It’s been one year since the first post on this blog and cannot believe how much we’ve accomplished together. I’d like to start off by saying how thankful I am to YOU, for coming back week after week, reading my posts, leaving comments, sharing to social media, and just being an all-around fantastic part of this tribe! Without you, none of this would be possible!
The Highs
It would be easy to get caught up in the highs related to the statistics of my blog but the highs of this first year of blogging go much deeper and there were so many more than the following:
Work Ethic
I’ve worked harder on this blog than anything I can remember. I’ve spent between 20 and 40 hours each week putting out content, working on behind the scenes projects, managing technology issues, and responding to comments both on social media and the blog. Each and every moment of it has made me a better person and I’m so thankful for that.
Change of Direction
In August, I was able to quit my job and take on blogging full-time. It’s been a whirlwind but hearing from each of you about your wins related to goal setting, budget creation, and simplifying your family life has made it completely worth it!
An Interview
Steve Repak interviewed me on his podcast. I was scared to death because, writing is my passion, not talking out loud, but it was a complete success and something I’m now open to the idea of participating in speaking engagements in the future.
A No-Spend Challenge
I was able to complete a No-Spend Challenge with Andrea from Saving Joyfully and get to know her better throughout the process. She’s been one of my loyal supporters since the beginning (and I hers), so it was a treat to get to work with her.
Support and Accountability
I have a blogging “support” group that I meet with weekly and am so thankful for Lorie, Jennifer, and Wendi. Not only are we able to encourage each other, but we troubleshoot, share resources, and provide a sounding board when things aren’t going as planned. Blogging can be a lonely journey, and these ladies have made such a big difference in my life.
In addition, I’ve been able to participate in (and run) online blogging groups to ensure support for other bloggers. It’s been a steep learning curve, as I was off of social media for several years, but so much fun to connect with like-minded and supportive individuals from all over the world.
The Lows
The highs far outweigh the lows. In fact, it was hard to remember what the lows even were. We did have one tech incident back in July that took down my entire site and deleted two months’ worth of blog posts, comments, and photos. It was a mess to clean up, but I’m so thankful for my husband, Justin, who was able to troubleshoot and retrieve all of the previous posts. If you notice a comment of yours is missing during the June to July time period, that’s the reason for it.
That’s the only blog-related low I can come up with though, so I’d say it’s been a huge success!
Top 10 Posts
Out of 133 posts, year-to-date, the following were the Top 10 most viewed from my first year of blogging. If you missed one, I highly recommend checking them out to see what all the hype was about.
So, You Overspent Your Budget, Now What
How to Budget Your Irregular Income
How to Keep Your Budget AND Your Friends, Too
How to Create a (Printable) Bullet Journal for Kids
How to Know When it’s Time to Give Up
Everyone Loves Household Chores, or do They?
2018 Resolution Reevaluation – March Edition
How to Cope When Income Doesn’t Cover Your Necessities
11 Things to Consider When Starting a New Budget
Eliminating Debt for Good: in 7 (not always) Easy Steps
It’s obvious to me that my readers like budget-related topics. If that’s you, stick around because I’ve got a lot more where those came from!
What to Expect Going Forward
As we head into this next year, I have a lot of plans in place for the blog. I’ll continue to focus on the family finance topics, with a huge emphasis on achieving goals and pressing on toward the prize. I’ll also be bringing in more posts related to simplifying family life, including maintaining the home and family schedules.
In addition to regular blog posts, you’ll see a couple of other changes:
- We’ve just finished the last of the Real Life Family Finance Series and while I might bring it back by popular demand later in the year, for now, a weekly challenge in the form of blog posts will be gracing the blog starting Tuesday, January 1, 2019.
- I’ve just started a Lemon Blessings’ Facebook group focused on supporting individuals looking to achieve their goals this coming year. There will be weekly challenges, support threads, and more interaction with me, so I hope you’ll consider joining the community!
- Of course, and as always, I’ve got tons of new (and FREE) printables related to budgeting and helping you achieve your goals in the plans, as well as a couple of new paid products.
Additionally, I still have just a few spots open for my Personal and Group Accountability Groups as well. You can find more information HERE.
One Last Thing
Once again, I’d just like to say thank you for your support of this blog. Please keep in mind that I design content and write for YOU, so if there is ever anything you’d like to hear about (or not hear about again), please let me know!
