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$14,937 in July – My Highest Income Month

Last Updated: July 18, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 112 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.

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Find out how I Made $14,937 In July while working from home.

It’s that time of the month again. It’s time to look at my monthly income report and track my progress over the past month.

This all started out as my “extra income” report because before October of 2013, I still had my day job. In those extra income reports, I included all income that I made except for income from my day job.

However, in September of 2013, I turned in my notice at my day job as a financial analyst, and my last official work day was in October of 2013. Now, my income reports consist of the main way that I make an income each month, which is through my freelancing business.

I publish my income reports each month for many reasons.

The main reason why I started side hustling is because I was reading other bloggers’ (Smart Passive Income, Budgeting In The Fun Stuff, Newlyweds on a Budget) monthly income reports and they had me interested and motivated.

Before I started blogging, I knew nothing about side hustling and making money online. I didn’t think side hustlers were worth the time, and I thought the main way to increase your income was through your day job.

Boy, was I wrong!

If it weren’t for others posting their monthly online income reports, I don’t know if I would have ever attempted side hustling.

Also, I like to publish my income reports each month because it’s a way for me to look back, learn from my mistakes and see what I need to change or improve the following month. Just sitting here and typing up this income report is a great way to keep in touch with my business goals. It also gives me motivation because if I can see that nothing has changed in a few months I know what I need to start working on.

I know I say this every month, but it is the truth. Life is just so great now that I am doing what I want to do. I look forward to each and every day and it’s a wonderful thing.

 

How was July?

July was my best income month ever. I was very surprised by this because usually the summer months are supposed to be slower in the online freelancing world.

July was extremely busy the first week and the last two weeks. The middle of the month was extremely slow and I had almost no work come in when I was on my cruise, which worked out well but it always feels odd when I don’t work.

In July of 2014, I made $16,237 in business income, before expenses. It was another GREAT month!

 

$14,937 in July - My Highest Income Month

This is for the month of July and before fees and expenses (fees and expenses that lower the amount above total around $1,300, which includes VAs/staff writers for my other websites, technical assistance on my websites, PayPal fees, etc.) being taken out.

After all expenses and fees, I made approximately $14,937. In the amount above, I do not include the amount that I bring in to websites that I provide services to, I only include the amounts that are my actual earnings from my services. So, if a website I manage makes an income of $2,000, I only include my payment for my services- not the full $2,000.

To read my posts about extra income, click here. Below are my extra income updates:

  • $672 extra in May (2012)
  • $994 extra in June
  • $1,425 extra in July
  • $1,603 extra in August
  • $3,275 extra in September
  • $3,700 extra in October
  • $5,114 extra in November
  • $5,770 in Extra Income in December
  • $6,523 in January Extra Income (2013)
  • $5,983 in February Extra Income
  • $7,862 in March Extra Income
  • $7,859 in April Extra Income
  • $7,641 in May Extra Income
  • $10,192 in June Extra Income
  • $11,117 in July Extra Income
  • $9,554 in August Extra Income
  • $12,334 in September Side Income
  • $11,927 in October Income – I Finally Left My Job
  • $13,387 in November Income
  • $12,160 in December Income
  • $12,640 in January Income (2014)
  • $13,454 in February Income
  • $12,100 in March Income
  • $13,493 in April Income
  • $12,747 in May Income
  • $12,787 in June – Site Redesign and More Motivation

 

I love self-employment, but this is still a job, a career, and a business.

One thing that I still have to remind others is that my freelancing business is still a job. I spend many hours every day, every week, and every month on my business.

It does help that I have gotten much better at streamlining tasks and hiring others for certain jobs that I need done. It’s all about finding what you are good at and outsourcing other tasks you need done.

This is not passive income, although one day I hope that much of my income is passive.

I have also been growing my freelancing business and services for quite some time, and for around one year I was not making a single dollar, but I was still putting full-time hours into my side jobs.

Taxes also take approximately 30% of my extra income. I also have to provide for my own retirement, health insurance, vacation time, and more. This is something that not everyone thinks about.

This is my full-time job, and for a few years I was working my full-time job while having my business as well. There were many sleepless nights! I was a workaholic, but thankfully it all paid off and worked out for me in the end.

You can find my 2014 goals update here.

As always, if you have any questions about my monthly business income that you would like me to include next month, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I will gladly try my best to help you out.

