The Freelancer's Teabreak

Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to freelance successfully" manual and you're just winging it? This week's episode is here to tell you: you're not alone, and that glossy six-figure freelance life you see on social media is mostly smoke and mirrors. In this episode, I get honest about what freelancing actually looks like right now: quiet quarters, wobbly income, and all.
Inside, you'll get practical, no-fluff tips for riding the ups and downs: how to spot your own seasonal patterns, simple automations to make saving painless, and gentle reminders to keep marketing yourself even when business is booming. Whether you're just starting out or you've been freelancing for years, this one's a warm, reassuring pep talk with your feet firmly on the ground, plus a peek inside the Freelance Business Lounge if you fancy some proper community and support along the way. It includes twice-weekly calls, Tuesday accountability, Voxer support, and bundled courses/trainings all for £30/month.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction: Freelancing Reality for ADHD & Neurodivergent Freelancers
0:54 Social Media vs Real Freelancing: The Truth About Freelance Life
1:50 Freelance Income Dropping? Why You're Not Alone in 2024
2:10 AI & Freelance Jobs: Impact on Copywriters & Graphic Designers
3:27 How to Plan Your Freelance Income Calendar Year Round
5:12 Pivoting Your Freelance Business When Old Strategies Stop Working
5:58 Why Inconsistent Freelance Income Is Normal (And How to Handle It)
7:02 ADHD Freelancer Money Tips: Automation, Savings & Pension
8:08 How to Keep Marketing When Freelance Work Is Slow
9:30 Freelance Business Lounge: Community for Freelancers
Follow me on Instagram
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Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

In this quick episode, I'm sharing a warning about scammy discovery call bookings that freelancers are increasingly running into now that we rely on booking links. I've heard of calls being booked where the other person turns up just to hard sell to the freelancer, and a recent example from my team involved repeated bookings, a document that wouldn't open, and a prompt asking for an email address, lots of red flags!
If something feels off, I recommend Googling the person's email address or name, checking LinkedIn, and looking for reports on places like Reddit or spam-flagging sites (especially for phone numbers). These situations are rare, but it's worth being cautious, asking extra questions before the call, and sharing any scam trends you've noticed. 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Topic 
00:15 Discovery Call Scam Setup 
00:44 Hard Sell Call Trap 
01:02 Team Member Red Flags 
01:36 Quick Vetting Steps 
02:08 Stay Cautious and Follow Up 
02:34 More Scams to Cover 
03:07 Wrap Up and Goodbye
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

In this episode of The Freelancer's Tea Break, I'm reflecting on my son nearing the end of primary school and sharing practical ways I've managed childcare while freelancing, especially over the long summer holidays.
I explain how UK tax-free childcare works (pay £8 in, get £2 topped up) and remind you it can help beyond nursery, including some after-school and summer clubs (depending on who accepts it). 
I also talk about how things get easier as kids get older, and share other support options that have helped me, including help from family (while acknowledging it's a privilege), swapping childcare with friends, using outdoors clubs, and looking into workspaces that offer childcare or gyms with crèches. 
I also stress the importance of balancing childcare with your partner and invite tips for the secondary school transition, especially for neurodivergent children. 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Life Update 
00:31 Tax Free Childcare Basics 
02:07 Summer Holiday Juggle 
03:11 When Kids Get Older 
05:02 Practical Support Options 
05:23 Family Help and Privilege 
07:08 Swaps With Friends 
07:57 Workspaces With Childcare 
09:15 Partnering and Sharing Load 
10:13 Recap and Next Transition 
11:16 Community Links and Goodbye
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

In this episode, I'm talking through what to do when someone asks you to work for free, whether it's an unpaid "test project", spec work, or a talk with no budget. I share why you can (and should) feel confident declining, plus a few polite scripts you can use.
If you do want to offer something, I cover alternatives like directing people to your portfolio/testimonials, creating a short free resource that builds your mailing list, offering a paid taster or paid spec work, or agreeing a clear skill swap. 
I also explain when free appearances can be more like PR/marketing (such as podcasts or local networking talks), and why "exposure" rarely pays, especially without anything agreed in writing, even for unpaid work. 
Timestamps:
00:00 Why Free Work Requests Happen 
01:05 Just Say No 
01:39 Polite Declines and Freebies 
03:19 Handling Spec Work 
04:23 When Free Has Payoff 
06:17 Get It in Writing 
06:28 Skill Swaps Done Right 
08:03 Exposure Myths and Boundaries 
08:58 PR vs Free Consulting 
09:48 Wrap Up and TLDR
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

If the idea of outsourcing in your business feels scary, you're not alone. For a lot of freelancers and small business owners, "outsourcing" can sound like handing over everything (your inbox, your accounts, your social media, your systems) and trusting someone else with the things you've been doing solo for years. Grips laptop nervously to chest
The good news is, you don't have to start big. In fact, you're much more likely to succeed (and actually enjoy the process) if you start with one small, contained task that removes stress and creates consistency. (And for me, consistency was always the challenge, so having someone to do the last bit really helped)
This post will walk you through tiny, practical ways to outsource, especially if you're nervous about it, plus how to do it in a way that still feels safe and in control.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Why Outsourcing Feels Scary
1:15 How I Started Small (My Outsourcing Story)
3:39 Building Up: Social Media & Beyond
4:49 A message from a member of the Freelance Business Lounge
5:23 Things You Can Start Outsourcing Today
7:58 Tips for Safely Handing Over Access
8:24 Why It's Worth It
Connect with Sharon from my membership: Instagram or look at her Linktree. You can also download her freebie "Practical Guide for When School Doesn't See 'It'"
 
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business