My New Home!

It's been several years in the making, but Fiscally Chic is now at its new home on WordPress! You can find me there at fiscallychic.com.

I'm still working out the kinks and spiffing things up, so let me know if you have any feedback. And don't forget to update you're RSS feed.

Thanks so much for reading along! And come on over to the new blog!

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On Blogging and Running

About a month ago, Lindsay Ostrom of Pinch of Yum was a guest on The Lively Show. I enjoy reading food blogs, but hadn't heard of Pinch of Yum until then. In addition to sharing delicious recipes with gorgeous photography, Pinch of Yum shares their monthly income reports. Their first income report was for August 2011 and the blog made $21.97. In May 2014, Pinch of Yum had net income of over $23,000! Suffice it to say, I've read more of their income reports (and related tips) than recipes ;)

What does this have to do with running? In January 2014's report, Bjork (Lindsay's husband and behind the scenes guy of Pinch of Yum) shared the following mindset for growing a blog:

Be a cross country star, not a tennis star. I love tennis. It was my favorite sport in high school. But I always had a ton of respect for the cross country guys and girls. Not only because of their crazy ability to run long distances, but because of the mindset they had in regards to their performance. With tennis, if you beat your opponent you consider the day a success. With cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success. Your journey of growing your blog will be much more fulfilling if you aim to outperform yourself as opposed to other blogs.

Amen, brother!

Like blogging, I took a bit of an extended maternity leave from running. Sure, I ran a 10K this past October, but I wasn't running consistently. About three months before Monica's birthday, John's sister talked me into running a half marathon. I pulled up a Hal Higdon training plan, dusted off my running shoes, and got to work. The day before Monica's birthday, I ran my first half marathon in over three years. Was is pretty? Not exactly. But I went out there and finished.

Likewise, this past spring, I felt ready to get back into blogging on a more consistent basis. The analogy isn't perfect, but here are a few more thoughts about why blogging is like running:

You have to start somewhere. Whether it's sitting down to write or starting to run after some time off, the hardest part is starting. For running, the hardest part is getting out the door. But once you get going and see your progress and improvement, the momentum encourages you to keep going.

For example, the first recipe (and second blog post!) I shared on Fiscally Chic was for Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes. My photo wasn't fantastic, but it got the job done:

September 2010 - Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes

 

More recently, I shared a recipe for Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes. This picture isn't perfect, but it's exponentially better than the first:

June 2014 - Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes

Over the past 4 years, I've had more opportunities to bake cupcakes, photograph cupcakes, and blog about said cupcakes. That's not to say there haven't been a few hiccups along the way. While the following cupcakes tasted great, the photographs were less than stellar (don't laugh too much):

 

February 2011 - Banana Split Cupcakes

Ugh...I know. In blogging and running, you might have a few setbacks, like writer's block or a knee injury. You can either let it get you down or use it as a learning experience and moment of growth.

 

In addition to having more experience, my blogging and running has improved (or become a little easier) as I've obtained the correct tools. For blogging, that would be getting a better camera (and knowing how to use it). For baking cupcakes, that includes finally buying a pastry bag and piping tips. For running, it's having a proper pair of running shoes, iPhone armband, and our BOB jogging stroller.

 

Finally, sometimes I need to adjust my expectations and benchmarks of running and blogging. Going back to Bjork's point, "with cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success." With my first post-baby half marathon, I couldn't compare that performance to my previous personal record. This time around, I didn't have as much time to train. As with blogging, there are only so many hours in the day and I think it'll be a good week if I post once or twice. That sure beats my current track record of posting once or twice a month!

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Three Years of Blogging

Hi, friends! It's a day late, but yesterday marked three years of blogging at Fiscally Chic. Heck, it's anniversary month around these parts. In addition to Fiscally Chic's birthday, last week was the second anniversary of my Etsy shop and Friday will be our fifth wedding anniversary!

At my second blogging anniversary, I wanted to focus on the "big wins" of creating wealth, organizing your finances, and writing about other financial moves that give a bigger return on your time investment than cutting back on lattes. While I succeeded with posts like financially preparing for a baby, buying a new car, and negotiating cable and Internet bills, I also noticed a surge in traffic on my DIY posts. The biggest being sewing curtains with a hidden tab top. Is that something you want to see more of?

A new subject matter also creeped into my blogging line-up this past year: pregnancy and babies! I don't plan on turning Fiscally Chic into a mommy blog, but Monica is a huge part of my life now and it's only natural to occassionally blog about baby-related things.