 

Blog News.

Nothing extremely exciting has happened in this category lately. I had my blog redesign in June and I am still loving it, of course.

If you are looking to start a blog, don’t forget to read my post How To Start a Blog. It gives step by step instructions on starting your own blog. Also, read How To Make Money Blogging.

 

Working on the road.

In July, we went on a weeklong cruise. I had unlimited internet on the cruise ship which cost around $180 for the week. Yes, it was expensive, but in order for me to run my business I need internet. Luckily, I enjoy what I do so I don’t mind working when I am on a trip.

Many people have asked me about the internet speed on a cruise ship.

We were on the Allure of the Seas which is the biggest and newest cruise ship in the world, so our internet speed was fast. I would compare it to something you would find at a Starbucks.

I thought it was going to be much slower. Everyone told me to prepare for slow internet, and it actually had me a little worried because I wasn’t sure how I was going to work. If the cruise was only for a few days, I would have gone without it, but since the cruise was 8 days I decided to buy it.

It was somewhat slow on some occasions, such as when it was a sea day and everyone was trying to get on the internet at once. However, if it was a port day, early in the morning or super late at night, I found it to be quick.

Also, we have been thinking about getting a vintage camper trailer. We want to start traveling more, and we want to be able to bring our dogs everywhere as well as be comfortable at the same time.

Our solution is to buy a vintage camper trailer and do some restoration work to it. I can’t wait until we actually find one and begin the process. There is one thing that we are not sure about. How do you work from a camper trailer? Is there a way to hook it up to some sort of satellite internet? I still need to work!

 

My plans for my website and my business:

  1. Start an eBook. – I haven’t done much with a potential eBook yet.
  2. Build my brand. – This is still slowly happening.
  3. Promote more. – I have been getting better at promoting, but I would really like to work on this more. I have noticed that working on improving the images I use has led to more clicks from Pinterest, which is good!
  4. Accept more interviews. – I had four interviews in July. I was also mentioned in US News and Forbes last month!

 

 

Staff Writing.

Staff writing was okay in July. I am still looking for more clients, but I have shifted most of my attention to blog management lately. I am still hoping to find a big personal finance website to write for, but I didn’t actively do anything towards that goal in the past few months.

 

What should I do to find more staff writing or virtual assistant jobs? 

This is now a permanent feature in my monthly business income posts because it is such a popular question every month.

There are two main ways for you to find staff writing and/or virtual assistant jobs – either they find you or you find them.

A client finding you can be more difficult, as there is nothing really too active that you can do to speed up the process. So, if you want another job sooner rather than later, then you should go out there and try to find a new staff writing or virtual assistant position yourself.

If you are wanting new clients to find you, then there are actions you can take. Usually website owners find me through my Contact/Hire Me tab above, and this is something that I think all bloggers should have on their website. Start one now! That is my number one tip! No one can hire you if they don’t even know that you are looking for a freelancing job.

You also might want to post in related forums. There are online job forums out there, you just have to search for them. You need to let your services be known and possibly even ask others to spread the word.

If YOU are wanting to find clients, then there are a few different ways you can do this as well. You can search job boards, reach out to publishers that you want to work for, and more. Check out my article How To Find A Writing Job for more information on this.

Here’s my monthly shameless plugin: If any of you need a staff writer or just a one-time content writer, please let me know. Whether you need a couple of articles every week, or just a single post with no ongoing relationship, I am your person. I can write regular content and be hired as a staff writer, content to fill in gaps in your writing schedule, content for advertising and so on. My turnaround time is quick and I am reliable.

I created the article titled Do You Want to Be a Freelance Writer, so please read further about this topic if you are interested in staff writing as a way to make money online.

 

Buying websites.

I have bought two websites and built four. That means I have a total of 6 websites I own myself.

I also manage a handful of other websites. I am thinking about adding a few more websites to my portfolio so that I can grow them and hopefully one day make an income from them. I have been looking around and I am waiting for the perfect website to come up before I buy again.

Do you plan on buying websites in the future? Why or why not?

 

Update On My Blog and Social Media Management Services.

In the month of July, I managed a few different websites for other owners. They all went well, and website/social media management is a service I enjoy providing.

I also added a new website to my blog management services last month, and that’s what really helped me boost my income last month.

