My MoneySense

By MoneySense Editors on October 1, 2025
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

By MoneySense Editors on October 1, 2025
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Sue's tips for freelancers include paying off credit cards, saving for taxes in a separate account, and scrutinizing every purchase.

Trying to make a living as a writer, editor, and content strategist, Suzanne (Sue) Bowness discovered that good money habits are as important to success as good grammar and an expansive vocabulary. This year she summed up all that hard-earned wisdom in The Feisty Freelancer: A Friendly Guide to Visioning, Planning, and Growing Your Writing Business (Dundurn Press). Her writing has also appeared in publications from The Globe and Mail to University Affairs magazine.

Since 2002, Sue has provided content creation, editing, and consulting services to corporate clients through her business CodeWord Communications. Here, she talks about her formative experiences along the road to becoming a self-employment expert—and the right way to use debt.

As a freelance writer, I had an early gig reviewing business books, several of which were financial. That gave me insight into the fact that people actually wrote books about money that helped demystify elements like the stock market and other terms. I wish money management had been taught in high school; I would have preferred that class over other math that I never use as an adult. Suze Orman was one of my favourites from those early reads for her practical advice and encouragement that anyone could understand and manage their finances.

I like walking—both in nature and cities—travelling, and seeing new places. I like reading and listening to podcasts and audio books. I also like writing fiction and poetry, although it’s sometimes exhausting to make time for creative writing after a full day as a professional writer.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but when I became an adult, I realized that I also needed to make a living. So I started working as a journalist and content writer. While I enjoy any kind of writing, I still like writing fiction, so I’d probably flip the time so that I’m writing my creative work during the day instead of after hours.

My earliest money memory........

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