My friend Sarah had a crazy cable bill close to $150 a month and only watched like three channels. She bought a basic streaming device and a $20 antenna last fall. Now she saves over a hundred bucks each month and uses it for her daughter's dance classes.

Check out how many freelancers skip agents and find work online. @christopherperry, you can build a client list through sites like LinkedIn or even Instagram. I know graphic designers who post their projects and get daily offers. Writers use Twitter threads to show their style and land regular gigs. It's not easy, but you can make it happen with consistent effort. Just network smart and let your work speak for itself.

Oh that primer step is the great humbler for sure, @nina365. It turns your nice smooth wall into a truth-telling mirror (a really cruel one). You think you've sanded everything perfectly, then that first coat of primer goes on and shows every single ridge and tiny pockmark you swore wasn't there. It's why good lighting is your best friend before that step, shining from the side to catch all those shadows. Definitely makes you go back for another round with the mud and sandpaper, but it's just part of the process.

My third freelance job ever, I skipped the contract to seem chill. Big mistake, I ended up working for free when the client kept adding 'small tweaks'. I felt like a doormat with a laptop. Now I use a one-page contract for every single job, no exceptions. It keeps things clear and saves my sanity.

Right? The jars just make it so visual. I got way better at using stuff up before it goes bad, which saved me a ton.