Cash Money: $7,230 in June Income, Blog Updates, and Goals

Cash Money $7,230 in June Income Blog Updates and Goals - picture of sticky note with Goals written on it attached to notebook with coffee and keyboard

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Good morning, Club Thrifty enthusiasts!

If you read my blog, you’ve probably noticed that I never post any specific income numbers.  I stay pretty vague most of the time and I generally don’t tell people how much cash money I bring in.  I’ve been hesitant to do so for several reasons:

  • Since I am not anonymous, people I know actually read my blog
  • The majority of my income is from freelance writing and I didn’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that all of my income is from my blog
  • It made me feel very vulnerable

Well, that’s about to change….starting NOW.  From now on, I’m going to post a cash money income update at the middle of each month detailing my income and expenses from the month before.  This is so exciting, right?  Of course it is!  So, without further adieu, the total amount of money that I grossed as a self-employed goddess in June was……*drumroll, please*

$7,230

This total includes all of the money that I made from my various streams of income:

  • Credit Card Sales
  • Consulting
  • Freelance writing
  • Affiliate advertising

Like I’ve mentioned many times before, the majority of my income is from freelance writing, not my blog.  And since this is my gross income, please remember that I haven’t handed a chunk over to Uncle Sam quite yet.   It is, however, the grand total of my income after expenses.  Thankfully, my expenses are pretty weak.  I basically wear pajamas and I use the two computers that I already own.  I don’t even have a printer so there’s no need for paper or pens or anything else.  Here are the expenses that I deducted from that amount:

  • Staff Writing: $180
  • Blog Hosting: $12
  • Internet $35.50

I had a great month and I’m pretty darn stoked about it.  However, I think that this month was exceptional and I doubt that I’ll make that much again.  There are several factors that made the stars align in terms of income in June.  First, I was exceptionally busy with freelance writing projects.  And second, I don’t count income until it’s actually in my account.  Therefore, some of June’s income was actually from the month before (I still grossed about $5200 in May).  Anyway, I had several monthly goals in mind when I decided to quit my job on May 1st.  Here is what I had hoped for:

  • Gross at least $4000 per month to replace my income from my full-time job
  • Exercise at least once per day
  • Eat healthier and continue juicing fruits and vegetables
  • Spend more quality time with my kids
  • Cook most meals at home
  • Be a cooler, nicer, and less-stressed version of myself

Fortunately, I left all of those goals in the dust last month and July isn’t looking so shabby either.  And since our living expenses (mortgage, utilities, groceries, daycare, insurance, gas, miscellaneous) are about $3000 per month, I’m easily covering all of our expenses on my own.  Our goal is for me to continue covering all of our expenses while Greg works on his new career.  Then once Greg starts bringing in some cash money, our plan is to save or invest everything that he brings in.  That sounds like a decent plan, am I right?

Regardless, working from home has completely altered my life outlook.  I have a lot more free time and am much, much happier as a result.  I get to spend more quality time with my kids instead of just “going through the motions” only to fall in a giant heap of regret after working 70-80 hours per week every single week.  There are, however, a few things that I really miss about my old job:

<insert awkward silence>

Well, maybe not. 

So, how did your month go?  Did you meet your income goals in June?  What are your goals for July?  Please share by commenting below.

 

 

 

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96 Comments

  1. Great work! That will be awesome to put all of Greg’s income into savings. I’m already pretty jealous.

    1. Well, remember that his new job is 100 percent commission. So he hasn’t made any money yet!

  2. Keep it up, Holly. Pretty soon my favorite Cash Money super stars will be Birdman and… Holly.

  3. Thanks for sharing the details…your posts are always so encouraging. I do have one question. You said when Greg starts rolling in the dough that your plans are to save or invest all of it…But what about killing your mortgage? Where does that fit in? I just have this feeling that you’re still planning to keep on course with that. Thanks, Holly, and keep up the good work!

