Hey folks, I’ve been juggling freelance cartography work while trying to fund some climate research projects on the side. The irregular income from freelancing can make it tricky to plan ahead, especially when I’m trying to allocate funds for equipment or fieldwork. I’m curious how do others in similar situations manage the financial ups and downs? Do you set aside a certain percentage of income for side projects, or do you have other strategies to keep things steady? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you! Also, if anyone’s into gardening, I’ve found it’s a great way to unwind after a long day of mapping and research. Maybe there’s even a way to tie that into climate work somehow?
Balancing freelance work and passion projects can feel like trying to conduct an orchestra with half the musicians missing. For irregular income, I set aside a fixed percentage for side projects and keep a separate emergency fund for fieldwork. Gardening sounds like a brilliant way to decompress maybe you could explore urban gardening techniques to link it with climate research?