Welcome to the October online income report, where I share how I earned money online last month. This report updates my progress and helps me track how my business is doing.
If you’re new here, you might wonder why I publish an income report every month. If you’re already familiar, feel free to skip ahead.
These reports began as an extra income report because initially they focused on earnings from side hustles. At first, I included all income except what I earned at my day job.
I left my day job as a financial analyst in October 2013, and now my monthly reports reflect the different ways I earn a living each month.
Many people ask why I publicly post my income each month. Some think it’s unusual, while others appreciate the transparency. I publish these monthly online income reports for three main reasons:
- Before I discovered blogging and side hustling, I didn’t realize how transformative extra income could be. If others hadn’t shared their income reports, I might never have tried side hustles. By publishing mine, I hope to show the benefits of side hustling and inspire others to improve their financial situation.
- I use the reports to review my performance, learn from mistakes, and identify areas for improvement. They serve as a business journal and a way to measure progress over time.
- I want to demonstrate that earning money from home is possible and legitimate. For those interested in different ways to make money online, I’ve previously compiled a roundup of monthly income bloggers who generously share their results.
I often say life is great now that I work for myself, and I truly mean it. I enjoy waking up each day and appreciate the flexibility my business provides.
These reports also show that you don’t have to hate your job or your life. You can make changes that allow you to enjoy life more—whether that means spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or traveling—without needing to love every aspect of your work.
How was my online income in October?
How was my online income in October?October was another strong month. I’m maintaining a healthy work-life balance while continuing to grow the business.
We’re currently traveling down Highway 101 on the West Coast. Wes cycles while I drive, and I’ve been working from our RV—sometimes on the beach and sometimes in beautiful forests. Being able to run the business from the road is something I never imagined when I started.
When I first became self-employed, things felt chaotic. Now, operations are much more organized, and despite higher income in recent months, I’ve actually been working less. I’ve gotten better at balancing work and life, and it’s paying off.
The business is doing well, and I’m excited about the future. I have many plans and am seeing steady improvement.
In October I earned $33,482 in business income before expenses.
The amount above is for October and is before fees and expenses. Some fees and expenses that reduce that total are roughly $1,700 (rounded), which include virtual assistants/staff writers, technical assistance, newsletter costs, PayPal fees, and similar items. This estimate does not include taxes. After expenses and fees, I made approximately $31,782.
Below are some of my past monthly income reports. I publish an online income update each month; for a full archive, visit my extra income page on the 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 – my monthly online income report (2015)
- How I made $25,138 online in July plus my 4-year blogiversary
Blog news.
Making Sense of Cents continues to be my passion. In October I did several interviews and was pleased with the exposure. I worked ahead and have all my November posts written and scheduled, which feels great.
I’m also working on a book; I’m close to signing a contract and am excited to share more when the time is right.
Pinterest remains a top source of referral traffic. I use Tailwind to schedule and analyze pins, which has saved time and improved traffic. Overall, October traffic increased and I received roughly 350,000 page views.
Top new posts last month:
- Being Your Own Boss – 2 Years Since Becoming Self-Employed
- Why Everyone Should Be Aware Of Their Financial Situation
- The Steps To Take Before You Make The Leap For Self-Employment
- Read This Before You Think About Becoming a Cosigner
- Why Saving Money In Your 20s Is A Good Idea
- Learning How To Survive On A College Budget
- Cut Cable, Use A Digital Antenna, and Save Thousands
- How To Balance Working And Going To College
- Make Money Selling Books – An Easy Side Hustle For Anyone
- The Power Of A No Spend Challenge
Featured Question: Where does blog income come from?
Featured Question: Where does blog income come from?Each month I highlight a reader question. This month’s question—where blog income comes from—is one I’ve received often. If you have a question you’d like featured, leave a comment.
Blog income can come from many sources. If you’re curious about specifics, my article on how to make money blogging explains common methods, but here’s a summary:
- Affiliate marketing: you earn a commission when someone purchases or signs up through your link.
- Sponsored content and advertising: brands pay to place ads or content on your site.
- Display ad networks: you earn money from networks like Google AdSense or other ad providers for impressions and clicks.
- Direct payments: many collaborations pay via PayPal or by check, depending on the partner.
There are many companies and networks willing to pay for blog-related work; the key is building an audience and offering value.
My plans for the website and making money online.
Clear plans and goals keep me motivated. Current focus areas include:
- Promote more: Promotion has improved, and Pinterest alone drove around 135,000 clicks to the blog in October. My goal is 150,000 Pinterest clicks in November.
- Create a book: I’m in the early stages of writing a book. I welcome tips or helpful resources from readers.
- Accept more interviews: I participated in several interviews in October and aim to respond to as many opportunities as possible.
- Be less shy: This is a personal goal for the year; I want to be more outgoing to help the business grow.
Staff writing.
I enjoy staff writing and offer it selectively while prioritizing my own business. In October I wrote three articles for others and have raised my rates, which has improved work-life balance.
Affiliate income.
I earned about $30,000 in affiliate income in October—my largest month for affiliate earnings so far. Much of this income is somewhat passive, allowing me to travel in the RV while still earning.
Most affiliate payments arrive 60–90 days after the activity, so some October earnings will appear in later reports. Bluehost remains my main affiliate source via my WordPress tutorial, but I’ve been diversifying and earned roughly $8,000 from other affiliate programs last month.
Breakdown of payments received in October ($33,482, before expenses):
- Staff writing and website management – $2,900
- Blog coaching and consulting – $790
- Website-related (from the three websites I own: advertising and partnerships) – $10,642
- Affiliate income (Bluehost as main source, plus others like Republic Wireless) – $19,150
- Miscellaneous (not related to blogging and online income) – $0
Keep in mind that as a self-employed person I cover taxes (over 30%), health insurance, and benefits that an employer might normally provide.
Comparisons and 2015 online income total (before taxes):
- Total business income for October: $33,482
- Income in September: $31,030
- Difference: +$2,452
- Total in 2015: $251,027
How was October for you? Are you interested in earning income online? If you’re considering starting a blog, I have a step-by-step tutorial to help you set up a self-hosted WordPress blog affordably; being self-hosted is important if you plan to monetize seriously.