i’m struggling with mastering budgeting and repaying debt. as i’m self-employed, payments from clients come in in irregular amounts and indefinite times. how i long sometimes for the simplicity of a regular paycheck, even though my earnings are great!

can you recommend a simple way to keep track of cash flow when income time and amount is irregular? i keep close track of when payments are expected, the amounts etc., and i know what my average earnings are, but i still get confused just thinking about how to manage the cash flow INFORMATION i need to stay within budget. i’m just beginning to save for an emergency fund, but the challenge will be not to use it for daily expenses when a client’s check comes in a month late because they forgot to send it. the only advice i’ve ever seen for this is to build up a reserve in a separate account and give oneself a paycheck every month. this would take me years i think–is there a simpler way? is a special account needed? i’ve tried to do this in a small way and i always just end up raiding the “mother” account when someone’s check comes in late, and then i just have another account i’m trying to track, and another tangle to sort out. haven’t tried this since i went to online banking, so maybe that would make it easier. i’m sure it all does come down to do developing better habits, but any suggestions on what habits to develop or strategies to simplify this situation will be much appreciated.