That being said, this coming year will be more about setting priorities and figuring out how to balance everything: family, personal time, work, blogging, my Etsy shop, and the like. So what does that mean for Fiscally Chic? I'll be taking my time to write quality posts and be gentle on myself if I only have time to blog once a week.

To help celebrate Anniversary Month, I'm having a sale in the shop! Use coupon code "ANNIVERSARY15" for 15% off all purchases through September 15, 2013.
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Goodbye, Google Reader

As I'm sure you all know by now, Google Reader is going away this summer (bah!). A quick search will land you a bajillion news stories and blog posts offering alternative RSS feed aggregators. Lisa at elembee offers her suggestions, as well as how to eliminate Internet clutter. By the way, Lisa has a great series called "Blogkeeping" with all sorts of helpful blogging tips.

As a quick reference, here's how you can follow my blog with Bloglovin, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.
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Would you like to work with Fiscally Chic?

Practically one year ago, I discussed blog monetization: different ways to earn money through blogging, what I've done to monetize Fiscally Chic, and future plans to earn moolah. The post was written in December 2011 and I said I might start experimenting with ads on my sidebar in January 2012.

Guess what, people? It's now September 2012 and I'm finally making a more concerted effort at creating ad space on my sidebar. Yes, I've sold an ad to my family's custom apparel and promotional products business. But what about your business? Do you have an Etsy shop you'd like to promote?

Over the weekend, I created an account with Passionfruit Ads to help with the whole sponsorship process. I heard about them through Blog Bruch and love it so far! The Sponsorship Brunch recap explained the advantages of Passionfruit as such:

1. Steady income throughout the month versus only being paid once a month
2. Sponsors can buy ads anytime
3. Easy to understand fees
4. Streamlined setup:

a. Set up your sponsors, prices and sizes of ads
b. Install Ad Shop
c. Place your ads however you would like
d. Passionfruit takes care of the nitty gritty after that

If nothing else, I'm on board for the streamlined setup! I also appreciate that there is an ad review process because I want to be sure that any sponsor of Fiscally Chic reflects my personal style and beliefs and will be a good fit for all of you.

If you're interested in sponsoring Fiscally Chic, or even just want to see my nifty ad categories made with Passionfruit, swing by my updated Sponsor page.

Muchas Gracias!

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Two Years of Fiscally Chic

Guess who what turns two today? Fiscally Chic!

It's hard to believe that this is post #285. In the past 284 posts, I've written about saving money, making money, refinancing, recipes, decorating, style, getting cable, and more.

Last year, I shared some interesting stats from my first year of blogging. More than anything, this anniversary is making me think about how I want to approach the blog over the next 2 years (and then some). I don't read very many personal finance blogs, but the ones I'm really drawn to are entertaining and geared towards earning more instead of cutting back on lattes. (I'm looking at you, I Will Teach You to be Rich)

Taking my cue from Ramit, I want to focus on the "big wins." Sure I'll still share small money saving tips, but I'd rather write about creating wealth, organizing your finances, and other financial moves that give you the most bang for your buck. (Or ROI for the financial nerds in the house) And you know I'll still be writing about cupcakes, homebrewing, and attempts at decorating our house :)

How does that sound?

Whether you've been reading Fiscally Chic for two weeks or two years, I want to give each and every one of you a big hug and heartfelt "thank you!"

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Blogger Blitzing!

As you may have seen on a few other Chicago blogs, Blogger Blitz Chicago was this past Sunday. It was organized by the gracious {av} and hosted at Market Bar in the West Loop. And it was a blast!

Instagrammed (@fiscallychic) goodies. Including note cards from The Scribble Pad.

To be completely honest, I was a little intimidated going to the event. Sure, I've met a few of the ladies before, but some of them just seem to have it. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but sometimes I wonder if I have it. I was never the popular girl in school, so I can get a little jealous of bloggers' online successes and their seemingly amazing lives. Do you relate?

Picture from Mariel's Window

Fortunately, every gal I met is down to earth and super friendly. Like a page out of a gossip mag, talking with everyone was a little bit like "celebrities bloggers, they're just like us!" We have 9 to 5 jobs that don't involve social media, we have to look for new apartments when rent gets too high, we shop at the grocery store (instead of beautiful year-round farmer's markets), we sit in traffic, we complain about the heat, and so on.

