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Money Playbook for Freelancers

Freelancers, welcome to Episode 10 — the final episode of our Finances for Freelancers series. We’ve broken down the essentials every freelancer or solopreneur needs to feel confident with money — from budgeting and taxes to pensions and pricing.

Today, we’re wrapping up with a punchy roundup — each of our expert guests shares one final, powerful tip to help you stay on track with your finances.

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How to Think Like a Business Owner

Freelancers, are you thinking beyond client work? In this episode of Finances for Freelancers, Victoria Nabarro FPFS, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Veda Wealth, shares how to invest, scale your business, and build financial freedom.

We cover smart ways to reinvest, outsource, create passive income, and set financial goals for growth. If you want to move beyond the freelance hustle, this episode is for you.

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How to Create Consistent Income with Lara Sheldrake

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges freelancers face: managing cash flow when income is unpredictable. How do you stay afloat during a slow month? What’s the best way to deal with late payments? And how can you create a more stable income without burning out?

Joining Emilie Bellet is Lara Sheldrake—entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of Found & Flourish. Lara shares her personal strategies for staying financially steady in a freelance world: from tracking income and ghost spending, to diversifying revenue and planning for quieter months.

We talk about setting realistic income goals, structuring your week with a CEO day, and working with your energy—not against it.

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How to Budget with a Fluctuating Income

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that freelancers often put on the back burner: pensions. How do you start saving for retirement when you don’t have a traditional workplace pension? How can you make the most of tax relief? And what are the best strategies for long-term financial security?

Joining Emilie Bellet is Lisa Picardo, Chief Business Officer UK at PensionBee. Lisa is here to break down why pensions matter for freelancers, how to set one up, and what you can do today to secure your financial future.

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The Clock’s Ticking: Use Your ISA Allowance Before 5 April

The end of the tax year is fast approaching, and if you don’t take action before 5 April, you could miss out on valuable tax-free savings and allowances. Unlike some financial deadlines that roll over, many allowances reset completely—meaning if you don’t use them, you lose them.

From maximising your ISA allowance to boosting your pension and checking for overpaid tax, here’s what you need to do before the 2024/25 tax year deadline.

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Freelancer Pensions 101

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that freelancers often put on the back burner: pensions. How do you start saving for retirement when you don’t have a traditional workplace pension? How can you make the most of tax relief? And what are the best strategies for long-term financial security?

Joining Emilie Bellet is Lisa Picardo, Chief Business Officer UK at PensionBee. Lisa is here to break down why pensions matter for freelancers, how to set one up, and what you can do today to secure your financial future.

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Market Volatility: Why Staying the Course Matters

If you’ve been watching the markets recently, you might be feeling uneasy. Market fluctuations can be unsettling, and it’s natural to wonder whether you should make changes to your investments. But before making any decisions, let’s take a step back.

Short-term dips can be alarming, but when we zoom out, the bigger picture often tells a different story. While the S&P 500 has seen a decline in recent months, the long-term trend over the past five years still shows steady growth. History suggests that markets recover, and those who stay invested tend to benefit over time.

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Get Paid What You’re Worth as a Freelancer

Struggling with pricing and negotiation as a freelancer? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Wallet, sales expert Sara Dalrymple shares actionable strategies to set your rates with confidence, charge based on value instead of time, and navigate pricing conversations with ease.

Learn how to avoid undercharging, adapt to seasonal shifts, and use community support to grow your business. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your pricing model, this conversation will help you get paid what you're worth.

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Taxes Demystified: What Every Freelancer Needs to Know

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that many freelancers find overwhelming: taxes. How do you stay compliant, maximise your deductions, and avoid costly mistakes? 

Joining Emilie Bellet is Emma Hardwick, Chartered Certified Accountant. With years of experience supporting freelancers and business owners, Emma is here to demystify tax and share practical tips to help you navigate self-assessments, VAT, expenses, and everything in between.

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Risk Management: Protection & Insurance for Freelancers

Feeling uncertain about protecting your finances as a freelancer? In today’s episode, we’re diving into risk management—a crucial but often overlooked part of financial planning for self-employed professionals.

From income protection and business insurance to emergency funds, having the right safeguards in place can make all the difference when life throws the unexpected at you.

I’m joined by Zoe Brett, a financial planner at EQ Investors, who will break down:

✅ The key types of insurance freelancers should consider

✅ How to balance costs with the right level of protection

✅ Practical ways to build an emergency fund—even when your income fluctuates.

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Freelance Fine Print: Legal Tips to Protect Your Business

Freelance contracts can feel like a maze, but they’re crucial for protecting your work, setting clear expectations, and getting paid. Joining me on The Wallet podcast is Lucy Wheeler, a lawyer specialising in helping freelancers and small business owners navigate legal essentials. We’ll cover must-have clauses, when to consult a lawyer, how to protect your intellectual property, and what to do if a client doesn’t pay.

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Women Are Outperforming in Investing—Here’s How You Can Too

For years, the world of investing has felt like a closed club, historically dominated by men. The imagery surrounding stock markets—the shouting, the fast-paced trades, the risk-taking—has often alienated women from these financial conversations. Yet, despite this, recent research shows that women not only make great investors but often outperform their male counterparts. So why does the myth persist that women aren’t as savvy in the investing world?

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Why We Can’t Afford to Wait: Closing the Gender Investment Gap

We’ve all heard about the gender investment gap, and it rightly riles us up. But here’s the reality: this isn’t just a personal issue—it’s deeply systemic. It didn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of generations of inequality, where women have been shut out of financial conversations and opportunities.  The system wasn’t built with women in mind, and it shows.

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From Funding to Exiting Your Business, with Alex Depledge

Welcome back to The Entrepreneur's Blueprint - a podcast series featuring three stories from female founders. In this final episode, I speak with Alex Depledge MBE, co-founder and CEO of Resi. We dive into how she founded and sold Hassle.com, her bold approach to fundraising and scaling, and her views on building a team and negotiating. Plus, what’s next for Resi and why they’re raising more capital.

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Turning Your Vision Into a Business, with Elizabeth Uviebinené

Welcome back to The Entrepreneur's Blueprint - a podcast series featuring three stories from female founders. In this second episode, I talk to Elizabeth Uviebinené, multi-award-winning author of five books and Founder of journaling app Storia. Discover how she develops resilience and vision to build her brand, raise money, and make bold moves to create a category-defining product.

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Scaling Up Your Business, with Farah Kabir

Welcome to The Entrepreneur's Blueprint - a podcast series featuring three stories from female founders. In this first episode, I talk to Farah Kabir, co-founder of HANX, the UK-based sexual wellness and intimate care brand. Discover how she turned a bold idea into a thriving, purpose-driven company, secured funding, and overcame the challenges of scaling.

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How is AI Going to Change Your Life? with Suhair Khan

Emilie Bellet speaks with Suhair Khan, founder of Open-Ended Design and former Google leader. Suhair delves into the basics of AI, debunking common myths and highlighting its transformative potential in healthcare, climate, education, and finance. She also discusses the ethical challenges in AI and shares insights on recent exciting developments and practical applications of the technology.

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