Recognizing potential pitfalls regarding the handling of your finances is the first step to avoiding them. Without any judgment answer these questions honestly and quickly with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

1. Have you ever supported some else while you,  your art, your dreams, your life were put on hold? Are you too afraid to cut lose a loser/deadbeat friend or lover for fear that nobody else will come along?
2. Are you afraid to ask for a raise or to raise your rates, and thus remain underpaid? Do people owe you money, but you are afraid to ask for it back (or forgot)?
3.  Are you so disorganized that you don’t bill clients promptly or pay your bills (or taxes) on time?
4.  Have any of your bad habits hurt your career (showing up too late, not at all, or intoxicated)?
5.  Do you do things that are dishonest or go against your morals and values to make money? Do you hate your job and do it just for the money?
6.  Do you make unrealistic promises that you can’t keep?
7.  Does your lack of savings put you on the brink of financial disaster?
8.  Do you things in haste that have caused you to lose money in the past?
9.  Do you buy material things to make yourself better or to impress others?
10.  Do you get angry or jealous or feel inferior when others make more money, have nicer things, or have more success than you?
11.  Are you in debt or struggling to make minimum payments on your debts? Are you in the dark about how much you owe?
12. Do you fail to take care of yourself? Do you not have health insurance?
13.  Do you let your possessions fall into disrepair and have to buy new ones?
14.  Do you turn down or blow off potentially bigger opportunities to stay within your comfort zone? Do you ignore industry signals and fail to make corrections in your approach to your career?
15. Have you ever been a victim of a scam or get rich quick scheme?
16. Do you feel that many of your money problems you brought on yourself?
17. Do you think balancing your checkbook is a waste of time?

If you said “yes” to more than a fewl of these questions your money woes may not be because of the economy, the art world or other external factors – it could be that you are to blame. If that is the case, that is good news, because it means it’s fixable and within your control to do so.