Alison and me

So if you're looking for a few good reads, I highly recommend these lovely ladies:

Alison {long distance loving}

Alaina live creating yourself

Amy Goodies and Besties

Cathy (me!) Fiscally Chic

Chris Chubbette Tales

Dana five30three

Danielle breakfast at toast

Diane a spot of whimsy

Erin Living in Yellow

Hannah A Big Little Life

Jennifer Darling Notes

Jillian (though she missed b/c she's now a Mrs!) cornflake dreams

Julia The Urban Slant

Kat A Girl & Her Food

Mariel Mariel's Window (she posted lots of good photos!)

Mary Little Bit of Class, Little Bit of Sass

Melissa Inspiration and Rough Drafts

Paige Little Nostalgia

Stephanie bourbon and glitter

Susan a little ray of sunshine

Taylor The Daily Tay

Zoe Style Foodie

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We have a Winner!

I know...

It's Monday. Everybody's favorite.

To get the week started right, how about some of my favorite peanut butter chocolate chip M&M cookies? Decked out in their finest pastel M&M's. Naturally.

And let's not forget the Blade Buddy giveaway!

The random number generator has spoken and we have a winner!

Congrats Manda! I'll be in contact with you.

Last, but not least. Mother's Day is coming up soon! I'd share what I got for my Mom, but I know she reads the blog (Hi, Mom!). Instead, I'll share Meagan's super idea. She's getting her Mom this Mother's Day gift box from Rachel of Elephantine and Mignon Kitchen Co. Love it!

And if you want to make your Mom a personalized card, Treat* (formerly TinyPrints Greeting Cards) is offering one free greeting card now through Mother's Day! Use coupon code "FREETREAT"

Hope this helped make your Monday a little brighter!

*Treat is a Fiscally Chic awesome affilitate.

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Award Season

{Have you checked out my giveaway yet? There's still time to enter!}

I know the major Hollywood award season is over, but that doesn't prevent bloggers from sharing awards! Recently, Melissa shared the the Liebster Award with me. (Thanks, Melissa!)

“This award we’ve discovered is given to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite.’”

I learned of Melissa's blog, Inspiration and Rough Drafts, through a college roommate who knew Melissa from home. Melissa and I started our blogs around the same time, so it's fun to see how we've "grown up" as bloggers. Plus, Melissa recently started her freelance writing business, Melrose Street Custom Content, which is super exciting!

As part of passing on the Liebster love, I'd like to recognize the following ladies and thank them for supporting Fiscally Chic.

Stephanie of The Rest is Still Unwritten...

Stephanie and I were set up on a "blind date" and never looked back. We met up for coffee when she still lived in Chicago and we became fast friends. It turns out we had all sorts of things in common: She's married to Jon, I'm married to John. She's Catholic, I'm Catholic. She was at a career crossroad, I was at a career crossroad. And so it went. Now Stephanie is in California and about to start a new job. Good luck!

Helena of Bye, Bye Bitters and SweeterCPA

 

Helena and I are Big 4 survivors accounting buddies. She found me through a MML contributor post when I was talking about changing jobs. Helena just changed jobs herself by starting SweeterCPA! (It seems like I'm drawn to job-changers.) You should stop by because she's funny, smart, and loves her cats :)

Rebecca of The Bake and Brew

Rebecca is a girl after my own heart. Craft beer reviews and recipes for tasty baked goods. Let's just say that I read her review of New Belgium's Lips of Faith: Kick and made John call around to different liquor stores to find it. And let's not forget about her gorgeous photography! 

Winners, if you wish to participate, please keep the love going and refer to the instructions below.

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 3 to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value (It’s a great way to get to word out there about other blogs!!)
4. Leave a comment on the 3 to 5 blogs to let them know that they have received this award.

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Blogging and Taxes

It's that time of year again! Time to file our taxes!

Is this how you feel about doing your taxes? It's OK. Accounting and monkeys aren't everybody's favorites.

Since many of you lovely readers are also bloggers, and it's approaching the tax filing deadline in the US, I thought I would share a few tax tips for bloggers. Keep in mind that everybody's tax situation is different, so you should consult with your accountant or the IRS regarding specific questions.

Reporting Income

First up, you should be reporting all sources of income from your blog. It doesn't matter whether your blog is just a hobby or your full time job. (More about that at the end.) The IRS wants to know about everything. I previously wrote about monetization, so you might want to swing by that post to jog your memory of different sources of income.

Unless you're rolling in the dough, like greater than $10 million of average annual gross receipts worth of dough, you'll be reporting income and expenses using the cash method. So when you receive payment, it's income. When you pay for something, it's an expense. Capice?