For some, I completely manage the website (everything from e-mails to fixing old articles) and I try to make money for the original website owner through advertising and affiliate income, and then I forward their share of what their website made. I am in complete control of these websites, and the blog owner sits back and enjoys some passive income.

For others, I just manage a few aspects. I might help them answer emails, monitor their website to make sure nothing happens, or I handle their social media.

Blog and social media management are something that I would like to keep growing. I have seen many blog owners who are interested in having me manage their website while they are on vacation or if they need a break. This is something that I love to do, and you can sleep easily while you are taking a break from your website because I believe I can successfully manage your website.

I also know how it feels to go on vacation. You might be hesitant in hiring help because your blog means so much to you. However, that is why I love offering this. I truly know how much a website means to a person, and I try my hardest to make the transition (no matter how short) a smooth one. A vacation from your website is needed every now and then – and I’m here to help!

Pricing is on an individual basis because no two websites/blogs are alike. If you are interested, send me an email and I would love to help you out.

 

Here are the services I offer when it comes to blog and social media management:

  • Manage and approve comments. If you are busy, then you want your blog to continue on just like if you were still there. I get rid of any spam, and approve real comments. I also reply to comments on your articles if that is something that you normally do (such as answering any questions and so on).
  • Watch to make sure that your website does not go down. I check multiple times throughout the day to make sure that your website is up.
  • Monitor e-mails and reply when and if necessary. If you want a total break from your website, then e-mail management is something that most of my clients sign up for.
  • Make sure postings go live when they should. Sometimes they won’t, and this is where I come in. I will make sure that everything is scheduled correctly and actually happens.
  • Write articles while you are away (including ghost-written articles).
  • Manage social media – this includes looking for new potential followers and engaging with current followers.

Are you interested in becoming a virtual assistant? Don’t forget to also read about what exactly a virtual assistant does.

 

Affiliate income – Boy, has this been slow.

My goal for 2014 is to get more into affiliate income. Affiliate income is great because it can be a lot like passive income – in that I can create an affiliate article, do little things to maintain it, and hopefully it will continue to bring in income for me.

I am starting to get more and more into affiliate income, but it has been a very slow process. I am afraid to review too many programs because I don’t want this blog to turn into one large advertisement where all I’m doing is pushing products onto my readers. I want a healthy balance.

What do you think is a good amount of affiliate programs to review each month? Tell me! I have been doing one a month, but that is probably not enough in order for me to make a meaningful amount of money through affiliate income.

 

Other income.

One thing I always include in my income reports is my extra income as well. Right now, the only thing we really do for extra income is renting out a room to my sister.

Sadly, she is moving next month. We will miss her, and we even tried talking her out of moving to Chicago too.

When she leaves, we won’t be having someone replace her in her room. Instead, I will be taking her room and changing it into my office. Right now, my office is in a small extra bedroom in our home. I already have everything for my new office (thanks to our wedding guests mainly!), and I can’t wait to start decorating and putting everything together.

Business Income Chart

Business and Extra Income in July ($14,937, after most expenses)

  • Staff writing – $833
  • Managing websites and social media for clients – $6,350
  • Website-Related (From all 6 of the websites I own – advertising, partnerships & Adsense) – $6,999
  • Affiliate Income – $430
  • Selling Items From Our Home – $0
  • Miscellaneous (not related to blogging and online income) – $0
  • Mystery Shopping – $0
  • Rent (we rent a room in our house to my sister) – $325

 

One thing that I am asked nearly every time I publish my monthly income report is whether or not I can further break down my income. I have never fully broken everything down line by line, and I do this mainly to protect myself and those I provide services to.

I kept it private in the past because I wanted to have a little bit of privacy. I know some of you are waiting for me to break it apart down to the very exact amount from the very exact source, but I do like to keep it private for now because I do need to protect the income that I am making since this is my livelihood.

Also, most of the bloggers who completely break apart their income have most of their income coming from affiliate links, while I do not. I would have to personally share people’s names in order for that to work, and that does not seem right to me at all.

I have heard of other bloggers who have stated exactly how much money that they made and the sources, and then another person has gone in and tried to completely steal that contact/client from them. That is something that I definitely do NOT want to happen, and that is why I like to keep my exact sources a secret. I also don’t want my clients to be bothered.

