Money Management When You're Self Employed

.... is really challenging.

I'm a sole proprietor (and sole employee) in my business, and I work out of my home.
Right now, I have clients who are past due to the tune of about $15,000.
Not exactly chump change.

It's a little irritating considering my mortgage still needs to get paid, I still have groceries that need to be bought, there's the light bill, the water bill, the car payment, and let's not forget gas for both cars (which goes higher and higher every frikkin DAY!), etc., etc.

But you know what?

The financial uncertainty that comes with the territory of being self-employed is soooo worth the benefits I get in return. (And by benefits, I don't mean vacation, disability, 401K.... no, I don't get any of those..... left ALL THAT BEHIND when I fled Corporate America after 18 years...). By benefits I mean the fact that I answer only to myself (and my clients, of course); that I work when I want (and not when some Draconian Boss tells me to); and that I work in a field where I can really truly help people.

So, give me the uncertainty of not knowing when my $15K is going to land in my PO Box. I'll take that uncertainty any day, as long as I can keep the hard-won freedom I have as well.