Blogging Expenses

On the postive side, you can offset your blogging income with blog-related expenses. The following are several examples of blogging expenses. However, if some of these expenses are also used for personal use (like Internet access) you should only deduct the portion that actually relates to blogging. For example, unless you're a fashion blogger, time spent online shopping shouldn't be deducted.

Internet-related Expenses
Blogging requires the Internet, duh! And while having a blog is fairly inexpensive, there are still some items you can expense:

• Hosting fees through Bluehost or Go Daddy. I'm just on Blogger, so I don't have hosting fees.
• Domain name registration fees. For example, when I purchased fiscallychic.com
• Internet access fees. This could be your Internet at home, access through your iPad, paid wireless hotspots at the airport, etc. 
• Font, photo, or music downloads for your blog. I know of several photography websites that have music playing in the background.

Equipment

Blogging also requires a computer (or something to access the Internet)! Think about deducting a portion of:

• Your computer, iPad, or iPhone 
• Your fancy new camera. Or even your point and shoot. And don't forget web and hand-held video cameras.
• Software such as Photoshop or TurboTax.

Making it Pretty
You have a computer, the Internet, and a blog. What about making your blog pretty? If you hired someone to create a logo, header, or custom design for your blog, you might have a deduction.

Promotions
Now that you have a blog, it's time to get the word out! There are several potentional blogging expenses that relate to promotions:

• Purchasing ad space on another blog.
• Having a self-sponsored giveaway on your blog. Like when I purchased and gave away a $50 gift certificate to One Sydney Road.
• Giving away some of your products or services on another blog. For example, I gave away two pillow covers on Stephanie's blog.
• SEO services.

Learning, Travel, Meals, and Entertainment
These days, there are all sorts of great blogging conferences and ways to learn about blogging. I went to the Financial Blogger Conference this past year or you may have been to Alt Summit. If so, you can deduct some of the following expenses :

• Blogging conference, e-book, or online class fees. Also keep track of books, magazines, and online subscriptions that relate to your blogging topic.
• Transportation to said blogging conference. Or going to a local blogger meet-up. This could be on a plane, train, or automobile.
• Hotel charges while at said blogging conference.
• 50% of dining charges that relate to your blog. Think about dinners while at a conference, coffee dates, etc.

Office Stuff
Did you buy new things for your office? How about getting a new desk, chair, or light? Don't forget to keep track of the little stuff like business cards, file folders, letterhead, envelopes, Post-it notes, etc.

Professional Stuff

I'm a CPA, so I keep up my Illinois license and am a member of the AICPA. Several other industries have professional associations and licenses. If fees for these organizations relate to your blog, they may be deductible.

Other Stuff

This is a great blurb I read from 6th Street Design School's Alt Summit recap: "Caroline Devoy spoke [about tax and accounting for bloggers]. Basically you can write off what you blog about if you feel it is promoting your business or is a business expense. You need to be careful though as to how you label things. Make sure you call them 'Creative Supplies.' "

Here are some other one-off expenses:

• Hiring a photographer for headshots or to take pictures of your products
• Postage to mail invitations to blogger events or to ship items to a giveaway winner.
• Post office box (if you use one solely for your blogging business)  
• Professional services. Maybe you hired a lawyer or accountant to create a LLC or file your tax return. 

The Bottom Line

The kicker is how much you can deduct. If your blog is just a hobby, losses from blogging may not be used to offset other income (like your full time job). So if you earned $500 through blogging and spent $700 on blogging expenses, you can only net to $0. $500 would be reported as hobby income and $500 would be claimed as an itemized deduction on Schedule A.

But if your blog is considered a business, you can report a net loss on your tax return. Using the example above, you can report a net loss of ($200). Sole proprietors file a Schedule C.

But what's considered a business by the IRS?

• Does the time and effort put into blogging indicate an intention to make a profit? Do you treat your blog like a business? Tracking your income and expenses, creating a separte bank account, and registering as a business are all ways to show your intention of treating your blog as a business
• Do you depend on income from your blog?
• If there are losses, are they due to circumstances beyond the your control or did they occur in the start-up phase of your blog? Think about your initial design, domain name registration, purchasing Photoshop, etc.
• Have you changed methods of operation to improve profitability? For example, have you increased ad prices? Or found other ways to monetize your blog?
• Do you or your advisors have the knowledge needed to carry on the blog as a successful business? If you write about fashion, are you a stylist? Have you taken additional blogging classes to improve your blog?
• Have you made a profit in similar activities in the past?
• Does your blog make a profit in some years? The IRS presumes that an activity is carried on for profit if it makes a profit during at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year.
• Can you expect to make a profit in the future from the appreciation of assets used in the activity? In laymen's terms, are you growing your readership, creating new content, and/or creating new products (like an e-book) related to your blog?

