“Why don't you have your own personal finance blog?”
The most common question directed my way at the Financial Blogger Conference last month prompted to me to think seriously?about starting my own personal finance blog. I realize I'm going about this backward. Most staff writers in the PF blogosphere started their own blogs first. I've been staff writing for years, and have no “real” place to call my financial home on the Web.
One of the reasons for that, though, is that I don't want to deal with the backend stuff that comes with managing your own blog. I have a Web site, MirandaMarquit.com, but it's really just a glorified resume. I have a personal blog, This Time, It's Personal, but I don't really do much with it. Because it takes a lot of work to get a blog up and running and making money. So it's been more of a (sporadically updated) hobby that brings in, maybe, a couple bucks a month.
Finally, though, a couple of occurrences pushed me to decide to plunge into my own blog:
- My husband achieved his Ph.D.?and began teaching. I'm still the primary breadwinner with my freelance writing, but some of the pressure to earn is off. I stopped writing for a few clients, and began creating room in my schedule for more ambitious projects.
- Tom Drake approached me about a partnership. The owner of the MapleMoney, and numerous other online properties, knows — as many of my online friends do — that the biggest barrier to starting my own blog has been all the backend stuff. I'm a writer. I don't want to fuss with code and advertisers and design and SEO. Tom offered me the chance to start a blog, and he's doing all the stuff I hate.
I've toyed with the idea of a personal finance blog for awhile, but the time was never quite right. Now, with the ability to do what I do, and the expertise brought by Tom, I really hope to offer something solid to the financial blogging space.
Why Planting Money Seeds?
I firmly believe that it's possible to cultivate wealth in a way that allows you to meet your life goals. Instead of focusing on penny pinching, I prefer to prioritize spending, and I write frequently about spending according to your values. By creating income diversity, and looking for ways to earn more, it's possible to live the life you want.
Earn more than you spend, rather than obsess about cutting a few dollars here and there. Get your finances in order, invest smart, and consider creative ways to make money from home. I plan to share useful information about how money works, as well as offer tips about freelancing and running a home business. I've been enjoying the journey, and I hope you'll enjoy it with me.
Plant a money seed, and with proper care, it will grow into a money tree, producing wealth for your life.
I think I may have been one of those people that kept asking why you didn’t just start your own blog – we all know what a great writer you are, and knew you could have a wildly successful blog of your own! Now that you’ve finally launched your own site, I wish you the best of luck, and i’ll be sure to start linking to you once you’ve got some more content! Good luck! Oh, and please don’t stop writing for my site too! 😉
Thanks for stopping by. You did ask me 😉 I appreciate the kind words. Besides, the header wouldn’t be as awesome without you. You did a great job with it.
Awesome! Can’t wait to read your site – and i’ve subscribed via RSS to do so.
Thanks so much, SPF! I hope that it provides something solid for you.
I like your attitude about money. We are changing our entire living structure, and look forward to reading your ideas. Especially because we are not wealthy. I get tired of reading financial blogs aimed at the rich only.
Good luck with your new blog.
Thanks, Shirley! I really think a healthy money attitude is important. Good luck in your endeavors, and thanks for visiting my blog!
Good for you Miranda! I’m sure you’ll have no trouble growing your own PF blog. You’re and excellent writer and I have no doubt that you’ll do great!
Tim
I hope so, Tim. Thanks for visiting the site, and for your kind words of encouragement.
Congratulations! I have no doubt you will succeed. This is a very powerful combination!
Good luck!
Jim
Thanks for the support, Jim! You have been one of my inspirations for taking the plunge.
Congratulations, Miranda! I’m looking forward to reading your stuff here (as well as everywhere else!) 🙂
Thanks, Echo! You’ve been a great support, and I’m glad that we get to “hang out” so much online.
Congrats, Miranda. I’m sure you’ll do well. You seem to have an endless supply of ideas for smart money management, and you have a great ability to communicate those ideas clearly. I’m looking forward to reading your blog regularly.
One of my hopes is that the blog provides a valuable resource for others. Thanks for stopping by and making my blog part of your day 🙂
I’m happy to work with you on this Miranda and looking forward to what Planting Money Seeds will become!
Me, too! Thanks for your hard work, and for the great idea to make this possible!
Awesome! Welcome to the ‘sphere, Miranda!
Thanks! I’m excited to be here, and in such great company! I appreciate you stopping by.
Congratulations Miranda! Since content is king, you’ll do well with your site. After all, you’re the one supplying the content for so many sites! You can’t miss.
Thanks for your supportive words, Kevin! I really am lucky to have such good online friends as you; I love associating with PF bloggers.
Congratulations Miranda I’m sure the blog will be a success. I’m looking forward to reading future posts.
Thanks, Roger! I’m excited to be going on this journey, and sharing it with so many others.
I’m so excited that you decided to take the Blog plunge! I can’t wait to read all your upcoming posts, and follow you here on this site. Congratulations! This is a great accomplishment 🙂
Thanks, Carrie! You’ve been a great cheerleader for me, and I really appreciate your support.
Oh, at last! I’m so glad to be lucky enough to be able to say one day “I read Miranda’s blog when she just started it”. Congrats!
LOL. Thanks, Assaf. And thanks for your support, and your help, and the cool favicon thingy. I’m glad that we are able to associate online as much as we do! 🙂
Yay Miranda!
😀 Thanks, Kyle!
Congratulation Miranda. You should have let me know and I would totally help you with the set up and maintenance. But since Tom is more visionary than I am, he gets the honor.
