November Online Earnings Report: $30,569 Income Breakdown

Welcome to the November online income report, where I detail how I earned money online last month. Below I’ll share the results for November and reflect on progress and plans going forward.

If you’re new here, you might be wondering why I publish monthly income reports. If you already know, feel free to skip ahead.

This began as an “extra income” report, focused on the side jobs and income I earned outside my full-time role. In October 2013 I left my job as a financial analyst, and these reports have since tracked the diverse ways I make a living online.

I publish these reports publicly for three main reasons:

• When I first learned about side hustles and online income, seeing other bloggers publish monthly reports inspired me to try new things. Sharing my income helps demonstrate what’s possible and motivates others to improve their financial situation.
• The reports serve as a personal record and performance review. By tracking monthly results, I can analyze what worked, learn from mistakes, and identify areas for improvement.
• I want to show that making money from home is real and attainable. There are many legitimate ways to earn online, and sharing my experience helps others discover options that may fit them.

I truly enjoy being my own boss. Life is better now that I have more control over my schedule and work. I’m not saying every day is perfect, but overall I feel grateful and fulfilled.

How was my online income in November?

November was another strong month. I earned just over $30,000 in business income before expenses, a figure that still amazes me given I’m working less than before yet earning substantial revenue.

The business is healthy and showing steady improvement. I’m frequently reminding myself how fortunate I am — life really is good right now.

For November I reported $30,569 in business income before expenses.

The reported figure is before fees and expenses. Typical monthly expenses that reduce this number by roughly $1,500 include virtual assistants and staff writers, technical support, newsletter costs, PayPal fees, and similar operational expenses (this does not include taxes). After those expenses I made approximately $29,069.

Below I link to some past income reports and updates; for a full archive, visit the online income page on my site.

• $672 extra in May (2012)
• $6,523 in January extra income (2013)
• $11,927 in October income — I finally left my job
• $12,640 in January income (2014)
• $23,758 in February income (2015)
• How I made $25,138 online in July (blogiversary)

Blog news

Making Sense of Cents continues to do well. I took some time off from writing in November, which was restorative, but it set me back in terms of having content scheduled. One goal for December is to get back to being one month ahead on posts.

Pinterest remains a primary source of referral traffic. I use Tailwind to schedule and analyze pins, and it has saved me time while increasing traffic. I also rely on a Verizon MiFi device to stay connected while traveling in an RV — it’s been essential for remote work.

Site traffic rose in November, with roughly 375,000 page views for the month.

Top new posts last month:

• Everything You Need To Know About Making Extra Money
• The Importance Of A Cash Budget – This May Be The “Diet” You Need!
• Why You Should Be Careful With 0% Financing Offers
• How I Paid Off Over $100,000 in Debt With the Help of eBay and Garage Sales — And How You Can, Too!
• Things You Can Rent To Make Extra Money
• The Sites & Apps That Can Help You Save & Make Money
• 7 Expenses To Never Put On A Credit Card

Featured question: Is there room for new bloggers to make money?

I’m asked this often. The short answer is: yes — there is plenty of room for new bloggers to earn money. I’ve seen readers start blogs after reading my reports and go on to earn income. I also know bloggers who began later than I did and now earn significantly more.

The internet keeps expanding, and people bring unique perspectives, niches, and monetization strategies. Because of that diversity and ongoing growth, there will always be opportunities for new bloggers.

Plans for the website and future income

Running a business requires goals and a plan. Here are areas I’m focusing on:

• Promote more: I’ve improved promotion efforts and seen results, especially with Pinterest, which drove around 140,000 clicks in November.
• Write a book: I’m working on a book and welcome ideas about topics readers would find helpful.
• Create a product or community: I’m exploring options such as a webinar, an online course, or a Facebook group to better serve readers interested in improving finances or blogging.
• Accept more interviews: I’ll continue participating selectively in interviews to raise visibility.
• Be less shy: Personally, I want to be more confident and visible to help grow the business.

Staff writing

I wrote only one guest or staff article in November and have one planned for December. Staff writing isn’t a major focus right now since I’m prioritizing my own content and business, but I continue to take opportunities occasionally.

Affiliate income

One development: I recently joined the Amazon Associates program now that I have an RV address that works for enrollment. I don’t yet know how much Amazon will contribute, but diversification helps reduce reliance on any single program.

November was my biggest month for affiliate income to date, with approximately $34,000 attributed to affiliate earnings. Payments from many affiliate programs are paid 60–90 days after the month they are earned, so those amounts may appear in future reports.

Bluehost remains my largest affiliate source through the “How To Start A WordPress Blog On Bluehost” guide, but I’m actively diversifying. About $9,000 of November’s affiliate income came from programs other than Bluehost.