Blog.

1/28/2025

Tipping at a 6-Year Low: Why Tracking Your Tips Matters More Than Ever

Tipping rates hit a 6-year low, with only 38% tipping 20%+ in 2024. This post explores reasons behind the decline, emphasizes the importance of tip tracking for service workers, and introduces Balance app’s features to help manage fluctuating incomes.

1/21/2025

Credit Scores: The Silent Killer of Financial Health (Especially for Variable Income Workers)

Credit scores, a silent financial menace, disproportionately harm variable income workers. This post exposes the flaws in the credit system, its role in perpetuating inequality, and offers strategies for those with unpredictable incomes to navigate this rigged game.

1/15/2025

Financial Management for Temporary and On-Demand Workers: Advice on Budgeting, Saving, and Managing Irregular Income

Mastering finances with irregular income? This post offers key strategies for on-demand workers: flexible budgeting, emergency funds, tax planning, and more. Learn to leverage financial tools and diversify income streams for stability. Turn gig work flexibility into financial success.

1/2/2025

From Cash Flow Anxiety to Financial Clarity: How I Learned to Love Tracking my Hard-Earned Tips.

Calling all tipped hospitality workers -- not tracking your tips? Big mistake. HUGE. Discover why mastering this simple habit is more important than ever for your financial well-being. You're in charge of your own fun. And while money might not ultimately buy happiness, it sure can buy some fun and peace of mind.

12/21/2024

Tipping Fatigue: When Convenience Turns into Consumer Backlash.

Tired of endless digital tip prompts? Explore how software has turned tipping into a frustrating "digital panhandling" game, hurting service workers and exhausting consumers. Dive into the hidden profit motives, tipping fatigue, and a bartender's guide to navigating this chaotic new norm.

12/13/2024

Where Does Your Tip Money Really Go? A Bartender Spills the Tea.

The journey of a tip from a customer's hand to a server's pocket is more complex than it might initially appear.

2/6/2024

To tip or not to tip? Observations and confessions on the debate from a real live bartender. Spoiler alert - it's complicated.

Tipping is an integral part of our history, wage policies, and culture. It's important to understand the complexities of the system, considering that numerous people rely on it for their livelihoods.

2/14/2023

Why the Way Independent Workers (#gigworkers) Get Loans is All Wrong.

Today’s options for determining credit worthiness are not great for the independent worker (#gigworker). We can do better. And it starts with their cash flow.

1/25/2023

A Damn Whiteboard. And 3 Other Reasons Balance is Putting the Shift & Appointment Based Independent Worker (#gigworker) First in Forecasting their Money.

Tools today still miss the point for the independent worker. This whiteboard doesn't lie.

12/20/2022

We Made a Cash Flow Calculator on a Calendar for the Independent (or gig) Worker.

We started with a cash flow calculator on a calendar because it’s simple, effective, and familiar for the independent worker. It’s our Alpha Baby 👶 and we’re stoked to share it with all of you.

11/16/2022

Forecasting. The Independent Worker's (or Gig Workers) Key to Building Wealth.

If you're an independent worker, budgeting is only half the equation. Cash flow forecasting is your missing link to building wealth. Good news is -- you already do it.

10/21/2022

Why I Started Balance. And Three Hard Truths about Gig Work.

I started Balance for the independents. To help people like me look forward to managing our money and our happiness. And build wealth on our terms.