    1. Yes, of course!

      My husband is starting a new 100 percent commission job this month so we did not pay extra on our mortgage last month or this month.

      However, we will resume once he starts getting a paycheck which should be in August!

  4. Congrats on doing so well income-wise! I definitely had a great June and July is looking pretty good so far. I appreciate you mentioning my post, and I thought your mention of what you miss about your old job was hilarious 😛

    1. Haha!

      What’s funny is that I was actually trying to come up with something and couldn’t!

  5. Great job!

    DH got his LLC paperwork in the mail yesterday, so he’s going to start networking to drum up business in earnest today, I think.

    1. Sweet!!! I’m sure that he’s going to do awesome!

  6. Holy Great Money, Batman! What a great month. You can buy some new pajamas with that kind of coin….

    1. I actually need some new pajamas come to think of it!

  7. Big congrats, Holly!!! You’re doing wonderfully, on all of your goals. 🙂 SO, how did you get your freelancing gigs? What’s the best way to start looking for them?

    1. My situation is unique because I work as a contributor for several websites that are not blogs.

      I know that some people find jobs on elance!

  8. Really like the goals Holly especially the exercising and spending time with the kids….oh and making the $7k plus isnt bad either!!! Congrats on a great month. I would really like a break down if you don’t mind like how much is from the blog vs staff writing etc. $4k per month I think is very doable and when Greg starts raking in the dough you guys will be rocking.

    1. I will try to break it down further next month! Everything I make gets lumped into one spreadsheet and bank account currently and I haven’t done a great job at categorizing my income. More than half of it is from freelance writing, though!

  9. Thanks for the mention! And glad that you posted this! 🙂

    1. Hey, I’m glad to help. I am nosy too….I love reading other people’s numbers!!!

  10. That’s freaking awesome Holly! And even better that it looks like you can bank what Greg will have coming in once he gets rollin’. Last month was my best so far and July is looking pretty decent as well. I am with you on what I miss from my old job – not a damn thing! Thanks for the mention, I really appreciate it!

    1. LOL!

      I do miss some of the people (coworkers and customers). I just don’t miss the job itself.

      1. DH started going to a local tech entrepreneur happy hour and he really likes the people there.

  11. Nice job. Congratulations on sticking to adjustments in many aspects of your life. Here is to continued success. You also should have a lot fewer expenses from going to a job (gas, car expenses, clothes, food, etc, etc)

    1. I definitely spend less on clothes but not really on driving. Greg and I worked together for the last 6 years and we carpooled the majority of the time.

  12. That’s super awesome Holly!! You’re doing amazing, I’d be thrilled too but I don’t make any money with my blog yet but I’ll put you on the hit list of mates to come chat to when I do want to. I think it’s great you get to stay at home now and work in your pj’s. I don’t wear any so I’d be forced into clothes by my wife…. so I’m not sure if it would be a pleasure for me like it is you lol… Keep up the awesome work and both of you are going to get to where you need to in no time at all. Cheers mate for sharing the GGC…. I hope one day you can join us.

    1. I would be terrible at the grocery game challenge! We’re vegetarian and eat a lot of specialty foods….$8 organic oregano, anyone?

      1. That’s ok it’s your budget, you spend what you like. That is the name of the game. I’d love to see what you eat… I’m nosey that way! No way I’d spend $8 on oregano, I’d grow it organic though lol…

  13. That will be big deal if you can live on one income and invest the rest. Most couples would succumb to lifestyle inflation with that much cash laying around. Better to keep expenses low and invest for the future. Nice going!

    1. We have been living off of Greg’s income for quite a while and saving mine. Now things are different because Greg’s new job is 100 percent commission. We just have to see what happens but we’ve always been pretty good at saving most of our income!

  14. That’s so great- congratulations! The more I read your blog, the more I become convinced that it’s about time to start up my own, and quit the 9-5 scene… Glad you’re having such great success!

