first” method, categorize your long-term financial goals as high priorities, as high as mandatory monthly payments.  Building your budget for the months ahead allows you to see end dates for savings or debt-payoff goals, putting otherwise-daunting ambitions into clear sight.

Handling Financial Surprises

Once the budget is set, unexpected costs—such as medical bills or car repairs—become more manageable. With everything laid out, now you can build a dependable payment schedule with confidence.  Most importantly, remember that surprise bills are common, and in most cases, out of your control.  Expecting and preparing for these costs is within your control, however, even if it takes time to either bulk up your emergency fund or pay off the surprise bill.

Find a Community

Since a large portion of financial issues stem from habits, finding a supportive online community can keep you on track. Sites like The Financial Diet, Wisebread, and Ellevest remove the taboo from talking about financial health. Explore common issues of freelancers, business owners, or similar age groups reaching for the same goals. This way, a support system is available when you get frustrated, and act as a reminder of what’s possible over time.

Make Peace with Spending Habits

Perhaps even more important than having a big bank account, improving your financial wellness is about freeing up time and energy to focus on what you love. Through deep understanding of your day-to-day expenses, new goals can be both set and reached.  And once you have a hold on your financial identity, you can get back to growing yourself and your career with much more confidence and clarity.