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Home > I'm apparently a "seasonal" financial blogger - how about you?

I'm apparently a "seasonal" financial blogger - how about you?

January 1st, 2009 at 03:20 pm

So I joined last December and flamed out by May! And it looks like I'm not alone! A few of my favorite bloggers here have also fallen off the wagon.

But now I'm back for the usual reason, Christmas is always a financial disaster for me! I managed to hold the line on the old CC up until about September when it spiraled out of control - I still need to go back and try to figure out what happened! Then Christmas hit, my 0% rate expired on some CC balances, and one car needed tires, the other a $550 repair, so it's a Perfect Storm of sorts for me.

So what's your style and has blogging here helped you? What do you get out of it? I have received some good moral support and advice, but at times it seems like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic since all I can focus on are relatively small expenses. But it's all I got - I need to keep things in control since I am working with very little financial freedom or leverage here in attempting to get rid of too much debt.

Anyway, it feels good to be back, and we'll see how far I make it this year!

Posted in General | 17 Comments »

17 Responses to “I'm apparently a "seasonal" financial blogger - how about you?”

  1. gamecock43 Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 03:29 pm 1230823754
    1230823754

    Ohhh! Hope you stay with us longer next year! (this year!) I have found Blogging REALLY helps me save money, so I hope I don't quit! Maybe blogging once a week should be a financial goal? might help you keep with it!

  2. ralph Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 03:36 pm 1230824192
    1230824192

    Thanks, gamecock43. I see from your blog that you are much more energetic than me!

    By REALLY helping you save money, what kind of examples do you have? I guess I can guess, it's the shared wisdom from a lot of people who have a lot of experience, so having advice and sounding boards on big things is very worthwhile.

  3. Ima saver Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 04:14 pm 1230826478
    1230826478

    Welcome back! I get excited about the $20 challenge. It is amazing how little sums add up!

  4. Amber Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 04:17 pm 1230826630
    1230826630

    I must say blogging her definitely helps. In the few months that I was not blogging I managed to rack up a $5200 CC bill on the usual: clothes and the dentist. But I am back to blogging and plan on sticking with it. Further more I get great advice(thanks for the tip on Firefox...I love it. In addition, I tend to spend less because it seems like when I'm blogging my day to day spending I am too embarrass to note wasteful spending so I don't do it.
    Welcome back and Happy New Year Smile

  5. NJDebbie Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 05:04 pm 1230829462
    1230829462

    Happy 2009.

    I was wondering about you! I still miss the girl from Texas, I think her name was Penny meanderings, something like that). Anyway, welcome back.

  6. ralph Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 05:29 pm 1230830983
    1230830983

    NJDebbie, that's uncanny, she was exactly the one I was thinking of who stopped about the same time I did! I really enjoyed her positive attitude and her prolific and great writing on her hard work on making ends meet. I sure hope she is ok and returns at some point.

    All, thanks for the welcome back - I really appreciate it!

  7. gamecock43 Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 07:28 pm 1230838126
    1230838126

    *Its staying accountable.
    *It's the daily or weekly reminder that I must think about my finances.
    *It's the viewpoint from other bloggers to look at things from other angles, get ideas to incorporate into my own life.
    *Blogging helps me organize my thoughts, plans, life.
    *There are always challenges going on here to try and save money- like no heat this past fall, no fast food a while ago, $20 challenge- its fun to join in.
    *When I want to purchase something because life is just not fair/I deserve it/I want it- this site calms me down and gives me a more objective point of view.

    I am sure there are other reasons this site works for me-those are a few reasons.

  8. whitestripe Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 07:41 pm 1230838861
    1230838861

    i have been on this site since feb 07 i think - but i have had three blogs, the first was reflectionite, the second greengirl and now whitestripe. i needed a fresh start the first change and then i had a fear that someone in the 'real world' had found my blog. i agree with gamecock and amber, blogging keeps you focused. i've never not posted for more than a couple of weeks through the whole time i have been a member here.
    other people's blogs give you new ideas, and you can seek advice when you need it the most.

  9. Ms. Pearl Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 08:14 pm 1230840871
    1230840871

    It keeps me on track...a place to throw around ideas and stress related to my debt. I started last may but only lasted a few months. I returned in October '08 and since have managed to get my finances more organized than they have ever been before.

    I have also recognized that organization in general is a key to my sanity. I plan my menus now, have a clean pantry/cupboards. I have even started making homemade bread! And trust me, I am not any kind of cook!

    Really cool is that my husband is doing this with me. That helps a lot! Good luck and I really look forward to reading your blog!

  10. fern Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 10:22 pm 1230848574
    1230848574

    I like getting feedback on varous goals, plans, achievements, etc. It motivates me.

  11. ceejay74 Says:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 01:20 am 1230859255
    1230859255

    It helps me keep perspective--I'm about the most frugal person I know, and I'm a spendthrift by SavingAdvice standards! Smile Plus, it helps me not despair about my debt amounts like I used to; now I feel like I'm making progress and taking control, instead of just letting it weigh me down. Finally, it does keep me accountable--I'd miss blogging if I stopped keeping track of my budget.

  12. baselle Says:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 02:02 am 1230861763
    1230861763

    Its the accountable part, but now I treat it much more like a diary ... the diary of someone trying to keep her head above water during one of the most interesting economic times in eighty years. And I know I'm vain to admit it, but I look at my stats. I like the idea that over 100 different people look at my blog daily. Smile

  13. mjrube94 Says:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 04:51 am 1230871905
    1230871905

    I was frustrated a while back (and fell off the wagon too!), because I felt like I had addressed all of the "big hits" (refi mortgage, evaluated car insurance, etc.) and all that was left were piddling little things. I just try to remind myself that saving $10 on 10 different things is just as good as saving $100 on 1 thing. I like to keep up on the blogs because I always get a good website/idea from my favorite bloggers. Good luck!

  14. merch Says:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 02:27 pm 1230906441
    1230906441

    I would say accountablity (my goals are on my sidebar for the world to see), different viewpoints, and advice. Probably the biggest thing is that you aren't alone. On this site, there is someone in the exact same spot as you trying to do the same thing you are.

    You're motivating that person and that person is motivating you.

  15. Ralph Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 11:54 pm 1231113260
    1231113260

    Thanks, everyone! Good points all, plus it is sort of fun! I'm glad to be back and look forward to much more mutual benefit. Smile

  16. Broken Arrow Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 03:51 am 1231127486
    1231127486

    I've noticed that there's usually a spike right around... well, now actually. A lot of people jump in as a part of their New Year's Resolution. Then about... maybe April, you start to lose touch.

    We all do what we feel we need or want to do, so I don't see anything wrong with it. So, I suppose that's seasonal in a way eh?

  17. Caoineag Says:
    January 6th, 2009 at 06:07 pm 1231265269
    1231265269

    Not seasonal so much as goal based. I definitely blog more when I have major financial changes taking place. Despite that I still have managed to be fairly consistent.

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