16. How to budget with a fluctuating income: for creators, small business and personal accounting, ft. Pretty Penny Accounting

Today we are talking wellness specifically when it comes to a widely-hated topic, and that is: accounting.

Accounting is personally one of my least favorite activities in my life — it’s such a necessary part of staying organized as a person or business and I truly do feel empowered and relieved when I have my mind wrapped around my money, but what was frustrating to me especially at the beginning of entrepreneurship was that most of the accounting advice out there doesn’t seem to really apply to creators with a fluctuating income, people who have an LLC but no employees, or really anyone without a traditional job and salary or a really large business to run.

Thankfully I found an accountant a few years ago on Instagram named Ashley who runs a business called Pretty Penny Accounting. Pretty Penny specializes in helping small businesses with book keeping, tax prep and general financial advice. I felt like Ashley was finally someone who understood the real needs of creators and small businesses looking to manage their finances well so I invited her to join the podcast and share some of that advice.

We covered:

Accounting 101– some basics everyone should know
How to know when to invest in something that doesn’t directly bring profit
How to stop comparing your financial situation to others'
What financial health really means and how there can be space for spending that you might otherwise feel guilty about
What can you do if you’re feeling stuck at the same income level and can’t figure out how to level up

Resources Mentioned:

Mint for Personal Accounting

QuickBooks for Business Accounting

Monarch Money (Julie's Fav)

Episode on Biophilic Design & financial benefits of beauty

Book Pretty Penny Accounting services & check out free resources: www.ppllcaccounting.com