Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I want to begin this week with an interview featuring my sister, Alexis. I mention her blog each month in my monthly income updates, but I haven’t yet written a full post about her site.
Her blog is FITnancials, which I helped her start last year. She writes about healthy living and personal finance.
If you’re interested in starting your own blog, check out my article that outlines the steps to create a blog.
Tell us about yourself.
Hi—my name is Alexis and I’m in my early twenties.
There was a time when I weighed about 180 pounds and lived an unhealthy lifestyle. I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and drank a lot of soda. It might seem surprising for someone my age, but it really happened.
I didn’t exercise and I believed that women only needed to do cardio.
At some point I had a wake-up moment and realized I needed to change, but the road to better health wasn’t easy.
Why did you decide to blog?
I started blogging because I wanted to reach people who needed support. I didn’t want to be just another blogger—I wanted to share my experience of having been heavier and the steps I took to change.
I can relate to people who are struggling with extra weight and want to offer realistic, empathetic guidance.
What do you like about blogging?
I love connecting with others who share a passion for fitness and nutrition. Surprisingly, many people around me aren’t focused on healthy eating and exercise, so blogging has allowed me to find a community.
Most of my fitness friends I’ve met online through blogging and Instagram.
What are your favorite blogs?
My favorite fitness blogs are Blogilates and Simply Taralynn.
I appreciate Blogilates for free workouts and meal plans, and I enjoy Taralynn’s creative, Pinterest-style recipes that make healthy meals look interesting and accessible.
This is a personal finance blog, so I have to ask. Would you say you are good with money?
Honestly, I manage my money best when I’m running lower than I’d like. That feeling acts as a wake-up call.
Recently I’ve become better at saving. I set aside a fixed amount every two weeks, and that routine has helped me a lot.
What’s your best money tip?
Automate saving by transferring a fixed amount from each paycheck into savings, ideally via direct deposit. Paying yourself first removes the temptation to spend and makes saving effortless.
Pay yourself first.
Do you have any student loans?
Not right now. I attended community college for a year and paid out of pocket. I’m starting school in Chicago this fall, so I expect to take on some student loans then.
Why should people read your blog?
People should read FITnancials if they’ve ever felt alone while trying to lose weight or improve their health. Many people feel isolated during their journey or don’t know anyone who understands what they’re going through.
I speak from experience—I’ve been heavier and I know how discouraging that can feel. My goal is to motivate, inspire, and support readers so they feel better about their bodies no matter where they are in their journey.