<prompt> Human: Throwaway for obvious reasons.So, Ive been lurking for a long time and I would hate to just wing it without seeking the advice from this wonderful subreddit. Background time: So, I got lucky, and then worked hard. I taught myself how to make videos while making videos paid for itself and I made it on youtube. This is my first really explosive year after my big break and I made more money than Ive ever seen before, roughly 150k if my December estimates are accurate. I didnt do much with this money. Ive put aside about 40k for taxes since Im terrified of those and then another 20k into a Robinhood account which Ive got about a 10 return for the year on and paid off all my tuition and student loans. Mostly etfs, nothing too crazy. I started eating out a bit more often and I bought a beater car for my SO and everything is great. Heres the catch. I graduate from a great school at the end of this month. Because of the youtube work, I will be graduating debt free and because of the youtube work, I have turned down almost every job offer I have received because the pay is all about half of what I get right now. I dont know anything about health insurance but I know once I graduate I no longer can use my uni health insurance and Im pretty sure I have to have it in the USA. Both the cars I own are paid for and I have no children and Im just really worried that if I take a job, Ill lose my fire and stop putting the time I want to into my youtube channel which is still growing and I believe can continue to grow. I am equally afraid that if I dont take a job now, Ill wind up being 30 in a few years with no real job experience and youtube dries up and then Im out in the wind with a standard of living I can no longer support, kids on the way and if I try to find a job then, it will be more difficult because I have no traditional experience to put on a resume. I see my options as:-Get a career job that pays well and is safe, try to do youtube on the side.-Forget the job and go YouTube full time. if I keep growing like I hope I could with all my energy to focus, I think I could make twice what I made this year in 2016.-Youtube at my current pace and explore other things that interest me with my investment money. i.e. learn to brew beer, self-publish a novel, ect...Im also unsure of what to do about my living situation without a dorm. Should I get a cheap apartment and save up for a home? I dont like the idea of debt and now that Im free of it, I am hesitant to ever buy something on credit again. I love to travel and it is great for making videos but it is expensive and I dont think that wandering is a sustainable living situation, even with my income. Other things to note are that I have been with my SO for a long time, and they have another 2 years of education before they could in theory leave the city we live in. Not that I am dying to move anywhere, but am I right in thinking that I should wait for them to have a solid plan before I commit to property or anything permanent?I guess with graduation and seeing all my peers take job offers, I am just really panicky and dont know which path to take and could really use some pointers from others who took the roads less traveled. I know that this post can come off really humble-bragish, and I was not comfortable posting it at all, but the advisers at my school have no idea how to handle the situation and I just want somebody to talk through this with. EDIT 1: For some reason this keeps coming up, but my channel has nothing to do with videogames or lets plays. Not that there is anything wrong with that content, but it is not my niche. Also, since it is of interest to so many, I serve between 250,000 and 500,000 subscribers and generate between 5 and 10 million monthly impressions. Thank you so much for the encouragement and advice so far. Im currently looking into finding a CPA and establishing a business for the channel to separate my personal and professional finances for tax purposes. On that point, most everybody seems to agree. Assistant: Do it.From what you wrote- you are not blowing all the money or making rash decisions.Saving, paying off debt and helping out your SO who assumingly has been supportive of your venture is a responsible path.Give it a go- if you are worried about not having cash flow- get a small part-time job doing something you are interested in or that could benefit your YouTube channel- learn a skill you can apply there.I would also say- get an accountant and take full advantage of this last year as a student if you are making that much money- depending on your state...you may be able to write off a bulk of those tuition payments and offset what you owe.Also get advice about write-offs and proceed accordingly. If you are in business for yourself- take advantage of that as well.good luck and congrats on graduating and making your own way.Human: What does an accountant cost? I often think things like: I spent 40 in gasoline and another 30 in materials on this video, it sure would be nice if I could write that off my taxes but I dont know the legality of that or even where to begin. I just feel like Im the kind of guy that a financial adviser takes advantage of and want to avoid that. Nobody likes playing the fool. Also, in case it wasnt clear, my time at school is over in less than two weeks, I kept putting off making this post till I was staring over the edge. Assistant: Hey there-I am self employed. I paid an account 250.00 year to do my taxes.Basically I save EVERY receipt that I spend and also go through my expenses from my on0line bank account.Here are somethings to consider;Mileage- are you driving places to buy things, research stuff for your channel, shoot actual footage? if yes-all of that is deductible. Since that may be tough to keep track of- this is what I would suggest-Figure out the mileage that you drive to and from school each day. add another 10-15 miles on that for personal shopping etc and that will be your daily total for personal mileage. Multiple that by how many days you attended school and that will give you a round number of personal mileage. What is left I would write off at the IRS rate 0.52mile.Other stuff you could write off;Any equipment you buy, fix or maintain for the channel; cameras, computers, editing software- cables- everything.Internet service.Cell phone ServiceOffice SuppliesAny fees that you have- membership to guilds or groups.Bank Service FeesAny clothing that you bought specifically for the channel.Your vehicle registration cost some states can some cantAny Materials you buy for a video are completely able to be written off which will off-set the amount that you have to pay on your earnings.Any lunches that you had while travelling to shoot...so lets say you go out to shoot 50 miles from your home mileage then you stop and get coffee write that off then you shoot for the day and then stop to get lunch write that off then you drive home write off the mileage homeIf something was a loss- this is where you will need professional advice- and in my opinion was WELL worth the 250.00 that I pay a year to learn this. If I LOSE money on something... so in your case.. lets say your first 10 filmsshoots didnt garner you any income- THAT IS A LOSS and will greatly reduce the amount of money you have to pay.Also- do you do all the editing at home? do you have a dedicated room to that? One that you consider the HQ of your channel? You should find out the sqft of that room compared to the rest of the houseapt and ask about writing it off.In my case- I have an office that I only use for business- it is 12.7 of my total square footage. SO- rent mortgage that 12.7 is deductible on top of the interest. In addition- 12.7 of my heat and electricity are also deductible. If you are responsible for plowing or other lawn care type stuff- that too.There is I am sure lots of things that you can deduct. Parking, software fees, meals, coffees, mileage, supplies, advertising, etc etc.Hope that helps.If you are interested- I can dig up the Schedule C info I have and send it to you.Good luck!P.S.-One more thought. If you filed in the past and owed money or not but were also running this channel in the past years and are willing to put in the time of pulling your bank statements and sift through each month for expenses. Or if you know you made a large purchase in those years that you now know you should have written off- ask an accountant about filing an amended return- you may be due some money.Human: Oh wow...this is great advice, thank you. Where do I find such an accountant? Im unsure what a Schedule C is but I would love more information in a PM. I definitely have a space I use for making things and editing, and never would have thought of that as a write off.  <response>: As a heads up, the rate that he mentioned 250year is EXTREMELY cheap. I wont guess at the quality of work done, it may be fine, but typically a return with a Sch. C of any difficulty is going to be over 500 pretty easily, and even that would be on the cheap end. Especially, if he hasnt gone through and summarized his expenses for the accountant, as they typically charge by the hour.The last two firms I worked at both very small, regional firms wouldnt even look at a return under 400. Its just not worth the time otherwise during busy season.If youre open to filing an extension in exchange for a reduced rate, mention that. As some firms are looking for work outside of tax season. If you want it done by April 15, youre bidding for their limited time during tax season.Also, keep in mind, that you are ultimately responsible for your return...even if prepared by an accountant. 