Treyton DeVore

How to pay off debt as a creative - #82

The most important part of managing debt: be aware of the situation and the numbers, then create a plan that works for your situation.

May 6, 2023

How to Pay Down Debt: 3 Effective Strategies When You Have Inconsistent Income

May 6, 2023

The Basics of Freelance Finances: An Interview w/ Harlow

April 29, 2023

Freelance Finances 101: An Interview - #81

I recently did an interview with Harlow about the basics of freelance finances. While tailored to freelancers, most of the answers could apply to anyone with a solo business.

April 29, 2023

A simple *business* finance setup - #80

As a creative, you have better things to do than spend time managing money. Every minute you spend sending invoices or trying to keep track of your income, the less time you have for what you love.

April 22, 2023

A Simple Business Finance Setup for Creatives: 5 Essential Accounts & Tools

April 21, 2023

A simple personal finance set up - #79

A lot of people like to make personal finance harder than it needs to be. I like to make things simple. So I wrote about the 5 essentials to successfully manage your personal finances, including:

April 15, 2023

A Simple Personal Finance Setup for Creatives: 5 Essential Accounts & Tools

April 12, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance for Creatives

The financial life of a creative is more complex than most. For those who have made creativity a career, you're responsible for two sets of finances - yours and your businesses. For those starting out, you may be in the "starving" phase of an artist's career. No matter what phase of the journey you're in, there are timeless lessons & frameworks that everyone can use to help build a solid financial foundation.

April 8, 2023

A Creative's Guide to Personal Financial Planning

April 5, 2023

Breaking down 'buy now pay later' - #77

It can create unhealthy spending habits, but I think it's better than credit card debt. Most offer 0% financing compared to the 15-25%+ that a lot of credit cards carry. However, every time you use a 'buy now pay later' service, you're raising your minimum viable spending.

March 31, 2023

The Dangers (and Advantages) of Buy Now Pay Later

March 29, 2023

The ~financial~ walk of shame - #76

Over the years, you've probably heard that it's important to get invested as soon as possible. I generally support this line of thinking. However, this week's article breaks down why you shouldn't get started too early.

March 25, 2023

3 Resources to Help Set Up Your Creator Business (LLC, Banks, More)

Made your first dollar online? Ready to make things "official"? You're in the right place.

March 18, 2023

Why I'm paying double rent - #75

I've lived in apartments my whole adult life. Last week, I moved into my first house As of now, I'm paying rent for my current apartment through June and I started this new lease in March. It was hard to justify to myself paying double rent for three months, until I did some rough math.

March 18, 2023

Why I'm Paying Double Rent Until the Summer (and Think It Makes Financial Sense)

March 17, 2023

How to Manage a Lump Sum Payment as a Creative - #74

Whether you signed a brand deal or got an advance, dealing with a big chunk of money can be stressful. A few steps to take, no matter the situation:

March 11, 2023

How to Avoid the Financial Walk of Shame

March 10, 2023

Financial Automation App, Catch, Shuts Down

March 7, 2023

Introducing Good Financial Design - #73

Think about the last website you went to that looked like it was from dial-up days. Did you have a good experience? Did it make you want to come back?‍ Probably not.‍ Our money is the same way.

March 4, 2023

What To Do with a Big Lump Sum Payment (From Brand Deals, Creative Work, Commissioned Pieces)

But the important thing to know is that you have to set aside a portion of the funds for taxes. If you have plans to keep growing and expanding your business, you'd want to reinvest some of your earnings into the business rather than taking payment yourself.

March 3, 2023

10 Principles of Good Financial Design

At the end of the day, money is just a tool. It doesn't define you. Good financial design accounts for your unique situation and provides a friendly path forward.

