Budgeting for Authors

Why Traditional Budgets Don’t Work for Authors (and How to Budget for the Feast-and-Famine Cycle)

If you’ve ever tried to stick to a traditional budget as an author, you’ve probably discovered something frustrating: it doesn’t work. Not because you’re bad with money or undisciplined, but because traditional budgeting was never designed for people like you.

A standard budget assumes you earn a consistent paycheck — the same amount every two weeks or once a month. But authors don’t live in that world. You live in a world of feast and famine.

Maybe you receive a $10,000 advance this month, then nothing for the next two. Or you have a huge royalty spike after a book launch, followed by weeks of quiet. It’s unpredictable, inconsistent, and often nerve-wracking. But with the right system, you can smooth out the chaos and take control of your finances — even with irregular income.

💸 The Problem with Traditional Budgets

Traditional budgeting methods, like the 50/30/20 rule or envelope system, are built for predictability. They assume:

• Your income arrives on a regular schedule.

• You always know what’s coming next.

• Your expenses stay about the same every month.

For authors, none of those things are true. Income arrives in waves. Expenses come in chunks — a big editing bill one month, ad spend the next, maybe a convention fee after that. Trying to cram that reality into a “monthly” framework just creates guilt and confusion.

The truth is: you don’t need a stricter budget. You need a system that flexes with your creative career.

🌊 Understanding the Feast-and-Famine Cycle

Think of your income like ocean tides — there will always be highs and lows. Instead of fighting it, learn to flow with it.

Feast months are when you receive big payments (advances, royalties, launch income). Famine months are when the cash flow slows down.

The goal isn’t to eliminate the famine — it’s to plan for it.

🪙 How to Budget for the Feast-and-Famine Cycle

1. Know Your Bare Minimum (Your “Survival Number”)

Before you do anything else, calculate how much you actually need each month to keep your life and business running. Include rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities, and recurring business expenses like website hosting or subscriptions. That’s your baseline — your non-negotiable amount.

2. Divide Your Feast

When a big check lands, don’t see it as a single month’s income. Instead, ask: How many months of living and business expenses does this cover? If you earn $10,000 and your baseline is $3,000 per month, that money needs to last over three months — not one.

Set aside that amount in a “monthly pay” account, and only pay yourself your baseline amount each month.

3. Create a Business Buffer

Put aside a small percentage (even 10–20%) of every big payment into an emergency or “famine fund.”This becomes your safety net when sales slow down — no stress, no panic, no credit card debt.

4. Separate Your Money

Have at least three accounts:

• Income Holding Account: where your payments land.

• Tax Account: where you automatically move your tax portion (aim for 25–30%).

• Checking Account: where you transfer your monthly “salary” and pay expenses.

That separation helps you stop treating every deposit like free money.

5. Budget Per Quarter, Not Per Month

Authors think in book launches, not pay periods. Quarterly planning allows you to align your spending with your projects — launches, ad campaigns, event seasons, etc.

At the start of each quarter, look at your upcoming projects, expected income, and major costs. That view gives you breathing room and keeps your finances aligned with your creative flow.

✍️ A Budget That Works With You, Not Against You

A traditional budget tries to control you. An author’s budget supports you.

It’s not about restriction — it’s about rhythm. Once you stop expecting your income to behave like a 9–5 paycheck, you can start making money decisions that reflect your real creative life.

Budgeting as an author isn’t about predicting every dollar — it’s about building stability in the unpredictable.

💡 Takeaway

You don’t need to budget harder — you just need to budget smarter. Build your system around the way your money actually arrives, not the way the world says it should.

That’s how you stay creative, calm, and financially confident — no matter what the next royalty statement looks like.

✨ Ready to Take Control of Your Author Finances?

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start thriving, grab your free Author Quick Start Money Guide from Ink and Assets — it’s packed with tips to help you budget, save, and plan with confidence (no spreadsheets required).

And if you want a customized money strategy built around your specific author goals, book a FREE initial consultation with us.We’ll help you design a clear, easy-to-manage financial plan that fits your creative rhythm — so your money finally works with your author life, not against it.

👉 Get your free guide and book your planning session today!