Keep in mind that these are all considerations of whether your blog is a business or just a hobby. One question will not make or break it. Think about your responses to all of the answers before making the distinction.

Also, your blog might not be a business on its own, but it might support another business of yours. If you sell a product, your blog might be used as a way to promote that product. So blog related expenses might be part of your overall promotional expenses.

I hope you found this helpful! I know that everybody's tax situation is different, so you should consult with your accountant or the IRS if you have specific questions. And if you don't think you'll be able to file your 2011 taxes by April 17, 2012, you can always file an extension!

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A Random Friday Post

Lela Rose carnival sheath dress, Kate Spade earrings,
SeaAndStoneStudio clutch, Christian Louboutin neon pumps

I know this Friday's Fancies outfit is more dreamer than realistic, but this Lela Rose dress is too pretty to not share! Who's with me to try to figure out how to DIY something like this???

And that clutch is from one of my new favorite Etsy shops, SeaAndStoneStudio. Jen hand dyes all the textiles using the Japanese shibori technique to create beautiful scarves, clutches, and pillows. I love all of the calming blues, greens, and aquas.

How else are things going with you?

This week has been a little nuts (haven't they all?) and I'm feeling a little moody and PMS-y....ugh. Thankfully, I have some evenings with friends to look forward to!

Jess LC FLEA flamingo bracelet

In other news, my girl Jess just launched her newest line, FLEA! I've already snatched up on of the pink bracelets and can't wait for it to come in the mail. More importantly, she's written some amazing posts about imperfections and being more authentic on our blogs. They're definitely must reads! 

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

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Color Lover

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is off to a lovely start. I was surprised with breakfast in bed by John which is the perfect start to the weekend :)

I would have posted this week's Friday's Fancies yesterday, but we were getting the house ready for the appraiser! So far, things are moving in a positive direction for the mortgage refinancing. More to come in the next few weeks.

Gap neon ruffle cardigan and jeans, Kate Spade All Aboard studs,
J. Crew bubble necklace, Hunter boots

So back to Friday's Fancies. This week, the suggested theme was to create an outfit based on the color you're crushing on. At this moment, I don't think I'm craving a particular color. It's a bit gray in Chicago, so I enjoy an overall jolt of color in my winter wardrobe. Neon is currently enjoying a moment in the spotlight, so I decided to create an outfit around bright and happy colors. And yes, it's realistic because we finally had our first real snow of the season. My Hunter boots are getting ready for a heavy rotation.

Beyond the outfit, I wanted to share a quick PSA. Please back up your blogs! I heard that reminder at FINCON11, but never got around to backing mine up until a few weeks ago. And then {av} lost Long Distance Loving for a grueling 28 hours because Blogger thought her blog was spam. It's now back up and running, but she learned the hard way to make regular back-ups. I would never wish that on anybody, so please make back-ups!

As for how, I have the newer version of Blogger. Simply go to Settings > Other. Then click on "Export blog" under Blog tools. Then click "Download." This should save all of the coding for your template, posts, comments, etc. Chelsea has instructions if you have the older version of Blogger and a commenter also explains how to back up with WordPress. It's super easy and will save you loads of heartache.

Have a fantastic rest of the weekend!

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2011 Reader Survey Results

Hi to all you lovely readers! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. We're in the process of refinancing our mortgage, so it was pretty fantastic for us. Plus, I recorded my first video to share the results of the 2011 Fiscally Chic reader survey. Here it is for your viewing pleasure!

If for some reason you can't watch the video (maybe you're at work) here are some of the highlights:

• I'll be leading a personal finance webcast at the end of January or early February, so this video is a little practice in front of the camera. More details to come!
• Based on survey results, a majority of you are 20-something females in the US. You mostly found Fiscally Chic through guest posts and have been reading the blog for 6 months or less.
• Your favorite posts to read relate to personal finance and saving money.
• You'd like to see more posts about DIY and craft projects, personal finance, and recipes.

There are also some survey results not discussed in the video. (Mostly because I forgot to talk about them.) The very last question of the survey asked if there was anything else you'd like to add, questions or comments. Most were along the lines of "I love your blog" or "Keep up the good work" (thanks!!!). There were a also few comments that warrant a response:

I would like information on being green and saving money without being a hippy.

You got it! In the video, I said that I have an upcoming post about plumbing. This will cover all three: being green, saving money, and not being a hippy :)

I love the recipes and pictures of the home and the outfits- but the white dress you just chose was not fiscally chic in price!

