If you’ve been freelancing for long, you are probably all too familiar with the phrase “feast or famine.” Of course, that refers to the fact that it seems like freelance business is either a) booming or b) nonexistent at any given point in time. It feels like there’s never really a happy medium.
This week we’re addressing ways to help avoid the “famine” part of freelancing that often accompanies the holidays. Yesterday we talked about how setting your clients up on a regular schedule can be beneficial because the work will come in whether it’s the holidays or not. Today we have another suggestion that requires you to plan a little in advance. I’ll use myself as an example for this one.
Back at the end of October, I had an old client approach me about an info product he wanted to create. I’ve worked with this guy before and know that he isn’t the kind who needs everything yesterday, so I offered him a choice. I could get the project on my calendar and have it done for him within a couple of weeks.
Or, I could do it for him in December. For $150 less.
I know that some freelancers are good about planning their schedules out for a couple of months in advance, but I highly suspect that the majority of us do not work that way. In my experience, most clients don’t want to wait too long. Besides, I’m the kind of person who really likes to get things finished. It can be hard to have things floating out there in the future.
On the other hand, if I know that those things are set to happen at a time of year when I would normally have no income, then I’m willing to make the sacrifice. 
The client is thrilled because he got a great deal, and I’m happy because I absolutely know that I’m not going to go starving in December.
By the way, if you are one of those freelancers who plans your calendar out for a couple of months in advance, I would love to hear how you do that. I’m always open to learning new things, after all!
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Christina Lemmey is the mother of two school-aged girls, a wife, and the owner of 
I’ve found that the best way to stay afloat is to align yourself with agencies that outsource a lot of their work. As long as they are in business, you are in business. This has been sort of my mantra as early in my freelancing career, I use to do a lot of work for the end client. And I found that because these types of projects tend to be one and done deals, I was always switching gears from designer to salesperson throughout the year.
Marvyns last blog post..Sophie Giraffe Toy
I don’t get you girls. You’re going to burn out!
When you worked in a cube, your company likely shut down pretty much, or you took a couple days off, that, combined with holidays made a nice break, or, if you DID work over the holidays, it was a lot more laid back and empty. Either way, everyone got some kind of a break, enjoyed their families and came back refreshed.
Here’s my plan: sleep in. Go skiing. Sleep in again. Drink hot cocktails.
You should join me.
Don’t worry, Allena. We’re covering that tomorrow!