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5 journal prompts, 14 podcasts, and 3 quick tips to improve your money mindset.
Rachel Meltzer
Healing Your Money Mindset as a Freelancer
Money mindset isn’t just about budgeting tips or income goals—it’s about the emotional and psychological relationship you’ve built with money over your entire life. And if you’re a freelance writer? That mindset can be the difference between scraping by and running a thriving business that supports your dream lifestyle.
Whether you’ve been freelancing for years or you’re just getting started, your relationship with money deserves regular check-ins and care.
Rather be able to fill this out as you read? Try free the workbook instead →
What Is “Money Mindset” and Why Does It Matter?
Your money mindset is the collection of beliefs, stories, and emotions you’ve picked up over the years about what money is, who deserves it, and how it functions in your life. From your parents’ spending habits to overheard conversations to the broader messages we’ve all absorbed from capitalism and social media—your beliefs didn’t just come out of nowhere.
When left unchecked, those beliefs can create subconscious resistance in your business. You might avoid raising your rates, undercharge for your services, or hesitate to talk openly about money with clients or peers.
A strong, healthy money mindset doesn’t mean ignoring your financial reality. It means getting clear on your beliefs and behaviors so you can make intentional, empowered choices.
Reflecting on Your Roots
Here are a few questions I like to start with when checking in on my own money mindset:
- What six words or phrases come up when I think about money?
- What did my parents teach me about money?
- How did we talk about money in my household growing up?
- How do I wish money conversations felt in my life now?
Even if these questions feel big or uncomfortable, they can open up so much clarity. You might notice that you carry fear, guilt, or secrecy around money—and those feelings might be rooted in experiences that aren’t even relevant to your current life or business.
What If Money Made Things Better?
What if having more money helped you become the most grounded, generous, and powerful version of yourself?
- Could money help you show up more fully in your business?
- Could it create more ease in your day-to-day life?
- Could it help you support others—from clients to causes you care about?
Money, at its best, is a tool. It can be an instrument of freedom, healing, and service—if you let it be.
Is Money Drama Holding You Back?
One of my favorite reframes comes from my coach Marie of Self Growth Nerds. She asks:
“Are you doing the math, or are you getting caught up in the drama?”
So often, our stress about money comes from the mental spiral, not the actual numbers. I’ve experienced this firsthand—like the time I had to move unexpectedly and panicked about the cost. But when I sat down and did the math, I realized I just needed two more clients over 1.5 months. Totally doable. And spoiler: I made it happen.
Money clarity = power.
Scarcity Brain Isn’t Permanent
Even after years of practice, I still catch myself slipping into scarcity mode. (Hi, anxious freelancers, I see you.) The difference now is that I notice it faster. I recover more quickly. The stress doesn’t linger for weeks—it passes in days.
Money mindset work isn’t about becoming perfectly healed. It’s about shortening the distance between “I’m panicking” and “I’ve got this.”
TL;DR – 3 Big Money Mindset Shifts
- Replace drama with math. Your emotions are valid, but the numbers will ground you.
- Question old beliefs. You don’t have to keep carrying what doesn’t serve you.
- See money as support. Not just for yourself, but for the people and values you care about.
Money Mindset Podcasts for Freelancers
One of my favorite ways to learn (and grow) is podcasts. I’ve been working on my money mindset since 2019, and I’ve listened to a ton of podcasts that really helped. Here are a few I loved (and a few of my own show).
1. Money Mindset for Freelance Writers
Podcast: The Guidebook with Rachel Meltzer
Rachel explores her Money Mindset Workbook, sharing personal stories and strategies to transform your financial beliefs.
2. 5 Money Mindset Shifts
Podcast: Self-Growth Nerds with Marie-Pier Tremblay
Marie-Pier shares five key shifts that will help you move from scarcity to abundance.
3. Solocast: How to Stop ‘Selling Yourself’
Podcast: The Guidebook with Rachel Meltzer
Learn how to reframe selling as showing up—with integrity and alignment.
4. Navigating Job Market Anxiety & Financial Fears
Podcast: Self-Growth Nerds
A thoughtful look at career insecurity and the fear of not having enough.
5. Kara Perez Makes Wealth Building Brave & Sustainable
Podcast: The Guidebook
Kara shares how she built Bravely Go and reframed money as a tool for activism and equity.
6. Mastering Money, Mindset & Motivation
Podcast: Success Secrets with Daniel Alonzo & David Meltzer
Strategies for building a grounded, motivated money mindset.
7. The Power of Consistency
Podcast: Self-Growth Nerds
Marie-Pier talks about how small, consistent actions change your financial reality.
8. Don’t Share Your Rates Publicly…
Podcast: The Guidebook
Rachel unpacks why rate transparency can be helpful—or harmful—and how to price with clarity.
9. Finding Your Own Definition of Wealth
Podcast: 50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Katie Gatti Tassin
Katie opens up about selling her business, redefining success, and making space for freedom.
10. The Power of Intentional and Sustainable Spending
Podcast: On the Money with Kara Perez
An honest conversation on how values-based spending creates long-term stability.
11. Overcome Your Psychological Bullsh*t Around Money
Podcast: Financial Feminist with Tori Dunlap
Tori dives deep into how emotions and socialization create harmful financial patterns.
12. How to Build Wealth Ethically
Podcast: Yo Quiero Dinero with Kara Perez
Kara shares how to grow wealth while staying aligned with your values.
13. Money Mindset Reset
Podcast: Money with Katie
Katie walks through what to do when your financial self-worth takes a hit.
14. Financial Boundaries Are Self-Respect
Podcast: Financial Feminist
An empowering episode on setting limits, saying no, and respecting your own budget.
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