THE COST OF CREATIVITY!
Financial Insecurity in Creative Lives.
The ‘starving artist’! It almost seems like the norm that if you’re creative, you’re likely to be less financially stable, shall we say! Now, that’s not always the case and shouldn’t have to be these days, but financial insecurity is a very real problem. One that I’ve felt it. Hell, I’ve spent most of my career feeling it. Maybe you have, too. When I polled my community on social media, 47% said that financial insecurity was a huge worry in their creative lives. Nearly half. It’s a shared weight we don’t always talk about but often carry alone. Let’s try and change that.
The truth is that living a creative or entrepreneurial life often means living in uncertainty. The irregular paydays, the projects that fall through, doing jobs we might not really want to so we can afford to create. The cost of building a dream that doesn’t come with guarantees—it’s a heavy load that can leave us lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if we're ever going to make this thing that we love, work.
The Balancing Act!
Choosing this path of doing what you love means accepting a lot of things that “normal” careers don’t require. It means budgeting for feast-or-famine cycles, saying yes to jobs you’re not sure you want just to keep the lights on, and constantly wondering if you’re “good enough” to charge what you need to survive. It can have a real effect on our self-worth. The whole time feeling like…
I should be happy I get to do what I love.
I should be making more money.
I should’ve figured this out by now.
I should consider getting a ‘real job’.
Those shoulds are liars. They don’t help. They don’t feed you. They just add weight to an already heavy load. Which makes creating or striving towards your goals just seem even harder.
Crushing your Creativity!
Here’s the part no one likes to talk about: financial insecurity doesn’t just mess with your bank account—it messes with your art, and it messes with your goals. And it’s easy to see why. Ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is basically the "creatives survival guide to life." At the bottom, you’ve got the essentials—food, water, sleep (because starving artists still need snacks!). Next is safety, like having a roof over your head and knowing the rent's covered. Then comes love and belonging, which is all about finding your people—friends, family, or anyone who doesn’t say, “But is it a real job?” After that, it’s esteem—feeling good about yourself, and whatever it is you’re trying to do. And finally, at the top, self-actualisation, where you’re living your best creative life and making the magic you were born to make. Sounds simple, right?
Well, let’s be honest: How many people do we really know who seem to be living their fully actualised lives? Probably not that many! It’s fucking hard, even with a quote-unquote ‘real job’ to tick all of these boxes to be able to concentrate on your goals and dreams.
But here’s what I’ve learned, and maybe this will resonate with you: Yes. It can be hard to tick all of those boxes, but feeling insecure about money doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It doesn’t mean you’re not talented, smart or capable. It just means you’re human.
What Can We Do?
I wish I could tell you there’s an easy fix. That if you just budget better, or charge more, or hustle harder, everything will fall into place. But let’s be honest—that’s not how it works.
What might help? Little things. Small steps.
Know Your Numbers: It’s not fun, but it’s powerful. Sit down and figure out exactly how much you need to cover your basics. Some people bury their heads in the sand here, but be honest about what you spend every month. Then build from there.
Minimise Your Expenses:
Simplify your lifestyle to lower your financial pressure. Cut unnecessary costs and prioritise only what’s essential, so you can stretch your savings and income further while pursuing your dream.Build a Safety Net: Even a tiny emergency fund can make a huge difference. Start a separate bank account and start trying to save as much or as little as you can. Savings experts suggest saving at least 3–6 months of living expenses to cover rent, bills, and emergencies. This gives you breathing room to focus on your dreams without immediate financial panic. I understand that might not be easy, but if you’re working freelance, it’s an important cushion to have.
Diversify Your Income: Sometimes, we just have to accept that, to do what we love, we might have to take a job we don’t want to do or even work part-time on our passion for a while. We have to buy back time to do the things we enjoy most in life. Your art or creativity doesn’t have to be your only source of income. Maybe there are other ways to put your skills to use. Multiple streams of income can give you breathing room to be able to follow your dream.
Talk About It: Probably the most important lesson. Find your people—other creatives, other entrepreneurs—and share the load. There’s strength in saying, “This is hard, but I’m not giving up.” And, often, we are all going through the same things and can offer one another advice and possible things to try to lessen the load of financial insecurities.
The Worth of What You Do.
At the end of the day, our finances don’t define us. And having some financial insecurity is all part of the journey, but it’s not the whole story. You’re building something meaningful. Something that matters. But know this: you’re not alone. There will be days when it feels impossible but your creativity—the spark that drives you—is worth it. The world needs your art, your ideas, and your unique perspective. Every small step you take, every late-night brainstorming session, and every hard-earned bit of cash brings you closer to the life you’re striving to build.
Don’t let the challenges steal your joy or silence your voice. You are more than your bank balance, and your dreams are worth fighting for. Keep going, keep creating, and keep believing in the value of what you do. Because someday, you’ll look back and see just how far you’ve come—and it’ll be worth every single sacrifice.
Until next time…