 

Website related income includes all of my websites I own. So, if I provide social media management or blog management for someone, that amount gets put into the “Managing websites and social media for clients” income instead and not in the “Website related income” category.

Also, please keep in mind that I work for myself. This means that I have to cover all taxes (which are around 30%), health insurance, and all other benefits that an employer would normally provide.

 

Comparisons and 2014 Business Income total (after expenses, but before taxes)

  • Total extra income for July: $14,937
  • Income in June: $12,787
  • Difference: +2,150
  • Total in 2014: $92,158

How did you do in July? What are your extra/business income goals?

Related Posts

  • Why I’m Happy I Made The Decision To Leave My High Paying And Secure Job For BloggingWhy I’m Happy I Made The Decision To Leave My High Paying And Secure Job For Blogging
  • How I Make Working From Home Work For MeHow I Make Working From Home Work For Me
  • $15,272 in September Online Income – Outsourcing and Passive Income$15,272 in September Online Income – Outsourcing and Passive Income
  • How I’m a Work-Life Balancing MasterHow I’m a Work-Life Balancing Master
  • $14,156 in August Business Income$14,156 in August Business Income
  • Update: Nine Months of Being Self-EmployedUpdate: Nine Months of Being Self-Employed
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112 Comments
Filed Under: Blog, Business Income, Career, Extra Income, Life Tagged With: Blog, Career, Extra Money, Life

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. zaby says

    August 4, 2014 at 3:11 am

    i must admit am getting addicted to your blog

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      Haha thanks!

      Reply
  2. Izy Berry @ Wealth Way Online says

    August 4, 2014 at 3:50 am

    Wow, congratulations – you had a really great month. I did well too, but I still want to get above the $20,000 mark per month. Oh well, August is a new month 😉

    It’s pretty amazing you managed to make so much with a weeklong cruise in there too

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 7:50 am

      Yeah I want to be able to get to the $20K mark as well. It will take time for me though!

      Reply
  3. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    August 4, 2014 at 6:36 am

    Great month, Michelle! I’m glad to hear that wifi is not too slow on a cruise. That is something I am worried about as well. =/

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 7:51 am

      I think it really all depends on the cruise ship you pick. Hopefully you are going on one where they have updated internet! 🙂

      Reply
  4. canadianbudgetbinder says

    August 4, 2014 at 6:37 am

    Well done Michelle. My post today is about a young lady who has friends who are jealous of her career and finances. I talk about you in the post and how successful you are as a blogger and freelancer but it’s a career for you and it’s lots of work. I find that jealousy follows us no matter what and I hope we can offer this young lady some insight. Keep up the good work. I learn lots from you even if I don’t often say it. Mr.CBB

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:23 am

      Aww thanks Mr. CBB! I just noticed the article went live so I am reading it now 🙂

      Reply
  5. Tish says

    August 4, 2014 at 7:38 am

    What a great month! Congrats on a solid July. Here’s to an even better August!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:25 am

      Thanks Tish!

      Reply
  6. John @ Wise Dollar says

    August 4, 2014 at 7:42 am

    Very nice Michelle! July was nice for me, save for a crapload of one off expenses, but was somewhat surprised with how the summer months tend to be. Very cool you had relatively good wifi on the cruise. I would’ve thought it would be slower for some reason, but glad you didn’t run into that.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:27 am

      Thanks John! Yes, the cruise internet wasn’t bad at all.

      Reply
  7. Mrs PoP @ Planting Our Pennies says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:16 am

    I’m impressed with the cruise internet. I remember using it on my cruise 7 years ago and it was slower than dial up! Just checkin basic email took forever and you had to do it in a little “Internet cafe” on board.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:29 am

      Yeah I think many people still think it’s that way. I’m not sure if it’s because I was on a new ship or if because cruise internet has actually changed.

      Reply
  8. Michelle S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:25 am

    Being a camp host would be awesome! Yes, we really want to see all the national parks and forests 🙂

    Reply
  9. MomCents says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:53 am

    Pure awesomeness! This is such a motivation to keep going. Right now my FinStats are all about paying off debt and bolstering my E-fund. I post them for my own personal accountability and because I’d like to think just maybe it encourages someone else to say “I can do this”

    Well, I want you to know your income reports encourage me to say I CAN DO THIS!

    Congrats on a great month!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:56 am

      Aww thanks!