  15. I love that you are posting your actual numbers now. It always motivates to me to stick with blogging and writing for the long haul when I see other people having such success. Congrats to killing your goals! You are awesome!

    1. Thanks Alexa! I’ve been nervous about it but I also think that it adds substance to what I’m doing here. Without posting numbers, I’m just saying “Hey, I’m doing great!”

  16. Mark from PersonalFinancely.com says:

    Holy cow nice job, that is really something to be proud of, and in your pajamas.

    Imagine 30 years ago telling someone they could make that kind of money sitting in there house in the there pj’s 😉

    Do you make money with clubthrifty also? Or is all of that just freelancing income?

    1. It’s both, although I make more the half of my income from freelance writing.

  17. Great work! Congrats to you! Love the blog!

  18. Well done, Holly! So stoked for you that you had such a great month–it’s the beginning of more to come for sure. Also loving the idea to invest Greg’s income once it starts rolling in. Have a great July!

  19. I actually heard crickets chirping with your 😛

    Congrats on having such a great income month. Looks like exciting changes are happening in the club thrifty household!

  20. Big bucks! Nice job Holly. There is this blogging code that once a blogger surpasses $5,000/month they’ve got to buy drinks for everyone!

    1. Well, to be fair….more than half of my income is from freelance writing! I don’t want anyone to think that I make that much on my blog although it would be nice!

      Ok, fine. A round of ice waters for everyone!

  21. Awesome!! Super excited for you. You work really hard, and I’m thrilled that your income has surpassed your day job income. You rock. And I’m down for that round of drinks that Sam mentioned haha! You coming over here or should I fly up there?

    1. Hey, maybe at Fincon. But, remember….I’m cheap. Maybe I’ll order a round of diet cokes and fill them with some rum from my purse.

  22. Nick @ AYoungPro.com says:

    Rock on Holly! What a great month for you, it must be nice to see all of your hard work paying off! My goal in July is to land a writing gig or two. I just launched a “Hire Me” section on my blog in hopes of getting some freelancing work. I have no idea how to make it work but I’m going to give it a shot. 🙂

    1. I really need to add a “hire me” button on my page. It’s on my “to do” list!

  23. Wow! That’s really impressive. I had no idea that kind of income was possible. Good for you, I’m sure it’s the result of a lot of hard work!

  24. Your story is so motivating. Most of the people at work think it’s impossible to retire, and balk at the ones who have or who are self employed, or who quit to start a new opportunity. Reading blogs like yours, helps me stay motivated and on track. Because otherwise I might blow everything and say WTH! Whatever.

    1. I am not at all retired, just self-employed. BUT I do have a lore more freedom now, which I really enjoy.

  25. Nice work Holly! That is quite the achievement. Glad you are able to do what you enjoy while handling your financial obligations. My month is starting off slow, but that is because I have been focused on some other things besides my online activities. It should pick up soon enough.

    1. This month has been weird for me too. I barely worked the first week because of the holiday and I’m taking the last week off to go to Mexico…so my income will definitely be down a little!

  26. Thanks for the shout out and congrats on a great month! Looks like all of your hard work is paying off. It’s amazing how much money can be made with a lot of time, effort and good writing. Hopefully the income keeps doing better than your goal this month as well!

    1. Hey, thanks!~

      My goal is fairly low- to gross 4K each month. I hopefully won’t have a problem!

  27. Wow, very impressive and great job, Holly!! That’s so awesome that you’re able to still generate a lot of income as well as spend more quality time with your girls – so happy for you! 🙂

  28. Congrats! I am not looking for income replacement as much as additional income.

    1. I was totally looking for income replacement so that I could quit my 9-5. Now I am working on additional income!

  29. Dude, that’s amazing! The numbers that you’re able to pulk off blow mind! Keep it up 🙂

    1. Remember, though. It’s my full time job…not “extra” income. I’m not getting rich here, folks!

  30. I love the approach of using one spouse’s income specifically for investing/saving. I find that having certain buckets allocated for specific purposes is a trick that works well for us. It forces us to view one income solely for savings makes it a sacred cow, of sorts. Not to be touched!

