I by no means anticipated running a blog to impression my household’s life the way in which it has. What began as a small aspect interest shortly was one thing a lot larger – one thing that will change our lives without end. Earlier than I began Making Sense of Cents, I labored a traditional 8-to-5 job, feeling caught within the routine of commuting, sitting…
I by no means anticipated running a blog to impression my household’s life the way in which it has. What began as a small aspect interest shortly was one thing a lot larger – one thing that will change our lives without end.
Earlier than I began Making Sense of Cents, I labored a traditional 8-to-5 job, feeling caught within the routine of commuting, sitting in an workplace all day, and barely having time to take pleasure in life. I used to be additionally not proud of my pupil mortgage debt, and I used to be residing paycheck to paycheck for years.
However then I began running a blog.
At first, it was only a interest – a solution to hold observe of paying off my debt and studying about private finance. I had no concept that my weblog would ultimately permit me to stop my job, obtain monetary independence, and construct a life full of freedom, flexibility, and alternatives that I by no means thought potential.
Right now, I wish to share the largest methods running a blog has modified my life and my household’s life, in hopes that it’d encourage you to create a brand new path for your self, too (it might be running a blog, sure, or possibly another profession path that you just’ve been serious about making an attempt out – listed below are 30+ Small Business Ideas to look into in the event you’re ).
Additionally, you’ll be able to discover ways to begin a weblog in my free How To Start A Blog Course. On this free course, I present you the best way to create a weblog, from the technical aspect to incomes your first earnings and attracting readers. Over 80,000 folks have taken it!
How Running a blog Modified My Life (And My Household’s Future) Eternally
Right here is how running a blog has modified every thing for me.
1. Running a blog gave me monetary freedom
One of many largest methods running a blog has modified our lives is thru the monetary freedom it has given us.
We not have to fret about residing paycheck to paycheck, and we’re capable of plan our future on our personal phrases.
After I began my weblog, I had no intention of making a living from it. It was merely a spot the place I may share my ideas and experiences. However after about six months, I obtained my first paid alternative – $100 for a sponsored publish. That was once I realized that running a blog might be greater than only a interest.
From that time on, I labored arduous to develop my weblog right into a enterprise. I began studying about affiliate marketing online and alternative ways to make cash on-line. Inside two years, my weblog was bringing in sufficient earnings for me to stop my full-time job and work for myself (I additionally freelanced lots, similar to by being a contract author and digital assistant).
Quick ahead to at the moment, and I’ve remodeled $5,000,000 from running a blog (you’ll be able to learn extra about this at How To Monetize A Blog: How I Grew A $5 Million Blog). What as soon as felt like one thing that will by no means occur to me – working for myself, setting my very own schedule, and making a living whereas I sleep – turned a actuality.
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2. It allowed me to repay debt and be financially steady
One among my largest monetary struggles earlier than running a blog was my pupil mortgage debt.
I owed round $40,000 in pupil loans, and it felt like it might take years to repay. Sure, I do know that many individuals have much more pupil mortgage debt (particularly lately because of the rising value of school), nevertheless it was an quantity that I merely didn’t wish to have hanging over my head together with all the opposite payments that I needed to pay for.
However as my weblog earnings grew, I used to be capable of repay all my pupil loans in simply seven months.
Past that, running a blog has allowed us to construct a robust monetary basis. We’ve been capable of:
- Save for retirement and spend money on our future.
- Eradicate monetary stress and never reside paycheck to paycheck.
- Make decisions based mostly on ardour, not simply monetary want and having to pay the payments.
Beneficial studying: How I Paid Off My $40,000 Student Loan Debt In Less Than One Year
3. The power to plan for the long run
Earlier than running a blog, I assumed I might work a conventional job for many years earlier than retiring. The thought of early retirement or having full management over my time felt like one thing that solely occurred to different folks – to not me. Retirement appeared so distant, and I assumed that monetary stress would at all times be part of life.
However due to the monetary freedom running a blog has given us, my husband and I now have management over our future. As a substitute of feeling caught in a job I didn’t love, I’ve been capable of construct a enterprise that helps our household and permits us to make decisions based mostly on what’s finest for us, not simply what’s essential to pay the payments.
We’ve been capable of make large selections, like spending years touring full-time and later shopping for a house in a location we love. In contrast to earlier than, once I apprehensive about making lease or stretching each paycheck, we now have the power to plan for the long run, figuring out that our earnings is steady and versatile (and that we’ve additionally been capable of save a very good chunk of cash through the years!).
