Rina A. - Freelance Writer Builds Financial Stability from Unpredictable Income
Overcview
Rina A. is a 33-year-old freelance writer living in Bandung. With a career spanning clients from different industries, she earned decent income—but the inconsistent cash flow made it hard to budget, save, or feel financially secure. She came to Taxfirm hoping to bring more structure into her freelance life.
Challenge
Like many freelancers, Rina faced several issues:
Her income varied wildly from month to month
She struggled to track expenses and manage taxes
No emergency fund, no insurance, no investment plan
Financial anxiety grew every time a client delayed payment
Rina needed a system that could adapt to her inconsistent income while still allowing her to grow financially.
Solution
Taxfirm helped Rina create a flexible financial framework, designed specifically for freelancers:
Built a “baseline budget” based on her lowest average income
Created income buckets: 60% Needs, 20% Taxes, 10% Savings, 10% Personal/Leisure
Established an emergency fund goal (3 months of average expenses)
Suggested tools for tracking income, invoices, and client payments
Introduced her to micro-investing (low commitment, monthly auto-debits)
Set up basic health insurance and suggested long-term savings plans
Result
6-month emergency fund built in under 8 months
Steady monthly saving habit
Able to reject late-paying clients and raise her rates
Financial anxiety dropped drastically
