When people discuss freelancing, they’ll often point out that freelance income is inconsistent.

And I’m like, yeah, I know. Isn’t that awesome?

After giving me a very odd look, then they’ll say something to the effect of, I need a steady income. I’ve got bills to pay.

And I’m like, And you probably always will with a steady income. Then, I return the very odd look.

What is going on with this exchange? Why does it seem like we’re talking on different tracks?

Because there’s a difference between what’s true and a person’s perception of what truth means.

Breaking down consistency

For starters, early in your freelance career, yes, the financial swings can be wild, and the stress and anxiety can be sickening. But the feeling is very comparable to the struggles you face with any entry-level job that’s just not cutting it.

Second, a lot of seasoned freelancers enjoy long stints of stable income because they work with long-term clients, set up recurring revenue streams, or make other business decisions that allow it.

But overall, we can agree that freelance income tends to fluctuate. That’s because it’s a business, and in business that’s what tends to happen.

Whether it’s freelancing or a Fortune 500 company, business revenues won’t always be steady. Still, fluctuate is not an ugly word.

It’s not a given that all fluctuations are to the south, or that when they are there’s such a steep drop you can’t pay your bills and cover your expenses. What people fail to realize is the ups and downs can stay within a comfortable zone.

Inconsistent doesn’t mean insufficient.

Are freelancers more likely to struggle?

People who are accustomed to paychecks, they’re the ones who tend to have difficulty managing fluctuations in income because they design their lives around getting a set amount of money on a set schedule.

Freelancers, like other businesses, come to understand that uncertainty is part of the game. And it’s a part that glistens because, in it, lies opportunity.

One of the things I liked most about waitressing was the potential to earn more on any given day. My income was never capped. Whether I was serving a table at Cracker Barrel or at Nobu, there was no telling what I would get.

Now, I’m not a busty woman, but when I was a waitress, in my mind, there was always the possibility that, with a little shea butter on the chest bone, and leaning in at the right angle, I could significantly boost my income while clearing dirty dishes. (Side note: It never worked as planned.) But, in general, with 40 hours and a paycheck, there’s no possibility to get a come-up.

SEE: Why Applying to Freelance Job Ads Isn’t Enough Anymore

That’s why at the start of this post, I said, with a steady paycheck, a person will probably always have bills.

Usually, paycheck people are managing their finances, at best. Since there aren’t any upward fluctuations that allow them to get ahead, they just maintain.

But those who get a steady paycheck, like people on any other fixed income, are also the ones who generally have the hardest time dealing with inflation and pop-up expenses.

Consistent doesn’t mean sufficient.

So a lot of people with a steady income are aching equally, if not more, than freelancers.

This isn’t to say that all freelancers are caked up. This isn’t to say we don’t struggle sometimes. But people with jobs tend to portray it as a given that they’re in a better financial position, and that’s far from being an absolute truth.

Not only because many freelancers have comfortable finances, but also because when there is turbulence we’re mentally prepared for it, and we’re in a position to make moves to do something about it, like make more money!

Listen To: Why Freelancers Can’t Base Their Lifestyle on Income

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