One other big profit is that we are able to put together for sudden occasions. Life is unpredictable, and earlier than running a blog, a monetary emergency – like a medical invoice or a automotive restore – may have fully thrown off my funds. Now, we now have an emergency fund and investments for the long run. Having this safety brings peace of thoughts, which is one thing I’ll by no means take without any consideration.
This monetary stability additionally means we now have extra freedom to dream about what comes subsequent. We’re not tied to a conventional retirement timeline. If we ever determine to decelerate or shift our focus, we are able to accomplish that on our personal phrases.

4. It permits me to have a piece schedule that matches household life
Earlier than running a blog, I labored lengthy hours in an workplace. My time was set by another person’s schedule, and I felt like I wasn’t in command of my very own life.
I do know that is “regular” life and so many individuals advised me to simply settle for it once I was youthful, however I’m glad I adopted my intestine and pursued the aspect enterprise that I had constructed.
Because of running a blog and dealing from dwelling with a versatile schedule, I can spend extra time with my household.
As a result of I set my very own hours, I could be totally current for my household. I can spend time with my daughter with out worrying about asking for break day, and I by no means should miss necessary moments. The flexibleness of running a blog has given me one thing cash can’t purchase – time with the folks I really like.
So, as a substitute of planning my life round work, I now plan my work round my life.
I really feel extraordinarily fortunate to have probably the most wonderful schedule ever whereas elevating a baby.
I usually work simply 10-20 hours per week (some weeks I work rather more, and a few weeks I work a lot much less), which permits me to spend extra time doing the issues that matter to me – whether or not that’s touring, being with household, or just having fun with on a regular basis life.
Earlier than running a blog, I assumed {that a} profitable profession meant working over 40 hours every week at a conventional job. However now, I do know that success is about constructing a life you’re keen on – and for me, which means working by myself schedule.
Notice: That mentioned, I wish to be clear that I do know this isn’t the fact for each mum or dad, and I’m not judging anybody who works a conventional job or has a unique scenario. Each household is completely different, and I do know that each mum or dad is doing their finest. I really feel extremely fortunate that running a blog has allowed me to design a schedule that works for us, and I do know that many dad and mom would love this sort of flexibility if it had been accessible to them. My objective in sharing my story is to indicate my story – to not say that one path is healthier than one other.
5. It gave me the pliability to journey and discover
One of many largest causes I began working for myself was to have the liberty to journey. As soon as my weblog earnings turned constant, my husband and I made a decision to take full benefit of it.
For a number of years, we lived and traveled full-time in an RV, exploring the U.S. at our personal tempo and popping into random cities throughout and exploring till we needed to maneuver on to the subsequent place.
Later, we moved onto a sailboat, touring by sea and experiencing new adventures.
And when my daughter had simply turned one yr previous (actually only a few days after her birthday!), we went on an around the world cruise to 25 countries.
The power to work from wherever has allowed us to see locations we by no means thought we’d go to, all whereas incomes cash from a laptop computer.
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6. My weblog lets me assist others
One of the rewarding issues about running a blog is figuring out that my weblog posts and e-mail newsletters have helped others.
Almost daily, I hear from readers who’ve used my recommendation to enhance their funds, journey extra, begin their dream job, and extra. Some have paid off debt they as soon as thought was unimaginable, whereas others have constructed aspect hustles that fully modified their lives.
After I began Making Sense of Cents, I had no concept it might flip into one thing that might positively impression so many individuals. I used to be merely sharing my private journey of paying off pupil loans and studying the best way to make more money.
However through the years, my weblog has develop into a spot the place folks can discover ways to change their lives, and I’m so comfortable to have been capable of construct this.
My Challenges and Classes Discovered
Whereas running a blog has given me monetary freedom, flexibility, and so many wonderful experiences, it hasn’t at all times been straightforward. It’s nonetheless a enterprise in spite of everything.
Working a weblog as a full-time enterprise comes with its personal set of challenges, and through the years, I’ve discovered many necessary classes.
1. Discovering work-life stability
One of many largest struggles I confronted early on (okay, to be sincere, I positively nonetheless do!) was studying the best way to separate work from private life.
If you make money working from home, the traces between work time and household time can simply blur. To start with, I discovered myself always serious about my weblog – whether or not I used to be responding to emails late at evening, checking my web site at random instances, fixing issues which will have damaged on my web site, or brainstorming enterprise concepts as a substitute of being totally current within the second.
At first, I advised myself that this was required to construct a profitable enterprise. In spite of everything, whenever you’re self-employed, there’s at all times extra work to do. However over time, I spotted that if I didn’t create boundaries, I might burn out.
