Can you afford to work from anywhere?

For the last two weeks, I’ve been working away from my usual desk set-up being deeply non-ergonomic. I’ve slouched in chairs and a tiny sofa with my laptops, and without my big monitor and chair that provides proper back support. It reminded me how easily our work efficiency can crumble when our environment changes. (I didn’t dwell on that too long because whatever.)

This captures the vibe of the weird sofa. Photo by Jørgen Larsen on Unsplash

What stood out even more were the financial realities behind it all. Here’s the truth, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. That’s the deal when you’re self-employed and/or a contractor. Plus, no other income to fall back on. I could have taken the time off because I have an emergency fund that exists for exactly these moments, but since I was mostly sitting around waiting, I chose to work.

The timing is pretty good, to be honest. Summer is typically a quiet period for me as clients are on vacation or in the summer mindset so projects slow down. I’m also coming off a year of intense deadlines and creative sprints, so the stakes aren’t as high. I expect it to kick back up in the fall. In fact, I’m working on ramping up with a friend.

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Obviously this is a newsletter about solo finances so you know I’m going to talk about that. Here’s what this experience reinforced for me about money, work, and what it really means to be financially prepared:

1. Emergency funds give you choices, not just security
   My emergency fund isn’t just there to keep the lights on if something went terribly wrong. It gives me options. I could take unpaid time off without panicking about rent or bills, if I wanted. That mental safety net is priceless because it means you can make decisions based on what’s best for your health or circumstances, not just fear. Now, on the flip side, I don’t really want to touch my emergency fund because it took a long time to build it up. That is an issue that I’m aware of and working on. Right now my line is, if I can’t work at all, then I’ll use it. That seems to be the best option for me.

2. Understand your real cost of time off
   When you’re paid hourly or by project, days off are unpaid. There’s no paid vacation quietly accruing in the background. Running the numbers and knowing what a week off actually costs you lets you plan for it in advance, so you’re not forced to choose between burning out and missing your income target. (This is also good for planning to take an actual vacation. I did this last year.)

3. A good workspace is a financial investment
   Feeling inefficient because you don’t have your usual monitors or chair can lead to more hours spent on tasks and that’s money. Investing in gear like a second screen, portable stand, or better laptop keyboard isn’t just about comfort, it’s about maintaining productivity so your time and income is used well, wherever you work. Now a good workspace is contextual. I’ve worked in a hammock while on the Atlantic ocean, in a bar on the same cruise ship (during the day), on my parents’ deck, in a kitchen in a cottage with some friends, in multiple hotel rooms and at my brother’s dinner table. Were they all ideal? No, but I managed.

4. Plan your finances around seasonal ebbs and flows
   Summer can be slow in many industries. If you budget with those lulls in mind, you can build in buffer months and avoid panic when invoices don’t roll in as quickly. Knowing your industry’s ebbs and flows and aligning your spending and savings with them turns slow seasons from stressful surprises into planned opportunities for rest or regrouping. Of course, I have other things to do like revamp my website and do some updates to the newsletter. It’s never quiet-quiet.

5. Flexibility is only empowering if your finances can support it
   The freedom and privilege to pick up your laptop and work anywhere sounds glamorous (hah), but real flexibility comes from having financial stability underneath. Building savings, keeping expenses predictable, and knowing your cash flow let you adapt when things don’t go perfectly, like working from a sofa for two weeks. (My posture is awful right now.)

This time away from my comfortable setup reminded me that financial resilience isn’t about weathering big emergencies, like we’ve been told over and over again. It’s really about the small, totally not-glamorous things. If you can, give yourself the best shot at staying productive, healthy, and sane even if your workspace is a weird, plasticky sofa.

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This week’s readings:

What you need to know about CPP, OAS and tax planning if you want to work past 65. (Financial Post)

Against the odds, Gen Z is breaking into the housing market (CNN)

What happens if I can’t pay my medical bill? (The Cut)

Canadians are curious about investing-and willing to take bigger risks (MoneySense)