How I Earned $120,104.93 in May Working Remotely

Welcome to the May 2017 business income report, where I share how I earned money online last month. Below I provide an update on my results, the strategies I focused on, and observations about the business and blog performance.

If you’re new to Making Sense of Cents, you might wonder why I publish monthly income reports. If you’re familiar with the site, feel free to skip ahead.

This started as an extra income report because, initially, I tracked only the earnings from side gigs and not my day job. After I left my job as a financial analyst in October 2013, these monthly reports evolved to show all the ways I make a living online.

Many people ask why I share my income publicly. Opinions vary—some think it’s odd, others appreciate the transparency—but I publish these reports for three main reasons:

1. To inspire others. Before I discovered side hustles and blogging, I didn’t realize how much could be achieved outside traditional employment. Seeing other people publish income reports encouraged me to try. By sharing my story monthly, I hope to motivate readers to improve their financial situations and explore legitimate ways to earn from home.
2. To learn and track progress. The reports act as a journal and a business review. Publishing them allows me to reflect on what’s working, identify mistakes, and see which areas need improvement.
3. To show what’s possible. I want to demonstrate that earning money on the side or online is achievable. To help readers discover more examples, I previously compiled a Monthly Income Report Roundup featuring bloggers who regularly share their earnings.

I truly enjoy being my own boss and working full time on the blog. Having more control over my schedule and work makes life enjoyable, and publishing these reports highlights how alternative income sources can enable a more fulfilling lifestyle.

How was business income in May of 2017?

I earned $120,104.93 blogging and online in May of 2017, before expenses.

June will be interesting: I’m taking a two-week sailing trip—living on a sailboat and visiting several islands—and I’ll spend a few days at hotels before and after the trip in the Caribbean. I plan to take a genuine break and not work while sailing, which means I’ll be mostly offline for over half the month. My business has been running well with minimal direct involvement lately, so this will be a test of how it performs when I step away.

One of my major focuses recently has been improving work-life balance, and I’ve made significant progress. In May I often worked only a few hours per day after publishing posts, which felt great and led to increased efficiency. I’ll write more about these changes in an upcoming post.

May was my fifth consecutive month with income above $100,000. Reaching these levels is still surprising to me—I began at $0 and grew this business through consistent effort over time. If you feel small goals like $100 or $1,000 are out of reach, remember that growth is gradual and achievable with dedication.

This strong month, despite limited hours worked, was driven by several strategic focuses:

• Diversifying income streams. In 2016 I launched my first product, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, which expanded my income sources beyond advertising and sponsorships. Today my income is a mix of affiliate marketing, course sales, sponsorships, and display ads. I’m also working to diversify affiliate partners so no single source dominates my revenue.
• Growing my email list. I didn’t invest in an email strategy until I switched to ConvertKit in April 2016. ConvertKit simplified email marketing and helped me build a list that now exceeds 50,000 subscribers. Building an email list early is one of the best moves a blogger can make.
• Investing time in Facebook. My Facebook audience grew from about 6,500 at the start of 2016 to 68,000 by the end of May 2017. The growth boosted traffic, audience reach, and course sales, and came in part from strategies I share in my Facebook ebook.

Overall, May was a strong month across blogging, courses, and life. The business continues to grow, income is rising, and I have many ideas planned for the rest of the year. I find myself often saying, “Life is really good.”

My Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course continues to perform well, and many new students joined last month. I’ve received feedback showing significant affiliate income growth for some students, including examples of bloggers who dramatically increased earnings after implementing course strategies.

If you’re a blogger, the course covers actionable tactics for monetizing through affiliate marketing and includes lessons, worksheets, and a supportive community. For beginners, I also provide a free tutorial on how to start a self-hosted WordPress blog at low cost, plus a free email course to guide new bloggers through the process.

Breakout of May 2017 income – $120,104.93

In May 2017 my total blog income was $120,104.93. The breakdown by category is below.

• Affiliate income – $56,918.93 total, including:
  • Bluehost (blog hosting referrals) – $33,855.00
  • Survey companies – $11,720.50
  • Facebook Strategies ebook – $1,695.60
  • Bookkeeper Business Academy – $1,377.50
  • Ebates (tiered affiliate) – $1,000.00 (estimate)
  • Student loan refinancing – $600.00
  • Amazon FBA article referrals – $403.50
  • ConvertKit – $308.61
  • $5 Meal Plan – $252.24
  • Personal Capital – $200.00
  • Uber – $190.00
  • Beautiful Dawn Designs – $141.00
  • Izea/SponsoredTweets – $123.98
  • Ibotta – $50.00
  • 17 Strategies blog product – $40.00
  • Miscellaneous affiliates – $4,961.00 (includes launch-related income that I can’t fully disclose)
• Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course – $41,586.00
• Sponsorships and advertising – $18,775.00
• Display advertising – $2,825.00

Total: $120,104.93

The figure above is before fees and expenses. Estimated business expenses for the month totaled roughly $4,100 (including virtual assistants, course platform fees, technical assistance, newsletter costs, PayPal and Stripe fees, etc., excluding taxes). I also paid $11,834.45 to affiliates who promoted my course. After expenses and affiliate payouts, my approximate net for May was $104,170.48.