This comment relates to an outfit I created for a Friday's Fancies post. The purpose of {av's} Friday's Fancies is to dream big and be creative. Create an outfit that inspires you, but might be a little out of your reach. So based on this reader's comment, would you prefer if I created more realistic outfits? Something you might be able to afford?

Thanks again for your participation! Have a great week!
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2012 Goals: Financial

Welcome to 2012! 2011 was a big year with buying a house and I'm sure 2012 will have quite a few tricks up its sleeves too. To help hold myself accountable for my 2012 goals, I want to share some of them with you.

And based on preliminary results from the reader survey (have you taken it yet?) you're all really interested in the personal finance and savings posts. Therefore, I thought I would start with some of my/our financial goals for 2012.

Christmas present!

Save, save, save!
While 2011 was a good year financially, especially with my new job (10% pay increase!), we seem to be spending money on the house all.the.time! I know most of these items are rare purchases (snow blower, furniture, plasma TV, etc.), but they still put a sizable dent in our pocketbook. So 2012 will be the year of diligent savings and intentional spending.

We already made great progress on this goal by talking to our bank about refinancing our mortgage. I thought 4.875% was a great rate, but we might be able to get down to 4 or 4.125%! More to come on refinancing in the next few weeks.

Marimekko pink and white Lumimarja pillow cover

Create more moolah
Another way to offset an increase in spending is to create more income. My Etsy shop is one way we're doing that. While my shop was only open 4 months, I had $1,000+ in gross revenue! Not too shabby!

In 2012, I'd like to increase my gross revenue to $5,000. This seems a little ambitious, but I know I can do it! Based on 2011, that's about $417 and 12 sales per month.

I hope your 2012 is off to a fantastic start! Are you setting any goals for the year?
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First Annual Fiscally Chic Reader Survey

Hi, friends! It's finally time for the first annual Fiscally Chic reader survery! As you may remember from my experience at the Financial Blogger Conference, many presenters suggested sending out a reader survey as a way to get to know all of you, what's working, and what needs room for improvement.

So here's your chance! Let me know what you like about Fiscally Chic and things that need a little work. Are there posts or areas that are lacking? Want to see videos? Do you have a burning question that needs to be answered? Chances are, someone else has the same question.

I put together a quick survey with only 8 questions. You should be able to fill it out in 5 or 10 minutes. The survey will close the evening of Wednesday January 4, 2012.

Click here to take the survey.

Thanks in advance for your participation! Your feedback will help make 2012 the best year ever for Fiscally Chic!
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The Big M: Monetization

Today is all about one of the stickier topics in blogging: monetization. Deciding whether to profit off one's blog is a personal decision and I've slowly worked on monetizing Fiscally Chic over the past year. I'm extremely selective about what I air on the blog and want to be sure not to spam you. I'm not rolling in the dough, but it helps pay for my domain name. As my Nana would say, it's chewing gum money.

Grace over at Design*Sponge wrote an epic series about online etiquette and ethics based on a panel discussion at Alt Summit. Part 2 is all about about blogging and the moolah. I highly recommend the read if you have some time.

Google Adsense

Back to my monetization journey. I slowly started with Google Adsense. Nothing crazy, just an ad or two on the homepage. Let's just say I'm nowhere near the initial payout of $100. I still run those ads, but am sure to filter the types of ads I show on the blog.

Product Reviews

About 9 months ago, I was approached about my first product review. You might remember my review  (ETA - removed due to a request by Whooga) about Whooga ugg boots. (By the way, I'm wearing them as I type this post.) Since then, I've received more inquiries, but have turned down a majority of them. Do you want to hear about hair extensions? Probably not. I have no need for them, so I couldn't properly review them. On the positive side, I'm currently reviewing a few more relevant products and will share my experience in the next few weeks.

The challenge with product reviews is balancing meaningful feedback while looking out for the readers' interests. As I'm sure you know, the FTC requires bloggers who review products to disclose any connection with advertisers, including the receipt of free products, and whether or not they were paid in any way by advertisers. So yes, I received the Whooga's for free.

Affiliate Programs

More recently, I joined some affiliate programs. Particularly through ShareASale. These are when a blogger promotes a product or a service in exchange for a commission should that product be purchased or lead generated. Bloggers also need to disclose when they're being compensated through affiliate programs. Amazon has their affiliate program, but it's not available in Illinois...boo! Your favorite companies and products might also have affiliate programs.

