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2 Year Blogiversary and iPad+Cash Giveaway

Last Updated: BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 282 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

2 Year Blogiversary and iPad+Cash GiveawayHey everyone! This week marks two years of blogging for me. I first started blogging two years ago on August 10, 2011. You can find that post here (it’s weird for me to read that post!).

When I first started my blog, I’m not going to lie, I was a complete mess. I probably did everything on a “bad blogger” list and then some more.

I quickly became addicted, and have made tons of awesome friends. The list could go on and on about how many bloggers I love.  There are so many bloggers that I would love to list right now, but I tried that and the list had well over 50 blogs and just looked crazy.

 

Oh, how life has changed.

In the past 2 years, my life has changed drastically. Back in August of 2011, I was working full-time in the same job I have now, I was a full-time Finance MBA student, and we didn’t have much money. I had tons of student loan debt also.

Neither W nor I had any side jobs, and our income was much lower than what it is now. Housing in our budget was somewhere around 30% of our take home pay, whereas now it is much, much lower than that. Food was also a budget killer for us…

We spent lots of money on things that we did not need. We were not saving. We ate out every single day, and most of the time multiples times each day. We did not have a budget.

More personal: the passing of my father and the many family issues I was going through were tearing me apart. I had to start raising my sister and I was not ready. Everything, even 3 years later after he passed, was still reminding me of my father and I would break down everywhere I went.

And that’s when I started to blog. It was a great outlet for me, and still is. Things are getting better, and are great in the financial area. In my personal life, W and I have been together for over 7 years, and we couldn’t be better.

My sister is like my child now (oh hey Lexy!) and it has been awesome watching her grow into an awesome young lady. I have begun talking to my dad’s side of the family, even though it is difficult as I am sure that I am a sad reminder.

We never thought that our lives would be like the way they are today. We have also come to realize that we can’t let money dictate our lives, and that we need to enjoy the little things. I also plan on pursuing what I love instead of stability, which brings great risks but also much more excitement and happiness.

I never thought that my student loans would be gone, and especially not so soon. << STILL shocks me.

Blogging and personal finance blogging drastically changed my life, and for the better. I definitely recommend that others should start their own blog as well.

 

I’m no longer anonymous.

For almost my entire blogging journey, I was anonymous. Not entirely anonymous though. But, as of a couple of months ago, the cat is out of the bag. W told a couple of people and then EVERYONE started to have questions, so now I am no longer anonymous.

It has been different, and it is still a little scary since I feel like I have no privacy now.  Oh well though, I am fine with being a more open person.

 

You are all awesome.

Without all of you awesome bloggers and readers, I don’t know where I would be. I receive numerous emails everyday, that range widely in topics. Many of you have emailed me about family issues, such as losing a parent(s) and your life changing dramatically. I really appreciate these emails and it helps make me stronger. Some of you email me with questions, such as about student loans or fixing your budget. I love all the emails that I receive.

I love receiving emails, comments, tweets and so on. Who doesn’t? I love getting feedback from you all. I love publishing Reader Question posts. I love talking about whatever I want to on my blog. I love it all!

I want to thank all of you for reading. I hope that you continue to enjoy what I write for years and years to come.

Miscellaneous – Diversified Finances and $50 SwagBucks Giveaway

Also, I published a new post on What Not To Do When Leaving Your Job and I provided some real life examples of how some people are crazy when they quit. Check it out and tell me your craziest story! Diversified Finances has been going great, and I’m really glad that I started a second blog for myself to detail my switch to pursuing my passion.

Lastly, before we get to the big giveaway, SwagBucks during the month of August is offering any referral of mine (old or new) that earns at least 50 Swag Bucks in total from any combination of Shop, Search, Watch, Play Answer or Discover (all the different ways to earn SBs) to be automatically entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card from the SwagBucks’ Rewards Store.

Here’s a sign-up code for those of you who might be new to SwagBucks, for anyone that hasn’t signed up but wants to be part of the giveaway:  MAKINGSENSE70 — will give anyone who signs up 70 SB instantly when they redeem this code upon registration.  Make sure when you sign up, you click on the text “I have a sign up code” (it can be small and hard to see, but definitely look for it) to put in the code. It’s live now through Aug 31st. This $50 gift card giveaway is ONLY available to Making Sense of Cents readers who click on my referral link as that’s how the lovely people at SwagBucks are tracking the entries. Thanks SwagBucks!

It was also My Money Design’s 2 year Blogiversary the other day as well, so give MMD some love!

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About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Gary @ Save Money & Live Better says

    Congrats on two years of blogging! I really enjoy your posts, and aspire to be where you are one day. 😀

    Cheers!
    -Gary

    Reply

  5. Amy Heffernan says

    My # 1 financial tip is to SAVE SAVE SAVE! I would save 70% of this morning and use the rest for bills. Thanks.

