In August 2011 I launched Making Sense of Cents.
It’s hard to believe seven years have passed since I started that blog, especially when I think about how much it has changed my life.
I began the blog on a whim while working full-time as a financial analyst. About two years after I started, I quit my day job to focus on blogging full-time.
Blogging transformed my life and now provides me with a substantial income doing work I enjoy.
At the time I created the site I knew almost nothing about blogging. I had stumbled across a personal finance website mentioned in a magazine and decided to start a blog simply to track my own financial progress. I didn’t even know people could earn money from blogs.
I had no plan or long-term goals for Making Sense of Cents. For context, I used to be an analyst at an investment banking and valuation firm, working a standard 8-to-5 schedule. The role felt stressful, full of deadlines and responsibilities that didn’t excite me, and I couldn’t imagine living that way for decades.
Blogging became an outlet from that stress. Even as a hobby, it gave me a place to write about finances, find support, and measure progress. Unexpectedly, within six months I began earning money from the site.
A contact I made through the blogging community introduced me to an advertiser and I made $100 from that first deal. That small opportunity motivated me to take the blog more seriously and learn how to grow it as a business.
Today the blog supports a comfortable lifestyle—and it all began without any intention to monetize. Blogging allowed me to take control of my finances, work remotely, travel freely, set my own schedule, and pursue experiences I value.
Since starting the blog I’ve lived and traveled across the U.S. in an RV, purchased and now live on a sailboat, and enjoyed incredible vacations. Those opportunities stem directly from building an online business around something I love.
I made lots of mistakes along the way and continue to learn. Quitting my stable job to focus on a blog was scary—many people thought it was a reckless decision, and my husband left his job around the same time—yet almost five years later I still can’t imagine returning to a traditional commute.
It’s been nearly five years since I worked for someone else. Five years since my daily commute. Five years of location independence. Five years of being my own boss. When I pause to reflect, I’m humbled and extremely grateful for how far this journey has taken me.
Below are five key lessons I’ve learned from blogging and running an online business.
There’s always something to learn.
Blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time, effort, and continuous learning. The online space keeps changing—new platforms, shifting algorithms, evolving best practices—so you must adapt. Blogging requires skills like content creation, website management, audience growth, and promotion. That ongoing challenge is one of the things I love: the work never gets stale.
I enjoy being in control and my own boss.
I never pictured myself as an entrepreneur, but blogging revealed how much I value autonomy. Running my own business lets me set daily priorities, define goals, and make decisions that align with my values. I follow a simple rule: I don’t commit to things I don’t want to do. While I accept many opportunities, I avoid work that feels draining or contradictory to my principles. That mindset has improved my work-life balance and helped me enjoy the services I provide—writing, promotion, networking, and engaging with readers.
Bloggers make great friends.
Too often bloggers view others as competitors, but that’s a missed opportunity. Genuine networking and collaboration accelerate learning and growth. Building relationships—sharing each other’s content, attending conferences, and helping fellow creators—enriches your career and makes blogging more rewarding. The networking that followed my early connections is how I first learned to monetize a blog. My advice: be authentic and give more than you take.
Having a flexible schedule is invaluable.
One of the best parts of working for myself is scheduling flexibility. I can plan ahead, structure days to blend work and life, and shift tasks to fit personal commitments. Some days I work in the morning, take time for a hike or a lunch, then return to work later. I can keep appointments, travel, or shift hours as needed—what matters is delivering quality work on my terms.
Location independence lets me work from anywhere.
Being location independent over the past five years has been liberating. All I need is an internet connection and my laptop. That freedom enabled living in an RV and now on a sailboat—experiences I treasure. The downside is maintaining boundaries: when work travels with you, unplugging can be difficult. Still, at this point I’m pleased with the work-life balance I’ve achieved.
What major change have you made in your life?