By someone who’s lived through feast-and-famine freelance seasons—and came out budgeting like a boss
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Freelancing isn’t always the freedom-fueled fantasy Instagram makes it out to be.
Sure, you’re technically your own boss. You work from your favorite coffee shop (or your dining table in pambahay), and your commute is 30 seconds max. But halfway through the year—especially in the Philippines where bills don’t wait and clients sometimes ghost—a crucial question hits:
Are you actually hitting your freelance goals, or just surviving gig to gig?
If your answer is anywhere between “kind of?” and “not really sure,” don’t worry. You’re not alone—and this blog is your gentle but firm wake-up call.
✍️ Mid-Year Check-In: Why It Matters
The freelance world moves fast. One day you’re onboarding three clients at once; the next, you’re Googling “how to chase late payments professionally.”
Doing a mid-year goal check keeps you grounded. It forces you to pause, reflect, and—if needed—re-strategize. This isn’t about making you feel bad for what you haven’t done. It’s about claiming agency over what you still can do in the months ahead.
And yes, July is the perfect time for this. You’ve got five months left. That’s not a deadline—it’s an opportunity.
Step 1: Revisit Your Original Goals (Yes, Those Ones)
Pull up that dusty Notion board, journal entry, or 2025 planner you swore you’d stick to. What were your freelance goals at the start of the year?
Did you want to hit a monthly income goal?
- Start a newsletter?
- Work with foreign clients?
- Pay off debt or save at least ₱10K?
Don’t judge yourself—just get honest. Freelancers often forget that goals don’t expire, they evolve.
📊 ICYMI: A 2024 Payoneer study showed that over 65% of Filipino freelancers rely on multiple income streams—but only 1 in 4 have written financial goals. Let’s change that.
Step 2: Audit the First Half of the Year
Now let’s dig into what actually happened.
Ask yourself:
- How much did you earn each month? Is it stable, growing, or dropping?
- Which clients or projects felt aligned vs. draining?
- Did you stick to a budget, or did Shopee sales sabotage your savings again?
Use tools like:
- Google Sheets (simple income/expense tracker)
- Notion templates
- Free apps like Moneygment or Goodbudget
Even ₱100 overspent every week = ₱5,200 a year. That’s one month of groceries for a small family.
Step 3: Check Your Mindset (This Part Matters)
Sometimes the biggest block between you and your goals isn’t the lack of clients—it’s burnout, doubt, or imposter syndrome.
Freelancers often carry everything: deadlines, financial pressure, unpaid emotional labor, and the feeling that we should be doing more.
Ask:
- Am I proud of how I showed up this year?
- What do I need to feel more motivated and supported?
- Have I given myself rest without guilt?
A rested freelancer is a powerful freelancer.
Step 4: Reset or Realign—No Drama Needed
Let go of goals that no longer make sense. Set new ones if you’ve outgrown the old. This isn’t failure—it’s smart business.
Try these realigned goals:
- “I want to earn ₱10K more per month from better-paying clients.”
- “I will pitch to 5 international clients monthly.”
- “I’ll automate my invoices and follow-ups to stop leaving money on the table.”
🎯 Pro tip: SMART goals still work. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Not just vibes.
Before You Scroll Away…
Freelancer, you still have time. Whether the first half of the year was chaotic, chill, or a caffeine-fueled blur, you can finish strong.
👉 I’ve created a free Freelancer Mid-Year Goal Reset Template to help you do exactly that. Download it here or get it straight to your inbox when you subscribe to my newsletter here.
Let’s be frugal, not fearful. Strategic, not stuck.
And most of all—let’s finish this year not just earning, but thriving.
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