    Reply

  6. Julienne says

    My #1 financial tip is to make a change jar with a goal. Ours is a “travel fund.” It makes saving change fun and its amazing how fast all those quarters and dimes add up!

    Reply

  14. Stefanie McMullen says

    If I were to win, I would definitely put the money to good use! We need to pay down a credit card some because of some unexpected, expensive car work that needed to be done. I also have baby number 4 on the way so it’s quite possible that it would go to some much needed baby items!

    Thanks for the great tips and great contest!

    Reply

  23. Katie G says

    Another great year for MSOC!! LOVE reading your new posts and applying what I learn to my life. My financial tip would be to stand your ground when family and friends are pressuring you to spend money, when you are trying to achieve your goals (ie – paying off student loans). It’s hard (and sometimes you give in), but in the end it is soo worth it! Cheap outings are always a compromise. 🙂

    Reply

  30. Sandy says

    I would use the money towards bills. I’m not great with tips but I always try to not use my credit card unless I have the money right there and then to pay it off. It prevents getting into trouble. I know sometimes if you have to you have to but it’s something I at least try to do.

    Reply

  31. Abdulkader says

    first congrats to you guys for the 2nd anniversary. Get Paid What You’re Worth and Spend Less Than You Earn. Contribute to a Retirement Plan. Have a Savings Plan.Invest!.Maximize Your Employment Benefits.Review Your Insurance Coverages.Update Your Will. Keep Good Records.this are some of my financial tips.hope u like it. & awesome giveaway.

    Reply

  38. sherry butcher says

    If I won I’d get the laptop computer I’m trying to save for but the home keeps needing repairs so I’m not getting the money together.

    Reply

  39. Peggy Hopkins says

    This tip is something that I wish had been taught to me: Don’t buy things, or stuff. I was told all my life that you need this, or you need that when in actuality, I didn’t, and still don’t need any of it. Yeah, it was used once or twice, but it’s all been sitting around for years wasting away. I’m preparing to move to a much smaller residence and my mind is blow away by how much money I spent on stuff and how much it’s actually worth now. I’ve thought often over the last couple of months, if I had invested the 10’s of thousands of dollars I spend on all this stuff I could live comfortably the rest of my life without needing to work, but I didn’t and I can’t change it now, so the only option I have is to give it away, or thow it away and make sure that I never make those mistakes again.

    Reply

  41. lola says

    my financial tip would be when i am not sure about buying something, i wont buy it, I go home and if next day i still want it, i will go and pick it up.

    I save quite a lot of money!

    lola

    Reply

  42. Cara Daymude says

    Congrats on your 2 year anniversary of your blog 🙂 If I win I’d Take all cash & save it towards a car or my teeth or maybe even my tax fund i wanna start so I can have $ saved to enter Bigger sweeps I can’t afford the taxes on.

    Reply

  47. Craig W says

    Savings Secret #1=before anything else, take 10% of any and all income and place in an interest bearing account and “forget about it!”

    Reply

  49. Supersparklekitty says

    I would like to win the IPAD mini for my husband.If I won the cash,I would save it for Christmas presents.

    Reply

  50. Cláudia Martinho says

    Congrats on the 2 Year Blogiversary!
    I would save most of the money for an emergency and buy a gift for my nephew.
    thank you 🙂

    Reply

  51. Mia Dentice Carey says

    I would use the gift card for my son’s birthday or Christmas present(s).
    My number one tip is if you don’t have the money don’t buy it…if it’s something you REALLY need then pay it off ASAP!

    Reply

  56. Arlene Whitfield says

    If I won, I would get my kids some much need clothing for the next school year and some household items. Thanks so much for the chance!

    Reply

  59. Stephanie S. says

    I won the cash, I would use it for an emergency fund. If I won the ipad, I would use it for almost everything and share it with my son to help him learn.

    Reply

  68. Kathleen says

    Congratulations on your Blog Anniversary! I just stumbled onto your blog and sadly to say, I’m not very savings savvy. I hope to spend some time on here and maybe learn a thing or two. If I win the iPad Mini, I will be thrilled! And if I win the $150, I will add $150 of my own to that and start a new savings plan to see how far and how much I can make with it, according to your blog’s advice. If I win the $100, well… just keepin’ it real! I’ll have a night out on the town. (I live in a VERY small town and it doesn’t take much! LOL)

    Reply

  69. violette says

    i´ll probably buy a gift to my best friend on birthday and buy some shoes cause rainy days are comming and i have just flipflops 😀

    Reply

  71. Cynthia Sizemore says

    if I win this prize I will buy my son some new jeans,have someone design my blog,and buy something for my grandbaby due in February.

    Reply

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