self-employed

2 questions

How do I budget on an irregular income?

Budget off your lowest normal month — not your average — and treat every dollar above that floor as an allocation decision you make when it arrives. This approach keeps your fixed obligations covered in lean months while giving you a system for surplus months.
What is a SEP IRA?

A SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension) is a retirement account for self-employed people and small business owners that allows contributions up to $72,000 in 2026 — far more than a regular IRA. It works like a traditional IRA: contributions are tax-deductible and withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.