Cash Money: $9,438 in September Income…and a Business Card Giveaway

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Cash Money September Income and a Business Card Giveaway - picture of chalkboard with income and expense separated by a T

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Good morning friends, haters, and frenemies.  Welcome to my monthly income report- please try to contain yourself.

It’s been another great month in the world of web-based freelance writing.  As I reported a few months ago, I lost one fairly lucrative job and instantly went on the hunt for something to replace it.  Well, apparently I replaced it and then some…because my earnings skyrocketed last month!

Unfortunately, September really sucked for me.  Really sucked.  In fact, I spent most evenings and weekends tapping away on this junky laptop, bitching at Greg, and wishing my dog would just STFU.  Beyond those issues, we currently have few clean clothes and no food in the fridge, and my hygiene has been questionable.  Ahem.

But it’s a new month and I’m dedicated to doing less in October than I did in September.  Crazy, huh?  The amount of work I did in September was simply not sustainable for any person who wants a real life- even for a total loser like me! Regardless, I’m happy with my income.  As a self-employed person, I always wish for a few good months to make up for any low-earnings months that come along.  And if one ever does, I’m now prepared.

Winner for "Best Frugality Blog"
Winner for “Best Frugality Blog”

Cash Money September Income Update

In case you’re new here, I have gotten in the habit of reporting my self-employment income each month.  I do this to keep myself from slacking off and to show other people that it is more than possible to earn a living as a web-based writer.  With that being said, the total amount of cash money I grossed as a self-employed goddess in September was……*drumroll, please*

 $9,438

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

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

Someone tweeted me last month and asked me what I mean when I say I “ghost write” for other people.  The idea is simple- people pay me to write things for them when they don’t feel like it.  And then they pretend they wrote it. You’re probably wondering if that is legal or moral.  I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that I don’t give a crap that it happens a lot more often than you think.  Is it wrong?   I don’t know, but I do know one thing:

If making money is wrong, I don’t want to be right.  Muaahahahahhahaha…………

Please remember that I make the majority of my income from a variety of freelance writing jobs, not my blog.  If you’re interested in learning how to get freelance writing jobs, please check these posts out:

Tips for Freelancers

How To Get Freelance Writing Jobs 

My Expenses

Let’s take a look at what it cost to run a web-based writing business, shall we?  Here are my expenses for September:

  • Internet: $51
  • Writing Services: $240 (for our other website)
  • Blog Hosting: $15

Total: $306

Pretty weak, huh?  Although our expenses were relatively low this month, I do expect our expenses to be higher in October for a few reasons.  First, we are having a professional redo our website and freshen it up a bit.  And second, we hired a professional photographer to take pictures for our new website because, let’s face it, I want to look hot. 

Well, let me rephrase that.  I want to look okay and I want someone to give me an airbrushed glow.  I also want to look skinny.

Let’s all pray for a miracle.

Me with a few of my favorite nerdy bloggers
Me with a few of my favorite nerdy bloggers

Life Updates

First of all, we went to FinCon last month and it was absolutely awesome.  I even won the Plutus Award for the “Best Frugality Blog,” which was super cool.  I loved meeting all of my nerdy friends and talking about nerdy things like budgeting, saving, and frugality.  And beyond that, I love how the FinCon community is so supportive.  Imagine meeting hundreds of people who actually want you to succeed, and feeling the same way about their success.  Weird, huh?  Simply put, FinCon was awesome!

We don’t have any big plans this month aside from flying to see Pearl Jam in Denver.  Yes, it’s ridiculous to fly to another state to see a concert for one day, but I’m doing it anyway.  Sue me?  Thanks to my Southwest Companion Pass and our many Rapid Rewards points, our flights cost something ridiculous- like $11.  And our hotel was free with Marriott points.  #Winning

$100 Gift Card Giveaway

So, we recently did a $100 Gift Card Giveaway where the winner got to claim their prize from either Southwest, Carnival, or Amazon. Congratulations to Kenya F. for being the lucky gal! We’ve sent out some contact info to you, so let us know where you’d like the gift card to come from so that we can send it out.