      Reply
  10. Julie Wood says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:55 am

    I am so impressed by your level of income. I do wonder how you do it. It sounds like you are very good at what you do! Congrats on your income for July!!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Thank you Julie! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Paula V says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Wow…great job on a wonderful month. Though this is all fascinating, it is still very much above my little pee brain. LOL. I can’t imagine making five figures a month and that’s okay. I’m fine if I sell one of my nutrition consultations for $25 and win an ipad or paypal contest. 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:02 am

      Haha I need to start entering more contests. I used to enter them all the time and I was pretty lucky! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Kraig says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Great job Michelle. You’re killing it and paving the way for the rest of us to follow. I really appreciate that.

    I had a great month as well. I hit the $3,200 mark in July in business income. Like mentioned above, 20k will be great, but it’s not on my radar quite this early in the game. I’ve only been at this a year.

    Keep up the great work,

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:15 am

      $3,200 is awesome. Good job Kraig!

      Reply
  13. Cat@BudgetBlonde says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:14 am

    Congratulations! Another amazing month!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Thanks Cat! I hope July was great for you as well.

      Reply
  14. Grayson @ Debt Roundup says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:15 am

    You are blowing it up over there Michelle! Keep it up! You are an inspiration to many, including myself.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:17 am

      Thanks Grayson!

      Reply
  15. Kim says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:23 am

    Another great month! Are you looking at an Airstream? I have a really strong desire to live in one of those and ditch my house altogether. I won’t, but it’s fun to dream. There are all kinds of blogs about living on the road. I believe many people try to park where there is wifi. Many campgrounds have it, but I think it’s slow. I also think you can buy something that works with your phone. I can’t remember the blog, but it was a couple who took their kids and lived in a RV for a year. She also worked online and talked about how they did it.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:35 am

      We are thinking about an Airstream, but those are usually super expensive. Most of the ones we found started at $20,000 and went all the way up to $50,000!

      Yeah, wifi won’t really work for us because campgrounds usually have extremely slow wifi.

      Reply
  16. Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:27 am

    You really lucked out with your cruise ship internet. When I worked on a ship, the signal was painfully slow. It took 20 minutes just to load an email and of course, the charge way by the minute. I spent a fortune on internet cards!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:37 am

      Ack yeah it was nothing like that. It wasn’t as quick as my internet at home, but it was pretty similar.

      Reply
  17. Michelle S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Thank you Kassandra 🙂

    Reply
  18. Michelle S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Thank you! Congrats on your soon-to-be switch to WordPress. I highly recommend WordPress over Blogger.

    Reply
  19. amanda says

    August 4, 2014 at 10:03 am

    this is so motivating! thank you for posting this! some people are hesitant to talk about money and income – but it really does help others get motivated! so thank you!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:39 am

      Thanks Amanda!

      Reply
  20. Mrs. Frugalwoods says

    August 4, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Wow, congrats on such a great month! And thank you for sharing all of your advice and tips on freelance work–I really appreciate it.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:41 am

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  21. Amy says

    August 4, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Congratulations on a great month!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:41 am

      Thanks Amy!

      Reply
  22. Holly Storm-Burge says

    August 4, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Wow! I am blown away by the income you’re generating! I have tried affiliate links and have made a few hundred over the last couple of months, but it’s nothing to write home about. Thanks for the motivation!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:45 am

      A few hundred over the past few months is good. It will most likely just keep growing from there!

      Reply
  23. Kayli Schattner says

    August 4, 2014 at 10:36 am

    Wow! That is incredible. I always think it’s so inspiring + motivating to see people who really succeed in the online world!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:47 am

      Thanks Kayli!

      Reply
  24. Cami says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Wow! That is awesome. I like the idea of finding what you are good at and outsourcing everything else. That kind of focus brings success.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 12:17 pm

      Thanks Cami!

      Reply
  25. MMD says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Very incredibly motivating. I’m still only making about 10% what you are for blog income, but this keeps me hacking away at it.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 12:18 pm

      You are doing well!

      Reply
  26. Ryan @ Impersonal Finance says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Congrats on such a killer month! I’m still working at monetizing the blog. I think last month I made a litle over 30 and it was a big one for me (thats dollars, not thousands). And btw I just went and voted for the Plutus 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks for voting 🙂

      Reply
  27. Alicia @ Monster Piggy Bank says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:51 am

    I am so impressed, Michelle.. Keep up the good work & more powers! 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks Alicia!

