Income gaps are normal in freelancing — the risk isn't the gap itself, it's not knowing how long you can absorb it. This turns your savings and expenses into one number: how many months you have before you need a new contract.
Your inputs
Current savings$12,000
Monthly expenses$3,500
Expected partial monthly income$1,000
Only count income you're confident will keep landing — assume the boring outcome, not the lucky one.
Net monthly burn$2,500
Runway without any income3.4 months
Runway with partial income
4.8
months before savings run out
Without any income
3.4 mo
Net monthly burn
$2,500
This is a simple cash-flow estimate — it doesn't account for taxes owed on the partial income, or savings you'd rather not touch. Use it as a safety number, not a target to spend down to.