Right here’s how I’ve discovered to create a greater work-life stability:
- Setting a piece schedule – I strive to not work at random hours. I attempt to set devoted time blocks for work, which helps me focus once I’m working and disconnect once I’m finished. I’m not good with this, although. In actual fact, I’m writing this text at 10:10 p.m. on a Monday proper now. However, it’s one thing that I actively attempt to work on.
- Prioritizing break day – I used to really feel responsible about taking breaks, however now I perceive that stepping away really makes me extra productive and inventive.
- When the climate is nice, I take pleasure in it – It’s actually so simple as that. If the climate is nice, I normally don’t work, or at the least not for very lengthy. These are the times that I’m going climbing, spend time on or within the water, or just get out of the home with my household.
Work-life stability is one thing I nonetheless work on, however setting higher boundaries has made an enormous distinction in permitting me to really take pleasure in my time with my household.
2. Coping with uncertainty in on-line enterprise
In contrast to a traditional job with a biweekly paycheck, working a enterprise can typically have its ups and downs.
For my enterprise, it is because the web is altering on a regular basis – search engine algorithms replace, social media platforms shift, and extra.
There have been moments the place I noticed drops in web site visitors on account of algorithm updates or modifications in how platforms work. Or, possibly one in every of my earnings streams drops.
Right here’s how I’ve dealt with uncertainty in running a blog:
- Diversifying my earnings – I don’t depend on only one income stream. As a substitute, I earn cash via affiliate marketing online, sponsored posts, digital merchandise, show advertisements, and my programs. This fashion, if one earnings supply slows down, I nonetheless have others to depend on.
- I’m at all times studying – I’ve discovered that reaching long-term success signifies that I’m prepared to develop. I recurrently replace my weblog posts, take a look at new methods, and take programs every time I can.
- Constructing an e-mail record – In contrast to social media or engines like google (which I don’t personal), my e-mail record is one thing I management. Having direct entry to my viewers helps me keep linked it doesn’t matter what modifications occur on-line.
- I save as a lot as I can – Saving as a lot cash as I realistically can through the years has helped me drastically as a result of I do know that even when my earnings had been to go down, I come up with the money for saved.


3. Overcoming worry of failure
One of the widespread emails I obtain is from readers who’re afraid to start out a enterprise concept, afraid to pursue their dream job, afraid to journey extra, and so forth and so forth. It’s such a typical theme within the emails that I obtain. You simply should take the leap! Sure, make a plan, however discover methods to take the leap so that you could cease questioning.
After I first began running a blog, I had no concept what I used to be doing. I questioned whether or not anybody would even learn my content material, and I always in contrast myself to extra fashionable bloggers. I began my weblog anonymously for a lot of causes (due to work and since I used to be sharing lots of non-public cash particulars), however one of many causes is as a result of I used to be afraid of failure and I didn’t know what folks would consider me – ha!
Even after I began making a living, I used to be nonetheless uncertain of what I used to be doing. I apprehensive about whether or not I may hold making earnings, whether or not my web site would proceed to develop, and whether or not I used to be making the suitable selections for my enterprise.
However right here’s what I’ve discovered:
- You don’t should be an knowledgeable to start out. Most profitable enterprise homeowners (together with me!) began with zero expertise. You study as you go, and everybody has to start out someplace.
- Making errors is usually higher than ready for perfection. If I had waited till I had “every thing discovered,” I by no means would have began my weblog in any respect.
- Success isn’t about by no means failing – it’s about studying out of your failures. Each mistake has taught me one thing useful that has helped me develop (okay, possibly practically each mistake – some errors after all are simply unhealthy and annoying).
For those who’ve ever hesitated to start out one thing due to worry of failure, I encourage you to push previous it. The most important mistake isn’t beginning in any respect.
How Running a blog Modified My Household’s Life Eternally – Abstract
I hope you loved my article about how running a blog modified my household’s life without end.
I really feel extraordinarily fortunate for the life that I get to reside. Like, very, very fortunate.
Running a blog has allowed my household to make an amazing earnings, journey the world, have a versatile schedule, and reside life on our personal phrases.
Sure, there have been challenges (and there at all times can be!), however I wouldn’t commerce this life for something. The rewards – each financially and personally – have been life-changing.
You possibly can discover ways to begin a weblog in my free How To Start A Blog Course. On this free course, I present you the best way to create a weblog, from the technical aspect to incomes your first earnings and attracting readers. Over 80,000 folks have taken it!
What’s your dream profession? Share within the feedback under!
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