Business Card Giveaway

Business owners, brace yourselves for one hell of a giveaway.  Thanks to PlasticPrinters.com, I am giving away 250 custom-made plastic business cards to one of my lucky readers!  A few details:

  • Clients are paired with individual representatives so that there is no loss in communication about your project.
  • Everything is made in house in Hastings, Minnesota (from Sales to Graphics and Production.)
  • Plastic Printers prides itself in offering large company results while maintaining a small company’s customer service.

I personally think these cards are pretty awesome, and they can definitely help you stand out.  I mean, for heaven’s sake, look at the sample “cassette tape” card that I posted on the left of the page.  Isn’t that bas-ass?

Me Around the Web

Check out some of my recent posts around the web before you go!

Becoming Financially Independent: Habits To Make You A Millionaire– Forbes (interview)

How Not To Go Into Debt Over Christmas- VOSA

Which is Better: Cash-Back, Hotel Loyalty Points, or Airline Miles?– Money Saving Pro

Can You Book a Cruise with Credit Card Rewards?- Money Saving Pro

Working From Home: The Good, The Bad, and the Pajamas– FeeX

Also make sure to check out the Tradeking Review at FrugalRules.com

How was your September income?  Did you meet your goals? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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67 Comments

  1. Wowza!!!! Congratulations on another banging month! Here’s to continued success. I am always so pleased when people hire a professional photographer!!! 🙂

    1. Ha! We need professional pics. It has been a while.

  2. Woohoo, congrats Holly! That’s some awesome income! I’m looking forward to these professional photos! You’re gorgeous, so I imagine they will look just fine 🙂

    1. I just want my laugh lines and sun spots airbrushed and I’ll be fine!

  3. Congrats on your Plutus Award and super successful month!
    I made more in September than I did in August so I’m counting that a success.
    Happy October!

  4. Congratulations on the Plutus Award and the very successful month. I also had more in September, which is the best month so far for me. Go Holly!

  5. Nice! That’s pretty awesome monthly income, although it sucks that you had such a miserable month to get it. Balance is so important. I didn’t have much balance at my last job and I was pretty miserable too. Hope October involves more fun and fewer nights on the keyboard! Congrats again on the Plutus!

  6. Nice work on the income Holly! Though I can understand the amount of work that goes into a month like that. We had a month like that before going out to San Diego in August. While the money is nice, sanity is as well. Ghost writing is certainly going on more than many realize it. Since we write for other businesses primarily we rarely get credit for it, but it pays the bills so I’ll happily take it. 🙂

    1. It goes on a lot! I also write a lot of content that no one gets credit for and that’s fine with me too.

  7. LOL, had to laugh about the professional pic. When I got mine done, I said to my guy “Can you make me look ten years younger?” He answered, “I can make you look TWENTY years younger!”. Gotta love technology. 🙂 Awesome job on the income, Holly!

  8. Lot’s to be happy for Holly. Congrats on the Plutus Award and the great income month! LOL on the hot photo. Is Glamour shots still around?

  9. When I saw your title in the hyperlink I was like “no way did she jump from the $6k range to nearly $10k range” but you did! Amazing, even if it was a little soul-crushing in the process.

    I’m all for professional photographers… I’ve had a few for work things, and I’m always so impressed with the end result.

    1. It was a busy month for sure! Trying to have a little more balance this month =)

  10. Wow good job on a great month! You are awesome Holly!

    Congrats on the Plutus Award too. Definitely well deserved.

  11. I do ghostwrite some as well and as long as I get paid, I really don’t care. Wow great job on the income but your fingers and brain must have been fried 🙁 Well done though Holly! I have my go-to professional photog in Montreal that I have worked with for years and he is such a talented and nice person. I paid for his services and travel expenses to capture our wedding in NYC and he was absolutely worth the cost.

