Two difficult skills.

Yesterday I talked about becoming a successful Artist and today I thought I would talk about the two difficult things that are hard to do for some Artists.

Know where your money goes.

Learn about basic accounting, this is something many Artists don’t refuse to do but more question, “Why should I do that when I want to create Art and paint?”

The way to know if you need to learn some basic accounting is if you ever say, “I just do not know where all the money goes?” or something similar.

If you say that then get a book on simple accounting or do one of the many free accounting tutorials on You Tube. It is so important that you do know where your money goes and by keeping records and good accounts will help you do that.

Why?…. so you know where your money goes, it’s your money.

You need to learn to keep some of your money.

I talk a lot to Artists about learning to budget and save their money. Learning to budget is not difficult and learning simple accounting will help you do that.

Saving money is so important especially when you only have a little money, you still must save.

Always put aside your saving first so you do not spend it, that is why you must budget so you know what you have and what you can spend. If you have to sacrifice and go without some things, so be it so you can save.

If you cannot save when you have little, you will not save when you have much.

I know so many people who outwardly look rich and successful but live one pay packet to the next and have no saving and if you have no savings and tough times come, you are in trouble and trust me tough times can come.

If you learn to save you are paying yourself for your future.

Don’t count on your good luck for money.

The best way to get money is to work hard at your craft, sell your work for the best price you can get, pay yourself a minimum of 10% into your savings account out of everything you earn and budget the rest and if you have any spare money at the end of the month, save it.

You need to learn to budget and save so you get to keep some of your money.

It breaks my heart when I see talented, hard working Artists struggling to make ends meet. It is not that money does not come their way, unfortunately they do not know how to handle it.

There seems to be this attitude that I can look after my money, I do not need help but if you have none at the end of the month, you need help.

Better to learn how to manage your money so you get to keep some than to stubbornly go on not knowing where all your money goes.

Artist to be prosperous and successful does not just happen by magic, you need to learn how to keep your money, that you earn.

Handling money is a learned skill, not a gift from God.