A World of Change (A Shout-Out to my Bloggers)
Posted on February 28, 2006 18 Comments
Friends, we’ve started something here. Something powerful and something real.
Take a look at the column to the right. Scroll down…Keep scrolling. Notice that? The list of links? It’s huge. And it’s all about everyday people who took their future into their own hands and invested in themselves. They all made positive, life-changing choices to start living more responsible, happier, debt-free lives. For each of them, the future looks brighter than the past.
When I started blogging about my finances, the only personal finance sites I found were difficult to grasp. I felt like the world of saving and investing was, seriously, only for the rich and privileged. Nothing I read was even remotely accessible to the average Jane (or Joe).
But what a difference a couple years make! Today’s Web is literally filled with thousands of articles that are easy to understand and offer practical advice. Most of those articles are written by everyday people, struggling, just like the rest of us, to make an honest living without blowing all our savings.
As I browsed the world of online personal finance, I was immensely impressed. Many authors showed a terrific creative streak that can increase the reach and quality of their sites. Some toyed with the idea of hosting online chats, some touted Carnivals of Personal Finance, some were amazingly stylish and others blogged on totally innovative ways to save and invest. All have such honest voices, too. In addition, all the readers I’ve noticed are wonderfully loyal and offer heartfelt, insightful comments to the collective circle of budgeting babes and boys, thus making us all stronger writers and better savers.
For all the improvements to personal finance sites, there are some limitations. For instance, my site is not as technically advanced as I’d like it to be. Ideally I’d really host a more exciting design and get some fellow budgeting babes in on the act. I simply don’t have time to learn how a real Web site works, so I’m still here with my pink-on-pink motif, typing one word at a time from only my perspective.
Along that vein, I challenge my fellow personal finance bloggers to keep up the good work, stay committed and continue to speak in a language that is accessible to people of all financial literacy levels. Share your budgeting tips with other bloggers, as well as tips that can increase the reach of your blogs. Be selective as to whom you let advertise on your site. Make sure those advertisers don’t interfere with your content or begin to take equity away from what you’ve worked so hard to build.
I am excited to see what the future holds for all of us. As we continue to build our personal finance network (and our net worths), share ideas and spread knowledge, we’re changing attitudes. We’re changing perceptions. We’re changing lives. And our futures couldn’t look brighter.
*Photo taken by me at Carmel Beach, California, 2004
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Comments
18 Responses to “A World of Change (A Shout-Out to my Bloggers)”
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February 28th, 2006 @ 8:00 am
I am not a regular blogger but then I keep reading blogs. I love reading blogs than anyone else. This is due to the personal touch and experience shared without a third party involvement. Your direct on me model. Author recognized and reader empowered.
When you said that there were no good site with helpful information I will like to differ as now the scenes are different. Now there are websites and communities helping people in debt. I am part of one such, known as debt consolidation care community with a lot of debt Samaritans. I got your blog from one of their forum thread.. Also my story section and a community book on debt stories is very interesting, they are publishing debt story sequels. Then there are software, videos and DIY sections, very helpful in my opinion. Very community oriented.
Web has a lot of resources and inter connectivity is the key to it. Great blog there.
February 28th, 2006 @ 1:11 pm
Thanks for adding FMF — I added you as well!
February 28th, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Thanks for the link. Cheers!
February 28th, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
I agree 100%. There’s a wealth of knowledge to be shared. I luv reading personal finance blogs. It feels like I’m learning from my buddy next door. I read for about 3 months before I decided to start my own. You have a very nice blog going on here too. Forget about being all technical and fancy. It’s all about the content. I appreciate your insight. Keep on blogging and I’ll keep reading!
February 28th, 2006 @ 7:07 pm
Thank you for the motivation! Hopefully you will get a chance to visit my blog…I just started! I think this is a great opportunity for personal and financial growth. Take care.
http://www.mymoneyforest.com
February 28th, 2006 @ 9:20 pm
What a wonderful post! Thanks for encouraging all of us to keep at it and do our very best. Thanks for the link as well.
February 28th, 2006 @ 10:08 pm
Thanks for adding me! Considering I’m the new kid on the block, I really do appreciate it.
I spent some time on sports blogs and forums, and still do, but found that it was just a bunch of trash talk between fans of teams who think their team is the greatest ever!
Then I discovered Real Estate Bubble blogs, and likewise found that it was just a constant debate from those who believe that we are in a bubble poised for a fall, or that real estate never goes down.
The Personal Finance blogs are very positive. There seems to be a terrific community of bloggers and regular readers. I admire that you are not anonymous, Nicole. In many ways, I feel that I am more honest because I am still anonymous. I’m sure that says something about me, but for now we’ll leave it at that.
I haven’t put up my net worth charts or anything yet, but I’ll get around to that stuff.
February 28th, 2006 @ 10:21 pm
I just wanted to comment and thank you for all the wonderful information I’ve learned from you blog, and from the links you’ve posted. I’m a 30-something just getting into the budgeting/saving/getting out of debt game, and wish I’d had 1/2 this information 10 years ago. – S in Tucson, AZ
March 1st, 2006 @ 12:37 am
thanks for the link!
I like the pink on pink! but blogger templates are pretty easy to tweak, the help section show you what areas of the code to change and the preview button is good for checking to see what you just changed.
March 1st, 2006 @ 12:40 am
Like everyone else, I greatly appreciate your site. Because of finding you on the web I created 4 goals for 2006 and so far have met or exceeded 3 of them. I am so proud!
On a budget saving note, I can do blogger templates (it is just a hobby). I am sort of a self-taught web designer but I would be happy to help you do a little fancy-schmancy stuff to this one if you would like. Just drop me an email if you would like: toogirls2000@yahoo.com I can show you a few other friends blogs I have redone.
March 1st, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Great post and Thanks for the link! We really are all in this together for the long haul. Over the months, I have found that PF bloggers, like you, are a great bunch folks who are always ready to help, lend an ear, or just be there for support.
Thanks again,
Mr and Missus Trainwreck
March 1st, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
Thank you so much for including me on your blogroll! Your message was inspirational, just the thing I need this month!
March 2nd, 2006 @ 4:04 am
Thanks for the link! Also a great post – I’ve been keeping up with your writing for over a year now…you were one of the few women blogging about personal finance and money in general at the time – very inspiring!
(and a GREAT pic of Carmel beach…one of my fave spots!)
March 3rd, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
I totally agree, it is great getting the opinions of so many regualr people out there. There is so much information out there, I love just going to Bloglines and being able to get all the info from other PF Bloggers. It has really helped me to being more financially sound. Keep up the good work everyone.
March 6th, 2006 @ 1:41 am
I agree! I just finished a weekends worth of procrastination reading your entire blog and I’m very pleased that a lot of what you write about is very down-to-earth. Some write about saving and depriving yourself of ALL luxuries… but I love my Coach bags too much for that.
Granted, my blog isn’t completely about financial topics but the other topics might be useful so come check it out if you have time.
March 8th, 2006 @ 4:53 am
Nicole – this is another great pf blog. Keep up the good work and you will reach your goals.
March 8th, 2006 @ 6:33 pm
I am teaching a class on financial management…for beginners. I think your site is great the way it is. Don’t change it. Casual and easy to read, find things…it works. Thank you.
March 9th, 2006 @ 11:05 am
I have enjoyed reading your blog over the last few weeks, will continue to do so as long as you keep blogging.
There is a mass of wealth within these blogs. I began blogging for somewhere to share my ideas, just reading blogs of similar nature has made me learn far more than I ever expected to.