In The Beginning…
I’ve always liked having money. I’ve always enjoyed spending it, too. But what I really like about personal finance is finding that perfect balance. I like to treat myself well without breaking the bank.
They don’t teach much personal finance in high school or college, so it wasn’t until late in college that I found out it was something people talked about. I started reading everything I could get my hands on. I didn’t have any money and I was eating pasta 5 times a week, but I enjoyed the topic and loved the knowledge.
Why I Started Blogging
Eventually, Yahoo! Finance and The Simple Dollar couldn’t contain me and I moved onto some smaller blogs. Around the time I started my first job after graduation as a systems analyst (think programming and databases), I got tired of the frugal blogs and decided to throw my hat in the ring. I don’t consider myself a writer, but looking back to the first few months, it’s clear that I’ve come a long way.
What I’ve Enjoyed
By a long shot, my favorite part of blogging has been the networking. It’s a ton of fun to talk about blogging and personal finance with people who don’t roll their eyes. I can’t get my girlfriend to listen to me blabber for more than a few minutes, but going to DC blogger events (if you’re ever in the area, you have to come to a happy hour) and emailing people has been awesome. Unfortunately, I don’t do it enough.
Awhile ago, Frugal Zeitgeist and I g-chatted for a solid hour. He treated me like I was a full time blogger when really he was much more of a pro than I am. Still, we learned a lot from each other. So if you’ve ever got a question, ask me. If I can’t answer, I’ll help you find someone who can, and it will be nice getting to know each other along the way. As an added incentive, I’ll hook you up with an advertiser or two!
Wednesday was my one year blogiversary (did someone say $100 giveaway? Get your entries in!) and if the next year is anything like the past one, I’m excited for the growth of the site (and the $)!
What I’ve Hated
The pressure! Having to come up with articles consistently is killer, but bringing on Crystal from Budgeting in the Fun Stuff has been great. No more last minute posts!
I also hate the stats. I look far too often and even though I’ve grown tremendously, I’m greedy and always want more. They say quality articles is the best way to build readership, but who wants to do it slowly? Recently I’ve experimented with higher quality posts, and the results have been really good. So I’ll be continuing that trend as well as doing a giveaway or two, and hopefully I will that will give me a boost.
Straight up, I don’t comment enough. I do a ton of reading, but I only comment if it’s super convenient. If your site is blocked at work, the odds are low that I’ll run home and comment. But I’ve made a serious effort over the past week and it’s been easier than I expected, so look for me to continue to be more active.
Thanks for being part of the Yakezie, I look forward to talking to you guys soon! Don’t be shy!
This post is part of the Yakezie Member Post Series. See all member posts here.
Hey Daniel, I loved hearing about your start in personal finance and I can totally relate to folks in real life not really getting the blogging about PF talk. I’m sorry we couldn’t meet when I was in DC, your group is huge and you are so lucky to have so many in real life to hang out with. :-) Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Daniel, Great to hear your story! We first “met” at Cash Commons. Enjoy your writing style, keep it up! And you are way ahead of your peers at your age financially. Congrats!
Ah, but it never feels like enough, does it!
Wow, Daniel, I didn’t know that you were a techie! I should have guessed though since your initial Yakezie spreadsheet really made the Financial Samurai’s initial challenge reallly catch on fire! That spreadsheet really made a huge difference with me (needless to say, I was very impressed).
It’s been amazing watch your blog and others continually improve their game!!!
I hate how much I watch the stats too! :)
I wish it was as easy as you make it sound, that project took forever and then was replaced as soon as I got it working the way I wanted!
That spreadsheet that you created made the challenge real though! Don’t underestimate the value and the buzz that it created. I know my personal involvement in the challenge peaked after seeing all the members and their scores!
Also, it made it easy for me to literally go down the link and check out everybody’s site from one incredible index! Dude, it was sweet!!!