March 1, 2023

3 Resources to Help You Make Sense of Estimated Quarterly Taxes

February 26, 2023

3 Resources to Help You Get Started Investing

February 25, 2023

Why I decided to get life insurance - #72

Life insurance is a hot topic in the world of personal finance & TikTok right now. But I want to talk about the kind of life insurance that salesman don't shill incessantly.. I won't bore you with the details here, but there were 3 main reasons I chose to buy a $500,000 20-year policy this past week:

February 25, 2023

Why I Got Life Insurance as a Single 27-Year-Old

For my situation, term insurance was the obvious option. As far as flexibility & cost goes, it doesn’t get much better. But the biggest reason that I got life insurance is because I want to provide for my family if something were to happen to me.

February 24, 2023

How the Average American Spends Their Money

February 22, 2023

Economics, Explained by Two Cows

February 21, 2023

We've been lied to about retirement - #71

Too often we fall victim to the mindset of “if I keep doing this a little longer, I’ll finally be able to quit my job and live the life I’m dreaming of”. Truth is, complacency and comfortability sets in by the day, making it that much more difficult to pursue what you truly want. Which is why I think as creatives, we’re well-positioned to build a career that we don’t need to completely “retire” from.

February 18, 2023

How to Quit Your Job (and Succeed Financially as a Creative) - #70

If you hate your job, this week's post is for you. Taking the leap into full-time self-employment is a dream of many, but a reality for only a few. Our society makes it difficult to take risk and forgo guaranteed income. It feels like it costs money to breathe right now. But with a proper plan and the right expectations, anyone can pursue their passions.

February 11, 2023

Guide to Understanding YouTube Taxes - #69

I know this is relatively niche, but a lot of the article applies to anyone who's self-employed. If you take a few minutes to understand the basics we walk through, I promise that taxes (and personal finance in general) will make a lot more sense.

February 4, 2023

Youtube Taxes & Write-Offs: Explained

February 4, 2023

How to Quit Your 9-5 & How to Manage Money as a Creator [Podcast & Video]

January 30, 2023

Must-Read Financial Advice for Freelancers - #68

There's a lot of bad financial advice on the internet. Whether it's wrong or inapplicable, few things you read apply to your situation as a self-employed creative. So this article is the opposite of that. I've been a freelancer & a financial planner for the past couple of years, so these 10 pieces of advice are formed from firsthand experience:

January 28, 2023

10 Must-Read Pieces of Financial Advice for Freelancers

January 27, 2023

Can I have multiple DBA's under one LLC?

Yes, you can have multiple DBAs under one LLC. I did this when I was first getting started, but eventually separated my freelance & creative work from my financial planning LLC. So in your case, you may have Niche Site LLC and then multiple DBAs. However, you'd also want to consider:

January 23, 2023

The start of something big.. - #67

The time has come. After starting the Creatorbread Creative Grant Program in December, we've officially funded the first grant 🎉The first recipient is Elizabeth R, a young creative who has a passion for making unique clothing & costumes for underrepresented communities. A few examples of her work:

January 21, 2023

Funding Creativity w/ Elizabeth R (Grant #1)

January 17, 2023

Where to Invest Your Money as a Creative - #66

By definition, investing is the allocation of resources (usually money, time or energy) with the expectation of a future benefit. This means that things like taking a course, buying a book, or going to the gym can all be viewed as an investment. But as a creative, there are certain areas where your dollars have the most impact. These are five of those areas (and only one is the stock market 👀)

January 14, 2023

5 Places to Invest Your Money as a Creative

January 13, 2023

My Money Rules as a Creative - #65

Money's meant to be a tool. But we often let it take over our lives. It's easy to let money become a hidden centerpiece in your life, influencing nearly every decision. To help with this, I created a set of guidelines for myself. These rules keep me on track with decision-making and they reduce the amount of time I spend thinking about money overall.

January 7, 2023

My 11 Money Rules as a Creative Entrepreneur

January 5, 2023

How to (Actually) Reach Your Goals in 2023 - #64

We made it. The last day of 2022. Did you accomplish what you had planned this year? If you're like most people, you might've reached a few goals throughout the year, but something still doesn't feel right. The accomplishments may feel hollow - or you could be learning that goals often evolve (especially when you're just getting started in your career). Either way, there's a solution.