    1. I don’t care either. I get enough credit for the other things I write. Don’t need all the glory all the time! Haha!

  12. Congratulations on the award and another great month! 🙂

    1. You will put them in your spank bank, I’m sure!

  13. Congratulations on the award and a great month!!

  14. Sounds like you did a fantastic job last month, Holly! We just got back from a long weekend away and I can sympathize with the empty fridge. Must go grocery shopping today….

    1. I’m waiting for my 3-year-old to get off the bus and we’re going straight to the store!

  15. Congrats on an awesome September. I hear you on the professional pictures. I always look like the biggest dork in homemade ones. We aren’t going to make Pearl Jam. Just didn’t work out schedule wise, but I hope you have enough fun for the both of us.

    1. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  16. Amazing income jump! Can’t wait to see the site redesign.

    1. Oh, it will be a while I’m sure! We’re just in the brainstorming phase!

  17. Congrats on the award! And more importantly, that’s a great income month, make sure you don’t spend it all in one place…

    Jay

  18. Oh I really like the giveaway, Holly! I’ve also driven through Hastings quite a few times, so nice to see a local business sponsoring the giveaway. I hope I win because I’m really looking to get some more freelance writing gigs by the end of the year. I have one right now and I’m looking to add 3 more. I also have a minimum I will take per post, which is why I currently only have 1 (besides the fact that I haven’t pro-actively pursued jobs). I may have to reach out to you for some tips.

  19. Who’s that hawt guy on the left of that pic 😉

    Nice work, again, almost cracked $10k. Pretty figgin amazing considering you’ve only been doing this a year or so. Well done!

    1. hawt, lol. That word cracks me up for some reason!

  20. Congrats on an awesome month, especially the Plutus Award! I was psyched to hear you won! And I had photographer/client who took my head shots and I love them. It’s like glamour shots for adults. I don’t think I ever look as good as when he takes my pics and the great thing is that we barter where I help him with his money and he takes pics for me. 🙂

  21. Congrats on a great month and a well-deserved Plutus award, Holly! And I agree a big month definitely helps for those months that are a bit slow, although sorry that it led to questionable personal hygiene. Good thing Greg really loves you! LOL!

  22. Great post. I really enjoyed it. You seem to have a nice stream of income producing channels. Keep up the good work.

    Keep cranking,

    Robert the DividendDreamer

  23. Ben Luthi says:

    Sweet mother of September! Nice work 🙂 I’m sure that definitely makes it easier to relax a little this month. As for ghostwriting, I also don’t really care. If someone wants to pay me for it, they can have their way with me–uh, I mean, my article.

  24. This is so awesome! Dang you were prob so busy with having to write that much and travel etc. Major props! It was so awesome meeting you. You and Greg were pretty much the cutest couple ever. 🙂

  25. Great job on the income, Holly.

    I’ve been thinking about a redesign as well, and would really love to get that done in the next few months. I look forward to seeing what you guys do with the site!

  26. I like your blog, although I don’t agree with everything you say. Most of all I like the style in which you write, and starting the post with “Good morning friends, haters, and frenemies.” was pretty hilarious! Good for you for not letting internet negativity take you down. And congrats on the monthly income 🙂

    1. What do you mean when you say you don’t agree with everything I say? I don’t get it. I’m always right!!!

      =)

      Holly

  27. Holly, you are hilarious. And hot damn, nice work on the income. Ghostwriting sooooo happens all the time. I write as a ghostwriter too. It was nice meeting you at FinCon and congrats on the Plutus award. I am also in need of professional photos desperately!

  28. Talking about blowing it up! I was talking with someone at FinCon about ghostwriting and they looked at me like I was a ghost. They didn’t even know it happened. I do it quite often.

  29. Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was
    extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say,
    I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m
    still new to everything. Do you have any points for novice
    blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  30. Steve Capell says:

    That is awesome income stream.

  31. What an amazing month – income wise. I understand it not being sustainable though, that probably took a lot of extra work!

  32. This is awesome!!! GREAT job! Thanks for being so transparent about your income 🙂 If you don’t mind me asking, do you make the majority from your blog or from freelancing?? Thanks!! 🙂

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