RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - Feb26 - Flipbook - Page 46
MONEY
Navigating
the Gig Economy
Financial Strategies for Freelancers and Side Hustlers
BY CON BARBAYANNIS, CPA
The way we work
is changing. More
Australians are choosing
昀氀exibility, autonomy
and the freedom to
build careers on their
own terms. Whether you
are designing websites,
delivering food, creating
content or running
an online store, you
are part of a growing
movement known as the
gig economy.
While the 昀氀exibility is
appealing, managing your
昀椀nances as a freelancer
or side hustler can be
challenging. Irregular
income, unpredictable
expenses and missing
bene昀椀ts such as paid
leave or employer
superannuation mean you
need to take a more active
approach to 昀椀nancial
wellbeing. With a few
smart strategies, you
can turn uncertainty into
opportunity and create a
strong 昀椀nancial foundation
for the future.
The Rise of the
Gig Economy
The gig workforce in
Australia has grown rapidly.
The Australian Bureau
of Statistics estimates
that around 2.4 million
Australians, or roughly 18