LOL. Thanks, Pinyo. I think that there are plenty of people who could help set up, and keep up with the maintenance. Tom was just the first one to approach me with the idea of a partnership on the site. I am glad that we work together, and I enjoyed meeting you in Chicago. Hopefully we’ll be able to cross paths in person again! 🙂
Welcome to the blogosphere! 😉
Thanks, Mike! I feel so lucky and supported, and I appreciate your warm welcome.
Awesome! I’m sure this site will be rockin’ and rollin’ in no time. 🙂
I sure hope so, Ryan! I appreciate you taking the time to visit me in my new little PF corner. Thanks for your support!
Great read. Struggling with the income part of my blog so hoping to find tips. Thanks
Hopefully I can provide some helpful insight. I’m not an expert, though, when it comes to making money from a blog, since I’ve never actually had a blog until now. For the last few years, I’ve provided other people with content for their blogs (and I still provide content to others). I really don’t know how the income thing will go on this blog. But it should be an interesting journey.
Welcome to the PF blog world… glad to have you here. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Let me know if I can assist you in any way!
Thanks for your kind words and your support! I’m always happy to make new online friends, especially in the financial blogosphere.
Glad to see you did this Miranda. I always enjoy your viewpoint. I also like your focus which is a very balanced approach. Bravo!
Thanks, Neal! I appreciate your kind words and support.
I always wondered why you didn’t just start your own blog!
I don’t know what your fee was for writing for other blogs, but I think you’ll find that in time, you’ll be making significantly more on your writing – and you own it. Stick with it!
Thanks for your visit and your encouraging words! I do like writing for others, too, so I don’t see myself stopping that anytime soon.
So glad you have started your own blog. I have been reading your articles for some time, particularly your posts on p2p lending. I can see already you have an eager audience. Best of luck.
Thanks, Peter. Glad you stopped by! 🙂
Here we goooo! I’m always seeing your name on Tipd and have been wondering for a long time why you don’t start a blog of your own.
Glad you finally did, Miranda!
Thanks, Some Dough. It’s nice to “meet” you. Thanks for making the effort to visit.
Alright! I guess I don’t need to read 100 different blogs now. Just come to the source directly 🙂
Good luck!
LOL. Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Hope things are going well for you with your Value Stock Guide!
We’re all doomed! Just kidding. Welcome to the blogger world haha. Glad to finally have a place you can call home.
LOL. Thanks, Briana. I think that you’ll all be just fine. I’m just excited to be in such good company!
I like your attitude about money. We are changing our entire living structure, and look forward to reading your ideas. Especially because we are not wealthy. I get tired of reading financial blogs aimed at the rich only.
Thanks. I hope that I can provide you some helpful hints to enhance your journey.
What a super combination! You and Tom make a very powerful partnership!
Congratulations on this great venture, and I’m looking forward to becoming a regular visitor 🙂
Thanks, Money Reasons! I’m hoping to add some value to the space. And I appreciate any visits you choose to make!
Congrats for starting one! I think you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for bloggers because you have one of your own. Lots of ups and downs and fun stuff and not so fun stuff!
Good luck!
Sam
Thanks, Sam! I think it will help me better appreciate web site owners — although Tom will be doing most of the “not so fun” stuff!
Congrats on starting your own blog! I agree with others that you’re a great writer so this was a natural progression!
Thanks so much, Ginger! And thanks for stopping by and taking the time to offer your kind words.
I know that I’ve asked you this a bunch of times! 😉
I’m really glad that one of the best writers around, finally has a blog! It’s really great that you and Tom are teaming up to do this.
Thanks, Khaleef! That’s so nice of you to say. I think that Tom and I will make a great team. Especially Tom 😉 Hope things are going well with your own blogging endeavors.
Alright! Way to go Miranda!
“Instead of focusing on penny pinching, I prefer to prioritize spending”
I feel the same way, that’s the approach we take to our finances.
I think you’ll get a ton of interest from people who want to hear about freelancing and running a home business.
Congrats on taking the leap into your own site!
Thanks, Ben! I’m excited about this, and hope to provide something of worth. I’ll have to carefully think about my own freelancing and home business experiences, too, so that I can share what I’ve learned, and what works for me.
Congrats Miranda…it’s great to see you take this step and the potential is obviously huge. Looking forward to seeing the site grow and really become a part of the community!
Thanks, Andrew! It’s great to work with you over at Money Crashers, and I hope that this step will free me up to do more over there 🙂
Congrats! I will be following your writing here for sure.
Thanks, KC! I hope you do stop by 🙂
I took my time getting round to comment but read this post a while back. I think I echo the same sentiments as everyone, this blog is going to be an awesome readable resource of ideas and thoughts.
Congrats on gaining a dr husband 🙂
Thanks, Forest! I’m glad he’s got his degree as well. And thanks for stopping by!
Count me as one of those folks who always wondered why you don’t have your own PF blog, Miranda.
Glad to see you finally did! It makes sense; you’re a very respected voice and a great writer to boot!
Len
Thanks so much, Len! I am excited to be on this journey. It should be interesting…
Yeah, Miranda. I came here through a link Glen put on Facebook. I’ll be coming back frequently.
Thanks! Glad you decided to take a look 🙂
I can’t believe that I’m so far behind that I’m just now realizing that you finally have your own site. That’s awesome! Congrats!
Thanks, Hank! I wasn’t over the top in promoting it when it went live. I think there are still quite a few people who have no idea 🙂