I started writing for a handful of reasons, and one of them was to become more accountable - I'd been reading financial blogs for about 1.5 years before I started my own, and really wanted to incorporate my version of "green" into the PF sphere - I began with the theory that they are not all that different, and I still think that, but lately i've been really focused on finances, at the expense of the other two things - hopefully next year i'll be able to strike a balance.

I also wanted to become a better writer - I have always been terrible, and knew that practice made perfect - I think that I've been getting better, but still have a long way to go

as for the money, it's been nice, and actually has been able to allow me to use side income to achieve another goal (not quite there yet, but much closer than I thought I was) so you'll be reading about that hopefully sometime in the spring.

Elle - i didnt know you were green panda treehouse!

Sounds like you measure success in quite a few ways! Congrats on owning a great site, and good luck in the future!

I also wanted to become a better writer - I have always been terrible, and knew that practice made perfect - I think that I've been getting better, but still have a long way to go

as for the money, it's been nice, and actually has been able to allow me to use side income to achieve another goal (not quite there yet, but much closer than I thought I was) so you'll be reading about that hopefully sometime in the spring.

Elle - i didnt know you were green panda treehouse!

I got the idea to blog when I started having to bite my tongue really hard to keep from telling one of my coworkers that he was really financially ignorant.  He asked why someone my age (he's also my age and started there last summer) would be worried about having a 401k.  He mentioned needing to cancel the automatic 401k contributions before they started up at 90 days after start of employment.  He was insistent that he and his new wife only have one credit card between them, and that it be in his name despite that fact that he had no credit history at all and his wife, being self-employed, had a good credit history, and couldn't fathom why he was having difficulty getting approved for a credit card.  When I mentioned one day that I was planning to try to keep my standard of living similar to how it is in college for a few years after I start working so that I can save up for a down payment on a house, all of the younger people in my office looked at me like I was crazy.  It wasn't until I pointed out that they had bought their houses before the crash and that a down payment was now necessary (not that that's the only reason I want one) did they concede that I might have a point. 

 

Given that I was only interning and was trying to make a good impression so that I could get an offer for full time employment, I couldn't exactly tell them all I thought they were wrong and uninformed and going to get themselves into trouble later on if they don't plan for the future.  Instead, I started typing out blog posts on my phone.  After my internship was over I took some time to think about it and then I started my blog.  I really just want an outlet so that I can complain when someone hits a trigger point for me ("Why would someone in their twenties need to worry about retirement?"), and if I can help inform some of the people my age who really have no clue, then all the better.

PPP, that's a great reason to start a blog! I do understand what you're going through at the office - I was just in that position a couple of years ago. I lived in South Florida where everyone lives in the moment and doesn't look more than 2 days into the future. Lamborgini, Ferrari, Bently - these are the models that I most often saw in my area....and most of them lived in a cramped apartment because they couldn't afford anything better. It really is tough to bite your tongue in a situation like this!

Given that I was only interning and was trying to make a good impression so that I could get an offer for full time employment, I couldn't exactly tell them all I thought they were wrong and uninformed and going to get themselves into trouble later on if they don't plan for the future.  Instead, I started typing out blog posts on my phone.  After my internship was over I took some time to think about it and then I started my blog.  I really just want an outlet so that I can complain when someone hits a trigger point for me ("Why would someone in their twenties need to worry about retirement?"), and if I can help inform some of the people my age who really have no clue, then all the better.

I started Daily Money Shot for three reasons: 1) I love to write; 2) I love to talk about money and personal finance; and 3) I needed a place to say what I wanted because my husband's eyes would glaze over every time I tried to talk about it. My blog was on outlet for me to talk about money with others who find it as interesting as I do. 

 

The fact that even 5 people read what I write is success for me!

Sounds familiar! I think a lot of us started out just wanting to express our financial ideas to SOMEONE! It didn't really matter who. Like you said, 5 readers was really all you needed! :)

The fact that even 5 people read what I write is success for me!

I started my blog to help my wife  get hers started-best way to learn is to do, huh....

 

  Guess what, hers died and I'm still writing two years later....

Interesting Dr. Dean! I haven't heard this one yet! ;)

  Guess what, hers died and I'm still writing two years later....

I guess I'm an influence blogger (if you want to put a term on it)?

20sFinances said:

hahahahaha! Yep - I know this all too well. 

LifeAndMyFinances said:

 She thought this would be a good way for me to get it out of my system. I think it may have backfired on her though, because now I just want to talk about it more! :)

I do think it backfired somewhat in our case too. While I may talk less about PF lessons, I talk more about blogging. Thank God for tolerant wives!

It's amazing how all of our stories are so similar! Maybe there should be a blog out there called, "Women, do not advise your man to blog"..... Oh well, the extra income has been funding our house remodel, so who can argue with that? :)

hahahahaha! Yep - I know this all too well. 

LifeAndMyFinances said:

 She thought this would be a good way for me to get it out of my system. I think it may have backfired on her though, because now I just want to talk about it more! :)

I do think it backfired somewhat in our case too. While I may talk less about PF lessons, I talk more about blogging. Thank God for tolerant wives!

LifeAndMyFinances said:

 She thought this would be a good way for me to get it out of my system. I think it may have backfired on her though, because now I just want to talk about it more! :)

I blog because it is fun. I like interacting with my readers and love it when I get feedback (like yesterday I received 6 private emails regarding a post; priceless). I hope I'm helpful but would settle for being occasionally interesting. I think my wife likes the fact that it shut me up about the topic around the house: I can talk about what I am learning via another medium :)

I can totally relate! My wife actually suggested that I start a blog because I talked to her about finances wayyy too much! She thought this would be a good way for me to get it out of my system. I think it may have backfired on her though, because now I just want to talk about it more! :)

Because one of my coworker's said "what is a Roth Ira?"

I love it Jon! That's a great reason to start. Does this person read your PF blog now? It would be awesome if they did! :)