Please remember I’m self-employed, so I cover taxes (often over 30%), health insurance, and benefits typically provided by employers.

For a comprehensive overview of ways to monetize a blog, see my Ultimate Guide To Making Money Blogging.

Below are links to some older monthly income reports that illustrate how the business has evolved over time.

• $672 extra in May (2012)
• $6,523 in January extra income (2013)
• $11,927 in October income – I finally 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

Comparisons and 2017 business income total:

• Total income in May 2017: $120,104
• Total income in April 2017: $131,448
• Difference from the previous month: -$11,344
• Total in 2017 so far: $681,852

Blog news

Making Sense of Cents continues to perform well, though summer often brings slower traffic and revenue. In May I focused on future plans for the site and had a coaching call with Ruth Soukup to learn about running a larger team-based blog—useful perspective for planning future growth.

May traffic was around 415,000 page views.

Recent blog updates:

• I launched a community Facebook group for readers to discuss finance, blogging, travel, and business topics; it has grown quickly to thousands of members.
• I started a new interview series featuring interesting people pursuing unconventional or inspiring lives—examples include early retirees, full-time RVers, and full-time sailors.
• I released a free “How To Start A Blog” email course that has attracted over 20,000 signups and received excellent feedback.
• I also created a free “Master Your Money” email course with budgeting lessons and financial worksheets, which has been well received.
• I plan to create a third free course in the coming months.

Popular new posts on Making Sense of Cents last month:

• I’m a Female Breadwinner! I Earn Much More Than My Husband – So What?
• How This Couple Bought an $11,500 RV, Traveled To All 50 States, and Built A Thriving Business
• 28 Money And Life Lessons I’ve Learned
• How I Saved $45,000 In Three Years To Create A Life Of Travel
• How To Save Money In The Summer And Still Have Fun
• 6 Important Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home
• Every Dog/Cat Deserves a Home But Not Every Home Deserves A Pet
• The Danger Of Normalizing Your Debt – Stop Living Like Everyone Else
• Challenge Everything! Are You Wasting Thousands of Dollars On These 14 Things?

Featured Question: How can I start my own blog?

I feature one reader question in each monthly report. If you have a question you’d like me to answer, leave a comment.

I started my blog in August 2011, and it changed my life. At the start I wasn’t focused on monetization—I simply enjoyed writing. Over time blogging enabled travel, financial freedom, and a flexible lifestyle.

My top recommendation for new bloggers is to take a structured free blogging course I offer, which walks through the exact steps to launch a self-hosted WordPress blog. Here are additional practical tips for starting a blog:

1. Pick a topic you enjoy. Blogging is more sustainable when you’re passionate about the subject. Before committing, list 10–20 post ideas to ensure the topic will sustain long-term content.
2. Start a self-hosted blog. Self-hosted WordPress gives you more control, better monetization options, and a professional appearance—key factors if you want to grow and earn from your blog.
3. Produce high-quality content. Write posts you would enjoy reading; that quality attracts and retains readers.
4. Publish some posts before launch. Having several published articles helps new visitors understand your blog’s voice and value.
5. Schedule posts in advance. Planning reduces stress and keeps content consistent.
6. Create social media accounts. Use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to promote content—automate where possible.
7. Have an About page so readers can connect with you and your story.
8. Network with other bloggers. Collaboration and community-building are more valuable than competition.
9. Post regularly. Consistency is key—publish at least once a week or on a schedule you can sustain.
10. Guest post on other blogs. It’s an effective way to reach new audiences and build relationships.

Launching a blog should be enjoyable. I still get excited about blogging every day, and that enthusiasm makes a difference.

My plans for the blog and business

Goals help guide growth and maintain motivation. Current priorities include:

• Earn $1,000,000 from the business in 2017. I chose this goal to balance ambition with my intention to improve work-life balance and increase passive income.
• Improve work-life balance. My focus is on being able to take real breaks without constantly checking the business.
• Get at least three months ahead on blog content. I’m currently two months ahead and want a longer buffer—especially useful with travel and limited internet.
• Grow the blog to 1,000,000 monthly page views. More readers equals greater opportunity to help people and strengthen the business.
• Increase live interviews and podcasts. I want to do more live content but need a reliable schedule and better internet planning while traveling.
• Create one more product to sell. After the success of my affiliate marketing course, I plan to develop another product in 2017 to further diversify income.
• Promote the blog more effectively. I’ve focused on Facebook traffic with good results and will continue promoting content across multiple channels.
• Keep learning and improving. I’m always looking for new resources, tools, and courses that help me grow the business.

Affiliate income results

In May 2017 I earned $56,918.93 in affiliate income. Much of this was passive, driven by older posts and existing content—May required almost no time spent on affiliate strategy. That highlights how effective evergreen affiliate content can be.

Affiliate marketing remains a favorite revenue source because of its potential for passive income, which supports a travel-friendly lifestyle. Affiliate income doesn’t always require massive traffic; with the right approach, new bloggers can start earning quickly. I teach these methods in my Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course.

The course includes six modules, over 30 lessons, worksheets, bonuses, and an exclusive student community. Topics cover affiliate program ideas, product selection, conversion rate improvement, disclosure requirements, essential tools, and promotion strategies—everything needed to build sustainable affiliate income.