21 Comments

Oh The brain fog that descends when I open an excel spreadsheet to try to get my head around my annual earnings. It's really something. I have to factor it in these days, knowing that I'll start to get foggy and confused (even though I'm decent at maths and keep a daily log of my earnings) because a part of me is presumably disassociating! I'm much better now and I love your guest's message that numbers are not a judgement. It's just facts to look at, and also love the reality that life goes up and down and we always find a way to handle it and good to remember that being freelance is a life choice for a lot of us, so the unpredictability of it is all part of the package! xx

Edited to add I have an accountant because I need a second pair of eyes. I often ask the most inane questions because again - FOG.

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All of this! And the more I think about it, the more I think I’ve done the same thing previous years. I really must make sure to start a new spreadsheet every April.

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I really appreciate you posting this! Just reading it!!! This just helps me feel normal. I'm not at the spreadsheet level, yet. I watch myself sometimes with my behaviours with money and at least I'm aware that somethings gotta CHANGE! Like, who did I just become?! Did I really say/do that?! It's really easy to slip into my Ms. Judgypants archetype and start calling myself names... I struggle with being really great at so many things and yet, this is such a mystery! Being aware of it is helpful as is taking baby steps.

In terms of what I would sing on that stage, it would be Son nata a lagrimar Handel. There's a great recording of it on YouTube with Nathalie Stutzman and Philippe Jarousky. I have found a counter tenor who would like to sing it with me so I better get to work! I'm also working on Mozart's Requiem in the choir I'm in. Heaven! That would be awesome to sing on that stage!

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Just paid my taxes yesterday. It’s ok. Not much worse than I expected and truthfully right now, as far as I’m concerned the US is a sad hard mess so only owing in the hundreds more was manageable. But it’s still a hard time here and thank you for your positive outlook, noodles pictures and pictures from your window. It absolutely makes a difference

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I’m so glad it does and I’m so sorry you’re in this situation. American friends are constantly on my mind.

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Wish I started a Lisa! I’m too old now. Great piece Keris and Cait!

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I thought the same thing! Although they may not have existed when I was young enough 😂👵🏻

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Hmm I think I was too busy hustling a freelance career to know about them. I do get tax free childcare and a government bonus so there’s that!

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I am always delighted when the gov bonus comes through on my pension. Even tho the payments I’m making are tiny. Free money!

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Oh god this sounds like something I need to do - do you have a link? I have mine with nest.

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I think it comes through automatically? I just get an email about mine each time. Does Nest have an app? Maybe it's in the settings.

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Oh phewf ok I'll check

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Me too! But I just googled and they came in in 2017, so I would have been too old anyway.

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Loved this interview Keris. Always learning something new.

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Thanks, Linn!

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I recently started subscribing and love the people you interview! They are always very insightful, and I love to see the different ways they think about money.

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Hi Taylor. Thanks so much!

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What can you do this year to save £1000 for an unexpected expense?

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That’s a great question!

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Selfishly I’d love to see something about divorce and money 😩

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Been meaning to write about that for a while but I’m still trying to work out a pension split and it is taking forever (we’ve been divorced for 5 years!). But also, I’m sorry. Sending love xx

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