No reliable way to track freelance client payments without spreadsheets

Problem Description

I work with multiple freelance clients every month, and keeping track of who has paid, who hasn’t, and which invoices are overdue has become increasingly chaotic. I currently rely on a messy Google Sheet combined with manual bank account checks. This means constantly switching between tools, updating rows by hand, and setting calendar reminders that I often forget to adjust. The biggest issue is that this system doesn’t scale. As the number of clients grows, mistakes become more frequent—missed payments, forgotten follow-ups, or sending reminders to clients who already paid. Existing accounting tools feel overkill, expensive, or packed with features I don’t need. I just want clarity and peace of mind, not a full accounting suite.