December 31, 2022

Most Read Articles of 2022 - #63

Quick newsletter today as I've spent the past week traveling & hanging out with family for the holidays 🎄 A few links to the most popular articles I wrote for Creatorbread in 2022.

December 24, 2022

How to Get Funding For Your Creative Passions - #62

It's believed that the term "starving artist" was first mentioned in the 1700s. Back then, creatives were assumed to be destined for a life of struggle and minimal pay. Even famous artists like Van Gogh had challenges with making money during their lifetime, only for their work to be revered long after they're gone. Since then, the world of art & creativity has evolved into a place where commerce is a regular practice as the industry was valued at $448 billion in 2022.

December 17, 2022

Introducing The Creatorbread Creative Grant Program: Funding Creativity

December 17, 2022

How to Structure Your Days as a Creative - #61

Everyone's tired of the magic morning routines & illogical productivity "hacks". Maybe, just maybe, because they don't work.. No journal or cup of tea can replace getting actual tasks done. Most routines also don't consider those who have kids, or a life that doesn't accommodate 12-hour work days. From my experience over the past two years, the only thing that matters is finding what works for you and your schedule.

December 10, 2022

How I Structure My Days as a Full-Time Creative & Financial Planner

December 10, 2022

Why Every Creative Should Have a Website - #60

Whether you're a freelancer, YouTuber, or musician, I think having a website in today's world is non-negotiable. We've seen how fragile algorithms and apps can be. A website is a way to create a digital storefront or interactive portfolio that stays open 24/7. It costs much less than a lease and the potential reach is exponentially greater.

December 3, 2022

Why Every Creative Should Have a Personal Website

November 29, 2022

Choosing a Credit Card for Your Creative Business - #59

Between travel points, cash back, and other rewards, picking a credit card can be paralyzing. In this article, Kaleigh Moore shares how she chose a credit card for her business and some of the tradeoffs that she considered.Personally, I use the American Express Blue Business Cash Card for my primary business as it offers 1-2% cash back and $0 annual fee.

November 26, 2022

Why the Solo 401(k) is King - #58

Solo 401(k)'s were created so that self-employed workers could access to some of the same retirement benefits that W-2 employees have. While it takes some work to set up, a Solo 401(k) can help you save money on taxes, set aside money for retirement, and invest in more than just stocks & bonds.

November 19, 2022

The Solo 401(k): The Most Flexible Retirement Account for Creators

The Solo 401(k) was designed to give independent workers & freelancers access to the same tax-advantaged retirement account that regular, full-time employees have.

November 18, 2022

How to Make Investing Simple - #57

Investing can be complicated & confusing. As creatives, we have better ways to spend our time than checking stock prices & doing constant research. This article explains how to simplify the investing process and automate most of the work.

November 12, 2022

The 3-Fund Portfolio: A Creative's Key to Investing

Investing doesn't have to be complicated. With a 3-fund portfolio, you can simplify your investing decisions and make it easy to get into the market.

November 11, 2022

My First Year as a Freelancer: Income Breakdown - #56

I started freelancing last year and through my first 12 months of both writing & design, I made $54,666. This article breaks down how I became a freelancer, my first year income, and three things I would've done differently.

November 5, 2022

Introducing Piertree Provides

I'm starting a nonprofit & launching a grant program

November 2, 2022

11 Financial Tools for Self-Employed Creatives - #55

I shared all of the tools that I use to run my freelance design & writing business and included some helpful calculators & resources. A few of my favorites include RocketMoney, Catch, Novo, and an estimated tax calculator.

October 29, 2022

2022 YouTube Design Update

October 24, 2022

Important Annual Financial Dates in 2023 (for Self-Employed)

I wish the government gave out a financial syllabus for things we need to do throughout the year, so I made one. Here's a non-exhaustive list of important financial dates & tasks for self-employed people in 2023.

October 24, 2022

A Free Money Management System - #54

If you've ever felt overwhelmed or anxious about getting organized & managing money, this was made for you. Each part of the template is custom-designed based on my experience as a financial planner and seeing what works with clients. There's no fluff or unnecessary tools, just actionable prompts & systems to help you manage your money in a less stressful way.