Your contribution with that spreadsheet made the challenge more concrete and much, much more fun!!! :)
Daniel,
Many of us can identify with your “loving the networking” aspect of blogging. After all, who else is interested other than those who have the same passions? That is undoubtedly one reason Yakezie appeals to so many of us.
Congrats on your one year anniversary. Your site is doing well and will no doubt continue to grow.
One more thing: I will remember your offer to ask if I have questions. :)
Any time Joe, it would be my pleasure!
Hey Daniel, cool post! I also enjoy the networking aspect of blogging with people who have similar interests…my wife rolls her eyes a lot too!
Daniel, I identify with so much that you said. I watch stats too close, and I want success to come quickly. I get frustrated when I have 350 page views in a day, but my Alexa rank doesn’t change. I need more of my readers to have that toolbar (but I digress…).
I have found that many of my friends know absolutely nothing about personal finance. I also found that people don’t really want to change, they just want to complain about what they can’t do. (Not everyone of course, just many of the people I have spoken to.) My former boss had kids in high school and he hadn’t even heard of 529 plans. I couldn’t believe it.
Anyway, I think you are doing a great job, and I wish you quick success!
I see that too, and I just don’t understand it, who doesn’t want to make a few changes that will have a huge effect on your finances?
Thank you for the introduction! I think it is very kind of you to offer your help to new bloggers like myself. I will definitely take you up on that offer!
If anyone wants to get into the monetization aspect of blogging – Big D is where it is at! He is superhelpful with referrals and knows what it is all about.
Love the blog! Keep up the great work.
I’ve heard other niches in blogging can be catty and unfriendly. What I love about PF blogegrs is that we tend to all help each other.
And I agree, coming up with new articles all the time can be stressful. And I spend way too much time looking at stats rather than writing.
Nice intro, Daniel. I always like reading your posts and I think it’s terrific that Crystal is now a staff writer for you as well. Thanks also for sharing your advertising info. I’ve had a couple pan out for me too. As for the DC Bloggers, I think Len is trying to set up something similar out on the west coast. Maybe someday soon we’ll all have a big bash in a central location!
I may be out in LA in a year or two, so I’d gladly bring over the dc spirit!
Thanks Little House! I try not to scare away his readers, lol. :-)
Hey Little House, would New Jersey count as a central location? ;-)
Oh yes, I am sending out the first notice for the Southern California bloggers group before the end of this long weekend! I hope it is as fun as the your DC bloggers group, Daniel! I had a blast when I was there, and I was happy to get to experience it and meet everybody! :-)
Haha, I know what you mean about spending too much time looking at stats. Congrats on the great progress over your first year!
Well, I already felt like I knew you a little, but I loved the intro! Is it selfish to be a little happy you wanted to find a little help? I’ve really enjoyed contributing. :-) It is nice to meet other bloggers that were pushed over the edge by extreme frugalities, lol. I was a Sweating the Big Stuff reader months before I started BFS and have always enjoyed your point of view. Have a great Labor Day weekend!
And you’ve been great so far, I look forward to more great articles!
Daniel – thanks for the introduction, it was well done. I can relate to your networking interest – it’s cool to get to know fellow bloggers who “get” why you like this so much. That’s a big part of why I’m enthused about Yakezie. BTW – I may take you up on the questions offer, and I’m here if you (or anyone else) have any as well.
Hey, Daniel! Nice to hear about your story. I completely identify with the stats thing! I think that gets a lot of us. It can be a huge time waster, but it can also be useful if we don’t get distracted by it. I’m fascinated by seeing which articles do well and which don’t in contrast to the effort I put into researching keywords and such. I’ve been surprised by one in particular because I just never thought it’d be very big (my article on the importance of values).
I used to be in DC, but now I’m in PA. So it’d be a bit of a drive for one of those meetups! Maybe we should get a larger group together in Baltimore. ;)
Daniel-san, thanks for sharing your story! I remember checking my stats daily for the first month, and for some reason, I totally lost interest. I haven’t checked for about 8 months now, and it feels quite liberating! I’m just happy looking at the little Alexa toolbar.