Here are a few of the affiliates I currently promote on my sidebar (I'm being compensated!):

Michelle of When I Grow Up Coach created an amazeballs creative career change workbook. I purchased it when I was grappling with my job change. She also has a package that combines the workbook with an hour coaching session. I totally recommend it if you're not sure what you want to be when you grow up. Even if you're not looking to make a change, Michelle has all sorts of great life coaching advice on her blog.

I first learned about Prosper at FINCON11. Per their website, Prosper is "the market leader in peer-to-peer lending—a popular alternative to traditional loans and investing options. They cut out the middleman to connect people who need money with those who have money to invest...so everyone prospers!"

Prosper's statistics show actual investor returns averaged 10.69% since July 15, 2009. Borrowers can get fixed rates ranging from 6.59% to 35.84% depending on their credit history and application. Borrowers receive their loan after it's fully funded by investors and passes Prosper's verification process.

John and I have recently invested a small amount of money through Prosper. We're able to select our specific investments (risk, time horizon, etc.), spreading our funds over several loan listings. I've seen listings to help consolidate debt, pay medical expenses, pay for a wedding, and starting business. As our confidence grows, we'll probably invest a little more, diversifying our overall portfolio.

Most recently, I joined the Tiny Prints program. You can order invitations, greeting cards (Christmas is fast approaching!), wedding invitations, photobooks, and more. They have some great gifts if you're running low on ideas. For example, what about a custom return address stamp for someone who just moved into a new house?

And to make things easy for you, here's the page with Tiny Prints' latest coupons. For example, you can save 20% off and enjoy free Standard Delivery or free USPS First Class Mail Shipping when you spend $49 or more using the code 20HOLDEC. Ends 12/8/11!

I've had some moderate success with affiliate programs, but it obviously depends on whether someone clicks on the link and purchases.

Products

One of the primo monetization strategies is creating and selling your own product. Like Michelle's workbook. I'm a tad on my way with the Etsy shop and have greater plans down the road. This will build on my accounting background and Etsy experience.

Paid Ads

I may start experimenting with paid ads on my sidebar in January 2012. I'll let you know when the time gets closer.

Etc

Other methods include sponsored posts and text link advertisements. Those aren't really my style, so I don't accept those inquiries. Though I'd be happy to offer giveaways for you lovely readers!

Disclosures

No matter your monetization strategy, it's imperative to disclose all of the necessary information. This fact was drilled into my head at FINCON11. You don't want your affiliate programs or Google Adsense accounts shut down for not having the required policies and disclosures. That's why I have a new page devoted to disclosures. There are my terms of service, privacy policy, and FTC sponsorship disclosures. You can create your own disclosure policy here.

Do you monetize?
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Think of the Savings: Thanks, Social Media!

Thanks to the magic of social media, I've received some pretty cool things in the mail recently. Here's a big hug and "thank you" to the following folks!

First, I'd like to tip my hat to Meagan from Mo Pie, Please. I won her giveaway with a lovely, little shop. I picked the Anouk necklace in silver and it's really quite lovely. The necklace is really versatile and I've worn it to work and on the weekend. By the way, how cute is that packaging?

I first learned about The Olive Orchard several years ago at the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland with my Mom. The Olive Orchard had a booth and I picked up a bottle of their hot red pepper olive. It adds a nice a kick to whatever you're cooking. The Olive Orchard was giving away a few bottles of their Greek EVOO on their Facebook page and I was one of the lucky winners. I can't wait to make a salad with it!

Finally, I recently started following CLIF Bar on Twitter. I'm a big fan of their Builder's Bars (particularly mint chocolate) and would eat one before a long training run. CLIF Bar was giving away samples of their Peppermint Stick bar and mine came in the mail last weekend. I love all the different flavors of CLIF Bars, and the Peppermint Stick is no exception.

Want in on the giveaway action???

Stephanie of The Rest is Still Unwritten recently hit 100 followers and is hosting her first giveaway! I'm sponsoring the giveaway and am offering two of my 18x18 Marimekko Berry Ombre pillow covers.

Swing by Stephanie's blog for a chance to win (through Wednesday November 2). There's also a bonus in the post if you've been eyeing anything in the Shop.
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Recap of the Financial Blogger Conference

Oh, boy! The Financial Blogger Conference! If you ever have the opportunity to attend a conference or local meet-up, I totally recommend it! It's been over a day and I'm still riding the high. It's like coming home after a weekend retreat. I'm inspired and a bit overwhelmed by the ideas in my head. I have pages filled in a notebook and could sit here all day writing about it. Instead, here's a highlight of the things I learned from the conference.