October 22, 2022

11 Essential Financial Tools for Creators & Freelancers

Managing money isn't easy. Technology can help, but it's hard to find the right tools for the job. So I curated a list of all the tools that I use as well as some quality alternatives.

October 21, 2022

5 Places to Open a Roth IRA (and Why) - #53

From choosing a certain type of account to making investment selections, getting started with investing can feel overwhelming. This quick article walks through why a Roth IRA is such a powerful account and 5 different places where you can easily open one.

October 15, 2022

What do rich people do different with their money?

They understand the role that it plays and the smart ones tend to view it as a tool, not the end goal - they invest consistently, they prioritize convenience, they leverage debt, and more.

October 9, 2022

How The Weeknd Built & Stayed True to His Brand - #52

“I don’t want to sign under another artist because I feel I can be just as big or bigger”, he said after turning down a deal with Drake's music label, OVO. By betting on himself and being wildly intentional with his image and output, The Weeknd has created one of the strongest brands in music by sticking true to his values.

October 8, 2022

5 Places to Open a Roth IRA When You're Self-Employed (And Why You Should)

October 7, 2022

Why Interest Rates (and Credit Scores) Matter

October 4, 2022

Inside a Billion Dollar Creator Business - #51

FaZe has gone from a team of gamers to a public company with worldwide recognition and this interview with the brand's Chief Strategy Officer breaks down how they did it.

October 1, 2022

How do I set up a retirement plan for my freelance business?

Overall, if you keep your investment selection simple and take a long-term approach, investing should be a simple activity that primarily operates in the background. You don't need to check your portfolio every day and you don't have to react to every breaking news story. You can automate your contributions, set your investment selections, and sit back while time and compound returns do their thing.

October 1, 2022

How Much I Made My First Year as a Freelance Writer & Web Designer (Full Breakdown)

Like you, I didn't grow up with dreams of being a freelancer. In fact, I didn't really know what it was until I was already doing it. Freelancing kept me afloat while starting a business and it's led me to meet several amazing people in just a short time. I started back in 2021 and in my first year, I made $33,816. This is a breakdown of the earnings and things I did to increase my chances of success.

October 1, 2022

Do I have to file taxes if my business didn’t make money?

In general, if there's no activity for the business, you wouldn't have to file anything for it. If your business had losses or deductible expenses, you're technically not making money, but you'd still want to file to claim the deduction.

September 24, 2022

How Tyler, The Creator Built a Cult-Like Following - #50

After starting his music career in 2007, Tyler's since created a TV show, launched multiple brands, and began hosting Camp Flognaw - a music festival that had 2,000 attendees in its first year. Now, he has multiple hit albums and his festival brings in 50,000+ fans year after year.

September 24, 2022

Should I pay all cash for a car, or take out a loan?

Having the cash savings to pay off a car in full can be tempting (and it can make sense for some people), but you want to be sure that you understand the tradeoffs and the opportunity cost.

September 17, 2022

How 1,000 Creators Would Spend $2,000 - #49

What would you do if you were given $2,000? This article breaks down over 20 different ways that creators would spend the money, including 43% of creators would invest in external help for their business and 10% would hire a virtual assistant.

September 17, 2022

How do I accept payments and make money online?

Essentially, whatever way you plan to make money online, there needs to be a payment processor behind-the-scenes routing payments to your bank account. Some banks (such as Novo) offer built-in invoicing & payment tools, but they generally don't have much customization or flexibility since payments aren't their main value-add.

September 10, 2022

Introducing Live Different

September 10, 2022

How to accept payment on the internet - #48

There are few questions more powerful than this one because making money online will genuinely change your life, if you let it. Rather than working your whole career trading time for money, you can leverage the scale and power of the internet. You could have a product listed on your website and someone from another country can buy it at 3:00am while you're in bed dreaming about your next creative endeavor.

September 10, 2022

What credit card do you recommend for the most cash back (personal & business)?