      Reply
  28. Michelle S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Thank you! 🙂

    Reply
  29. Karen Martinez P. says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    Great work, Michelle!

    If you don’t say you were on a cruise, I wouldn’t imagine it by reading your income report!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Thanks Karen!

      Reply
  30. Michelle S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    Thanks Brad!

    Reply
  31. Stephanie says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    Do you find that you put in more hours with this than you did with your old job? Since it’s on your own and on a computer you can access any time, anywhere, you can’t exactly ‘leave it at the office’!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Yes, I definitely do. Since it’s so easy to work, I am almost always working when I am at home. Luckily I really enjoy what I’m doing so it doesn’t feel like work.

      Reply
  32. Natalie says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Wow, another great month Michelle. Keep it up!!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks Natalie!

      Reply
  33. Mike Collins says

    August 4, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    Wow, great job! Keep up the good work!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 1:51 pm

      Thanks Mike!

      Reply
  34. Anna Pry says

    August 4, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Congrats on your high income month! I’m sure it took a lot of work to make it to this point. I sometimes think about starting out on my own business but I dont think i have what it takes to put into it to make it successful at this point in my life.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 3:31 pm

      Thanks Anna! Yes, it took a lot of hard work.

      Reply
  35. Jason B says

    August 4, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Congrats on a wonderful July. I have one goal this month. That is to start my debt repayment back.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 3:31 pm

      Thanks Jason! And good luck with your goal 🙂

      Reply
  36. Charlotte says

    August 4, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    Another great month – congrats, Michelle!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks Charlotte!

      Reply
  37. Alicia says

    August 4, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    Damn girl!! That is huge. Do you attribute the jump to the site redesign, or did you take on other jobs? Glad you were still able to work while on the cruise 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      I think it was mainly me taking on more jobs and more interviews 🙂

      Reply
  38. Richard Hicks says

    August 4, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    You did extraordinarily well for a single month. No way I could make such with limited time.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 7:04 pm

      Thank you Richard!

      Reply
  39. Karen S. says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    This is amazing. I never considered blogging before–I used to be a web programmer once upon a time, and I have a residual website or two–but I never really intended to make any money from them. This makes me think that it’s possible! I’m still not sure that it’s what I want to do, but I have to go back and read some of your pages about blogging more closely….

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks Karen. Hope you have some fun reading my past articles. There are a lot of them! haha

      Reply
  40. DC @ Young Adult Money says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    $180 for unlimited internet on your cruise? That’s a great deal! For me going on the cruise was to get AWAY from the internet, so I think we only purchased about 45 minutes for the whole trip to check our email once a day to make sure no emergencies happened.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      Yeah, I just can’t get away from the internet. I’m addicted! 🙂

      Reply
  41. femmefrugality says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Michelle, I don’t even think the sky is a limit for you! Congrats on an amazing July!

    Let me know how the camper thing goes… I’ve been considering the same thing myself.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks! I’ll let you know about the camper thing. We’ve been searching but haven’t found the perfect one yet.

      Reply
  42. Melissa says

    August 4, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Congratulations on your stellar month, Michelle! I’m extra excited to see what you do with your vintage camper – can’t wait to hear about all your camping adventures! 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 4, 2014 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks Melissa! I’m excited too 🙂

      Reply
  43. Cindy B says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:10 pm

    You’ve made amazing progress in such a short time! It’s quite an inspiration to anyone wanting to be their own boss.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 7:58 am

      Thank you Cindy 🙂

      Reply
  44. Michael Alacapa says

    August 5, 2014 at 1:36 am

    Keep the ideas coming. Great help to all of us.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Thanks Michael.

      Reply
  45. Marie @ Financial Debauchery says

    August 5, 2014 at 6:18 am

    As expected, another solid income Michelle! You really did a good job and you should try to start an Ebook.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 8:01 am

      Thanks Marie! I need to start planning the ebook more. I’ve been a little lazy in that area.

      Reply
  46. Jo-Ann Brightman says

    August 5, 2014 at 7:22 am

    You have made great progress and I voted for you. I do not think I could do all that you have done in such a short period of time.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 8:01 am

      Aww thank you so much Jo-Ann!