Put the readers first

First and foremost, readers are first. That's you! J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly opened up the conference with this very point. We don't blog for ourselves. We blog to help readers. Our blogs should offer actual advice and be a resource.

Since blogs are for the readers, we should be reaching out to the readers and asking them what they want. Really get to know your audience. Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich said we need to "stop preaching and start listening." I know I'm guilty of going on and on about myself...."I, I, I, me, me, me, blah, blah, blah, look how amazing I am." That gets pretty old after a while. Many presenters suggested sending out a reader survey, so I'm going to put one together over the next few weeks. Start thinking of things you like about Fiscally Chic and things that need a little work. Are there posts or areas that are lacking? Do you have some burning question that needs to be answered? Chances are, someone else has the same question.

Conference organizer, Philip Taylor of PT Money

Inspiring
Personal finance bloggers are extremely smart and inspiring. The conference was like a live Twitter feed or the "best of the best" of my Google Reader. Many of bloggers are documenting their journey out of debt. Others are sharing the ways they've created something out of nothing and have become quite successful. Not only are they bloggers, but they are mothers, fathers, and friends doing something they love. I've always heard you should surround yourself by people you aspire to be and this is a great group to be a part of.

At the same time, many of the speakers challenged us to do more. Be EPIC! In the words of Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income, "We know what we need to do, so why aren't we doing it?" Ramit also pointed out that "if you're doing the right thing, the money will come."

The importance of social media
Social media is a way to connect with readers on another level. In keeping with "Put the readers first," it's another way to engage your readers. Personal finance can be extremely dry, so sharing your story (and others') can add a little color. Plus, you don't know which method of communication works for someone. Twitter is perfect for the short updates. (Speaking of, check out the #FINCON11 hashtag for more highlights of the conference.) Tumblr and Flickr are great for sharing pictures. Maybe you prefer Facebook. That means a Fiscally Chic FB page is in the future.

Me, Amber, and Krystal

Fun!
Going to the conference was also super fun! I loved meeting some of the bloggers I follow and meeting new people! I spent a bit of time getting to know Amber of Blonde and Balanced and Krystal of Give Me Back My Five Bucks. There have been talks of collaborations, so I'll keep you posted.

Swag
You can't have a conference without a little swag! Unfortunately, I didn't win either iPad drawing. But I did win some tasty Tim Tam's from Kylie Ofiu. They're chocolate covered cookie sandwiches from Australia. I picked the dark chocolate. She also gave me a copy of her book 365 Ways to Make Money to review. One of my other favorite items is the right brain/left brain note pad. And the snap bracelet :)

As I said, I have page full of ideas for future posts. These will be spread out over the next month so you're not overwhelmed with blogging advice. And don't forget to start thinking of feedback!

Have you ever been to a blogger conference?

If you're in Chicago, Jess is having a "Business in the City" meet-up on Tuesday from 6-7pm at Next Door. Check out MML for more details.
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It's Time for the Financial Blogger Conference!

Green Tourmaline earrings, Michael Kors watch, J. Crew tweed loafers, J. Crew Factory tweed blazer and belt, Emersonmade blouse, Gap jeans, Jess LC iPad case, Apple iPad

As you may remember from a while back, there's a financial blogger conference being held in Chicago. Well, kids, this weekend is the weekend! There's a welcome reception on Friday, with events and sessions all day Saturday and part of Sunday. I seriously can't wait! That's why this week's Friday's Fancies is along the lines of casual business casual. I was thinking about an outfit that is professional, comfortable, and shows a bit of my style. And I would love to have an iPad (plus Jess LC's iPad case!) to take notes from the speakers, but I don't think that's in the cards.

Financial Blogger Conference 2011 from Philip Taylor on Vimeo.

Back to the conference, my brain is about to explode with excitement! I'm looking forward to meeting other bloggers; learning about blogging, monitization, and promotions; and having all sorts of fun! I'll be sure to share new ideas and thoughts when I'm back next week.

If you're just visiting Fiscally Chic for the first time, welcome! This is where I blog about "saving money with style" two or three times a week. I also post recipes, talk about running, and share other things that inspire me. We just bought a house, so decorating and home-related things seem to be the theme du jour. If this is your first time here, I encourage you to make yourself at home and take a look around. Here's a little more about me and about Fiscally Chic. If you're looking for the cupcakes, they hang out with the other recipes.

Friday's are devoted to dreaming big with a Friday's Fancies post, as hosted by {long distance loving}.

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