You know you are big time when you got a staff writer! Looking forward to your comments around the Yakezie more often!
Cheers,
Sam
Check your stats once, just to see, aren’t you crazy curious now?? I’ve already started my commenting binge. Just need to get home where more sites are unblocked where its super easy!
It is great to see you self teach and become so successful!
I’m slowly getting to know Yakezie members, so these intros are invaluable. And since BITFS is your regular contributor, I already like you! :) A balance to finances is key, I agree. As with everything, it’s about moderation: no one likes a miser; but we need to be in control of our finances, too — and not let them control us!
Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you too! I look forward to getting you know better!
Hi Daniel, I resonated with your statement, “I don’t consider myself a writer.” As I have been a finance enthusiast etc. for a long time and had to write about it. And lo and behold, I am addicted to the writing….. so maybe we actually are writers?
Eh, I don’t think I’d ever get that far. Maybe if I published a book…but maybe even that wouldn’t be enough. First I’d say PF enthusiast, writing just comes with the job.
I’m addicted to checking stats too but am trying to curb the whole thing!
Daniel you are a great blogger and it’s been a pleasure to get to know you. The Yakezie group really gave me a kick up the a*se to start looking at my quality and getting more of me onto my blog. The community has been great.
I know this is a bit of topic, but I think it’s kind of ironic that BITFS and your site both end with Stuff as in “The Big Stuff” and “The Fun Stuff”…
I don’t think any other bloggers have “Stuff” at the end of their blog, or even in their blog names at all. Pretty cool though! It’s like you two were meant to be on the same team… (insert Twilight sounds here, lol) :)
What I thought was even weirder is that we both have an interest in focusing on doing fun stuff and trying (although not always succeeding) to not worry about the small stuff that gets in the way.
Nice to learn more about you Daniel.
By the way, is it just me or is Crystal “omni-present” on the web? She’s everywhere :). Definitely a good move putting her on the team.
Also, still lovin’ the new logo.
Funny, I got another comment about that last week. She’s definitely committed.
Thanks, this is the longest I’ve gone without fiddling with my site since I started!
Daniel, happy anniversary and congrats on passing one of the biggest blogger milestones; the first six months. That’s the time that most people quit and fade into the dusty Internet graveyard.
At first, I found it hard to come up with new topics too, but really getting involved in the subject, and thinking about it just about every minute of every day, topics are no longer an issue. I am trying to become more opinionated so I can be more than just a commentator on PF, but ideas seem to flow more freely now, and I’m sure that time will come for you too!
That’s funny, I’m getting closer to that point. I’ve already started more in depth, thoughtful articles rather than straight how-to and basic topics. I’m hoping my readers grow with me and help on my new journey.
Definitely agree on the commenting aspect. If you’re trying to contribute: thoughtfully, often, & lots of places – it can add up quick. Let’s say it takes you 4 minutes to scan the article and 2 minutes to write a response. After 10 sites, you’ve already spent an hour!
Definitely the networking has been a huge component. Both virtually, and in person, think we have a lot of thanks to be doling out.
Daniel, the growth of your blog has been amazing! I was so bummed that the time I visited the DC Bloggers group you were in my neck of the woods.
Thanks for the inspiration and help you give us all.
Nice write up Daniel. I still remember back to the good old days of checking the tracking page on your site. Oh how far we’ve come. FYI, I can’t help but think of Richard Simmons every time I look at your logo :-)
Daniel, I couldn’t agree more the lack of PF education in schooling especially in high school and earlier. Hopefully that starts to change.
I’m glad you decided to throw your hat in the wrong. No doubt you’ve come a long way and write like a seasoned pro! Happy blogoversary!
Daniel, I agree wholeheartedly about loving being able to talk to others in the PF community without having them roll their eyes like my wife. It really is one of the wonderful things about the blogosphere. Great intro post!