  31. Serious congrats, holly! It takes some cajones to put this out there with your name on it, so way to go on both the income front and the being ballsy front.

    Keep up the awesome job!

  32. Hey Holly, congrats on your successful month and for putting yourself out there, that takes guts (for both going self employed and sharing your cash dollar amounts with us). You are my hero!

  33. Big fatty of a congrats on a huge month, Holly!!! We did ok despite the fact that many of our students vacation in the summer. July and August will be about the same, but Sept will see the return of many students, community college gigs and who know what else!!??
    We are comfy this summer mostly due to paying off 2 big loans earlier this year and cutting all our other expenses, such as cable TV and the power bill.

  34. Wow- that’s awesome! I would really like to get more into freelancing -just have to figure out how!

  35. Congrats Holly on an outstanding month of June.

  36. Jennifer @ Budgeting in Baby says:

    Congrats on such a great month!

  37. Phew, that’s a lot of money! I’d love to make that in a month. I’m slowly increasing my income but I’d be lucky if I made half of that (though, I would make more than half without taxes being deducted). Congrats!

  38. Mr. Bonner says:

    Yeah…killing it! Nice job! Whenever I read of people killing it like you it motivates me to put more effort into my blog. It’s become much more of an outlet for me to write rather than a money making venture. Kudos to you for living the freelancing dream!

  39. well done! Hope you can keep it up over summer, I hear it is slow around the pfsphere. Good luck with your goals.

  40. That is an outstanding amount.. and certainly explains how you guys were able to move out of the freezer 🙂

    But I am not surprised, you guys are both outstanding writers and have an incredible amount of knowledge about all things finance. You can tell that you really do your homework!

  41. Mama Needs Money says:

    Wow-that’s awesome! I love seeing real numbers.

  42. Holly, first of all, wow! Good for you for announcing it to the (internet) world! And congratulations. You’re an inspiration! I dream of the day that I can pull in a FRACTION of that to help pay off debts!

  43. Wow, great work Holly! Thanks for all the detail as well, it’s so helpful to know what components make up your monthly blog income, especially for a newbie like me!

  44. Wow – how inspiring! I love working from home. Nothing beats rolling out of bed and firing up the laptop for a 10 second work commute. 😀 And I totally work in my PJs too, although I find it too often covered with cookie crumbles. LOL! Have a great weekend!

    1. Yep, pretty much! I walk downstairs so mine is probably 30 seconds….

  45. I think this shows just how powerful the internet is for making money. I am also glad you made the distinction between passive and active income!

    Keep up the good work!

    Alex

  46. That is fabulous Holly, something for us mortals to strive for, LOL. Really though, congrats and you deserve it!

  47. Congrats Holly! That’s huge income! I wish I made that much at my cubicle dweller job :p I think investing what Greg pulls in will grow your nest egg very rapidly, so definitely go for it, at least as long as you can cover all your expenses with your income.

  48. Dear Holly,

    You’re my hero, really. I’m writing you from Spain. Arrived to your web thanks to another spanish web talking about living on your own thanks to your passions (blogging).

    I’ve just started my own blog a couple of days ago, and really you inspired me.

    Great job!

    1. Awesome! Let me know if you ever need any advice or tips!

  49. I actually pull my self confidence and perseverance from people like you. I am a noob when it comes to freelancing world and I don’t know what will I become the next month or year. Will I be successful? Or am I going to go back to office work like before. But after seeing what you are earning for a month, it actually hyped me and now I am dreaming of becoming like you. I want to earn and at the same time spend lots of time with my family. Thanks for posting this Holly, I am going to research for some learning materials and tips on how to effectively become a freelancer like you. More power!

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