      Reply
  47. Stacey Roberson says

    August 5, 2014 at 7:45 am

    I have been following your blog for over a year now, and I am really inspired by the amount of income you bring in monthly. Started off small, but it’s really paying off now. I would love to be able to quit my day job and work for myself, but I think that may be down the road a little.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 8:01 am

      Thank you so much for your kind words Stacey. Appreciated 🙂

      Reply
  48. Poor Student says

    August 5, 2014 at 8:13 am

    That is an awesome income! Congratulations! 🙂 And oh, I keep wondering, have you tapped into making money through newsletter using affiliate links or direct advertising? I never try it myself, but people keep saying that it’s one of the best ways to make money if you have a blog, especially since you have a significant number of readers. I’d be really interested to read about it if you decide to do it 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 8:39 am

      Thanks! And I haven’t done anything with a newsletter. That is something I am extremely behind on. I need to change that.

      Reply
  49. nicoleandmaggie says

    August 5, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Wow! Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 8:40 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  50. Hayley @ Disease Called Debt says

    August 5, 2014 at 10:41 am

    Wow Michelle, I was just looking back at some of your older extra income posts and to see how much you’ve achieved in the last two years is just amazing. Well done on another fantastic month!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 11:11 am

      Thank you Hayley 🙂

      Reply
  51. Will @firstqfinance says

    August 5, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Awesome month!!!

    And you should buy an old Airstream trailer and gut the interior. Make it contemporary!

    You may want to check out this blog if you haven’t read it: http://www.bumfuzzle.com/ They are currently traveling the country in a vintage bus – living off blog and passive income.

    Congrats again on the income!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 5, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Oooh that blog sounds perfect! I will probably spend the next few hours checking out their blog. Thanks Will!

      Reply
  52. Michelle S says

    August 5, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    Wow, looks like you are having a great month! (and year, and career as well). I could only dream of making that much online!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:27 pm

      Thanks! We have very similar names 🙂

      Reply
  53. Tie the Money Knot says

    August 5, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Absolutely fantastic and inspiring!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:27 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  54. Nicola says

    August 5, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Another fantastic month for you! If you’d agree, I’d love to see what your budget looks like! But only if that’s cool with you 🙂 I can only dream of one day making these numbers!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:29 pm

      I’d love to share my budget, but since I’m public I don’t like sharing those numbers. Thanks though! 🙂

      Reply
  55. Tennille says

    August 5, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    WOW! That is really inspiring! My blog is just a baby and I only started it at the beginning of July but your income report is very motivating! Thanks for sharing your success! :o)

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:30 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  56. Melanie@Dear Debt says

    August 6, 2014 at 2:15 am

    You are a rockstar, girl! An inspiration, for sure.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:30 pm

      Thanks Melanie!

      Reply
  57. Richard says

    August 10, 2014 at 8:37 am

    If you don’t mind me asking; how on earth did you get mentioned in Forbes magazine? Was this just luck or did you approach them in some way? That really is an amazing result!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Thanks Richard! It was done through HARO 🙂

      Reply
  58. Victoria@ The British Berliner says

    August 18, 2014 at 10:19 pm

    Wow! Many congratulations and very well done. You’ve worked very hard and deserve every success!

    I’m one of your few non-financial readers as I’m a life-style blogger, but I still enjoy reading about your rapidly-rising income and the motivation and tips, you share, and give to others!

    Reply
  59. Rebecca Marie says

    August 20, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    Hey Michelle! I have to say, I love browsing through your blog and keeping up with your income updates. It really helps motivate me to try to save/earn more money, and gave me the idea to start my own blog to start keeping myself accountable for it. I can’t wait to read more, and to see August’s update! Keep it up!!
    -Rebecca Marie

    Reply
  60. Christi Johnson says

    September 7, 2014 at 12:23 am

    Michelle…STELLAR month! Congratulations! I am like you…trying really hard to break through with my affiliate income. I love writing for others and managing their blogs. That’s part of the reason that my first month back marketing and blogging again went so well.

    The problem is that it’s SO much work. I mean…I love it, but I need to get more systems in place so that I am not working myself to pieces. Hw do you manage it all?

    Well…again…congrats! And thank you for writing this article each month. You keep me inspired!

    Reply

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Hello and welcome!
My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.

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