Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

I'm back from Barcelona and feeling refreshed.

Hope you're all having a wonderful May (but seriously, HOW IS IT MAY?!).

P.S. This week on Instagram, I got all in my feels sharing how it all started. See it here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

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Here's what I've been up to this week work-wise:

👉 I wrote 3 pieces for clients (Klaviyo, Salsify, and an influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 2 pieces for Shopify

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~20

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~1

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,650

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Check out my three practical courses that have helped 500+ people get more clients, earn more money, and create better content.

Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

Last week, I worked from Barcelona.

Not a big deal on paper, but for me, it was everything... because twelve years ago, this is where it all began.

I was 23 and fresh out of a job I’d just quit in the UK, burnt out from the 9–5 and unsure what I wanted next, except that it definitely wasn’t commuting, clock-watching, or squeezing creativity into pre-defined office hours.

I’d moved to a tiny town just outside Barcelona with no real plan except: let’s see if freelancing could be a thing.

My Spanish was terrible. My Wi-Fi was even worse, but the pull of freedom was STRONG. I craved the freedom to work the way I wanted, with people I liked, on projects I cared about. I craved the freedom to build something that was MINE.

Back then, that looked like long mornings at a café with my laptop, figuring out how to find clients, taking midday walks in the sun because I could, and, yes, charging £20 a piece and wondering if I’d made a huge mistake.

Spoiler: I hadn’t.

Over time, I figured it out. Work picked up, my confidence grew, and my rates crept higher. I moved back to the UK, built a solid client base, and eventually started earning more than I ever thought possible when I first sat down to write in that Spanish town.

But here's the thing no one tells you (or, at least, no one told ME): as your business grows, your priorities shift.

For the past couple of years, my priorities had shifted. After lockdowns and pandemics, I wanted more stability, so I prioritised buying a house and creating systems that meant my business could survive the ups and downs of life.

And somewhere in the middle of all that… I forgot why I started.

I stopped working from sunny spots just because I could.

I stopped taking long walks between emails.

I swapped creative experiments for efficiency.

My business got better, but I wasn’t sure I still felt free.

That’s why last week mattered.

For me, it was so much more than a work trip. It was a reminder... a return to the version of me that took a risk twelve years ago in search of something different.

And now, I’m asking: how can I build more of that back in?

Not just the travel, but the mindset. The flexibility... the spontaneity... the permission to shape my weeks around how I want to feel, not just what I want to finish.

So this is my little note to you (and to myself): it’s okay if your business changes. It’s okay if your priorities change, but don’t be afraid to check in with the version of you that started it all.

You don’t have to burn it all down to make space for more freedom... you just have to choose it again.

If that resonates, here are 3 simple prompts to help you bring more freedom back into your freelance life:

Audit your week

Ask yourself: “Does my current routine reflect the life I wanted when I started freelancing?” If not, tweak one thing this week. Maybe that’s taking a slow morning, logging off early on Friday, or saying no to a project that drains you.

Revisit your original ‘why’

What were you craving when you first started? More flexibility? Creative control? Autonomy? Write it down and stick it near your desk.

Plan one freedom-focused experiment

This could be a coworking day in a new café, a working holiday, a no-meeting Monday, or blocking time just to write/create/explore.

We're regularly inundated with advice about how to land more clients, get paid on time, or grow our business. But sometimes, the most practical thing you can do is remember

We need more Freelance Money Diaries submissions!

As you know, I'm on a mission to bring more transparency around rates in the freelancing world. And, to do that, it really helps to see what other freelancers are earning. I'd absolutely love it (and be eternally grateful) if you share your finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

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