Cash-back cards can be a great tool, but they must be used carefully. Almost every card carries a high-interest rate so if you don't pay off the balance every month, you'll most likely end up paying more in interest than whatever cash back you earn. There are truly unlimited options out there but personally, I use two cards for my personal life and one for business:

September 3, 2022

My Favorite Cash Back Credit Cards - #47

I like to stick with one or two well-rounded cards, take advantage of their benefits, and not worry about them. My time and mental energy is better spent trying to earn more money than searching for an extra 2% back on $1,000 of spending. I'd assume that's true for yourself too.

September 3, 2022

4 Reasons Freelancers Should Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

You don’t need an EIN to keep doing what you’re doing, but it can provide a few advantages. It’s easy to do, it’s all online, there genuinely isn’t a downside to doing it. It’s free and if you don’t use it, it’s okay. The IRS won’t hunt you down.

September 1, 2022

How should I get started investing with $100?

But before you choose to place additional risk on your money by investing it, I highly recommend making sure you have appropriate savings. The exact number will vary based on your comfortability, but in my opinion, you should have at least one month of your living expenses saved before investing. But let's say you're ready to get invested and put your $100 to work - you first need to choose what type of investment account you're going to use. Here are a few different options based on what your goals are:

August 27, 2022

How to be More "Referrable" as a Freelancer - #46

I started my freelance career in April 2021 and since then, I've made over $50,000 and worked with 15 amazing clients. Out of all of them, I've only sent two outreach messages and they were for my first two clients (and they were both twitter DMs). This article breaks down 7 different things you can do to increase the chance of getting clients without having to do any outreach.

August 27, 2022

YouTube Scriptwriting & Big Brain Tasks w/ George Blackman

August 21, 2022

How much should I put down to buy a $300-400k house?

When thinking about how much home you can buy, you want to consider your "debt-to-income" levels. It's generally recommended to keep your debt under 35% of your total income. So for your situation, you may not want to be paying more than $2,700 towards a mortgage or other debts each month.

August 21, 2022

Creator Horror Stories with Brands - #45

Welcome to The Loaf - a weekly newsletter that makes money & business more approachable for creators & freelancers​

August 20, 2022

How to Be More Referrable (as a Freelancer)

Getting referrals may feel like an insurmountable task, but I promise that doing good work and implementing a few things mentioned in this article will drastically increase your odds of past clients referring new business.

August 19, 2022

Is life insurance worth it if you're single?

August 15, 2022

Why Investing Shouldn't Be Considered Gambling (Examples)

August 14, 2022

Workday Structure & Time Management as a Freelancer w/ Ashley Cummings

August 13, 2022

The Problem with YouTube Success - #44

In this 10-minute video, Kevin Espiritu breaks down the traditional YouTube monetization model (and its issues) while showing how you can avoid falling victim to an unsustainable strategy.

August 13, 2022

Financial Independence & Higher-Paying Clients w/ Stefan Palios

August 7, 2022

What invoicing tool should I use for freelance work?

August 6, 2022

How to Build a Die Hard Fanbase as a Creator - #43

Everybody wants a loyal audience. Imagine being able to release a product or service and it sells out immediately. This article is focused on music artists, but the concepts can be applied to almost any creative career.

August 6, 2022

Forget Cash or Crypto, Pay Me In This

August 3, 2022

Why Logan Paul Turned Down Millions in Brand Deals

August 2, 2022

2 Reasons You Need to Own Your Audience (And How)

August 1, 2022

The Power of Storytelling (and Whole Foods) w/ Christina Igaraividez

August 1, 2022

A Case Study of How Joe Rogan Makes Money - #42

Joe started his podcast in 2009, long before they were a societal norm, and earned his first dollar through a Sirius XM ad deal. He's since made more than $100 million through his podcast, brand deals, and brand reputation.

July 30, 2022

Do creators find value in link in bio tools?

July 30, 2022

Part-time Work, Travel Nursing, and Creating w/ Jerine Nicole

July 24, 2022