8-Year Blogiversary: How I Earned Income From Blogging in July

Welcome to the July business report, where I share how I earned money online while traveling full-time last month. Below is a summary of how the business performed and what I focused on.

If you’re new to Making Sense of Cents, you might wonder why I share a monthly business report.

This began as an extra income report, documenting side-job earnings aside from my day job. I left my role as a financial analyst in October 2013, and now these monthly reports cover the many income streams of my business.

Some readers ask why I disclose what I’m working on each month. Opinions vary—some think it’s odd, others appreciate the transparency—but I publish these updates for three main reasons:

When I started, I knew nothing about side hustles or earning money online. Seeing others share monthly income reports inspired me to try. I want to show readers the benefits of side hustling and how it can change lives. There are many legit ways to make money online, and I hope my reports motivate others to improve their finances by generating additional income.
Sharing monthly business reports helps me reflect, learn from mistakes, and identify areas to improve. The reports serve as accountability and a record of progress.
I want to demonstrate that making side income from home is possible. There are many legitimate opportunities, and I share practical examples from my experience.

I still say this every month because it’s true: life is great now that I’m my own boss and a full-time blogger. I look forward to each day and truly enjoy waking up every morning.

Quick reminder about the recent announcement

I’ll repeat a recent announcement since several readers have asked about it — see my post “How I Made Over $1,500,000 in 2018 — Is This the End of Income Reports?” for details if you missed it.

How did the business perform in July 2019?

For context, the primary income streams for my business are:

Affiliate marketing — the largest portion of revenue
Sponsored partnerships
Online courses (Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing and Making Sense of Sponsored Posts)
Display advertising (I work with AdThrive)

I regularly earn over $100,000 per month from blogging and have earned millions from this business over the years.

July 2019 was another strong month. I had solid income, enjoyed the month, and feel energized about the plans I have for the remainder of the year. My goals include growing income and readership, producing more helpful content, and expanding product offerings.

Planned actions to grow the site include:

Focusing on SEO: I’ll take a comprehensive SEO course and apply strategies to increase organic traffic.
Learning advertising on Pinterest and Facebook to grow traffic and email subscribers.
Adding an online shop to sell printables and other products.
Creating new email opt-ins to attract subscribers and engage new readers.

The business is doing well and I’m excited by the opportunities ahead. Below are links to some past income reports and milestones (I post income updates monthly; see the site’s income page for the complete archive). These show how the business evolved over time, from modest side-income posts to seven-figure yearly totals.

$672 extra in May (2012)
$6,523 in January extra income (2013)
$11,927 in October income — I left my job (2013)
$12,640 in January income (2014)
$23,758 in February income (2015)
How I made $300,000 online in 2015
How I made $979,321 in 2016
How I made $1,536,732 in 2017
How I made over $1,500,000 in 2018

If you’re interested in starting a blog, I created a tutorial that walks through setting up a self-hosted WordPress blog affordably. Being self-hosted is essential if you plan to monetize your site and appear professional; my own income took off after switching to self-hosted WordPress.

Follow our travel adventures on Instagram.

Blog and life updates

July was enjoyable and productive. We finished boat maintenance to prepare for hurricane season and then moved into our van for a few months. Living in the van has been a blast: lots of outdoor time, hiking, mountain biking, and we climbed multiple 14,000+ foot peaks in the past month. We’re excited to return to the boat in a few months.

August marks eight years since I started Making Sense of Cents. It’s incredible to reflect on how much has changed. I began this blog while working full-time as a financial analyst, and two years in I quit my job to pursue blogging full-time. Blogging began as a hobby to track my finances; I didn’t know blogs could be monetized. After a chance connection led to a $100 ad deal six months in, I began treating the blog more seriously. Over time, consistent effort and learning turned that hobby into a full-time business that supports travel and flexibility.

Since building the blog I’ve had many experiences: living and traveling across the U.S. in an RV, buying and living on a sailboat, and taking memorable trips. I still make mistakes, but I keep learning and improving. It’s been nearly six years since I worked for someone else, and I remain grateful to readers for their support.

Other updates:

Content schedule: I’m about one month ahead on posts and aim to be 2–3 months ahead so I can focus on bigger projects and travel.
Traffic: July saw over 400,000 page views.
New series: I’m developing tutorials that answer practical financial questions—how to open a bank account, find an online bank, set up investment accounts, and more. Reader suggestions are welcome.
Community: The Making Sense of Cents Facebook group continues to grow and now has over 15,000 members for advice on finance, blogging, travel, and business.
Free courses and resources: I launched a free “How to Start a Blog” email course (over 50,000 signups) and a free “Master Your Money” course with budgeting worksheets. I also offer free guides on increasing affiliate income and making money from sponsored posts.

Popular new posts last month:

Home buying tips you need to know before you buy
3 common legal mistakes bloggers make (and how to fix them)
Are excuses causing you to be bad with money?
Strategies and habits that helped pay off $93,000 of debt in 3.5 years
Can you really make money with paid online surveys?
6 credit card myths you need to know the truth about
How to become rich — it’s more than millions in the bank
Summer money-saving tips: 18 ways to save

Featured question: How do you get internet while traveling full-time?

I highlight one reader question each month. Many people worry that traveling full-time will cut off their internet access, which can feel like a barrier to the lifestyle. When we started traveling full-time, I was unsure how reliable or affordable internet would be. Over time we found workable solutions.

We currently use AT&T for phones and internet. Some full-time travelers keep multiple providers to ensure coverage in different regions. Our connection isn’t perfect everywhere, so I plan ahead and work ahead when possible.

I recently added a WeBoost signal booster to the van, which has improved connectivity substantially and allowed me to work in more places. While some stays have no local internet, the booster has often made the difference.

In the Bahamas we used a provider called MyIslandWifi that offered truly unlimited internet for $75 per month and delivered fast, reliable service—something many travelers find useful when comparing options outside the U.S.

For deeper research on mobile internet setups, RV Mobile Internet is a helpful resource. Everyone’s needs are different, so the best solution depends on your travel plans and work requirements.

My plans and goals for the blog and business

I have many goals and projects underway. Goals help keep me focused and motivated. Current priorities include:

Finish the “Facebook Ads for Bloggers” course to learn how to grow traffic and promote products via paid social advertising.
Complete the “Stupid Simple SEO” course to improve organic traffic and search visibility.
Create a shareable freebie opt-in for affiliates to promote the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course.
Get at least three months ahead on blog posts to reduce stress and free time for other priorities.
Work less than 30 hours per week and maintain a better work-life balance.
Be more present—enjoy travel and life beyond the business while still running a site I love.
Have fun along the way.

Affiliate marketing results

Affiliate income was around $60,000 in July, a typical month. I plan to increase affiliate revenue in the coming months through planned promotions, SEO improvements, and paid social advertising. Tactics I’m working on include:

Planning affiliate promotions for the rest of the year to stay organized and prepared.
Applying SEO strategies to grow organic traffic and conversions.
Testing Facebook ads to amplify affiliate funnels and audience reach.
Building high-quality email funnels to nurture readers and convert them into buyers.
Analyzing top-performing affiliate posts to optimize and replicate success.
Searching for new affiliate products that match reader needs and interests.