On May 29, 2007, I wrote my first entry on HerEveryCentCounts — I titled it “Diversification?” I had about $27k in networth (before the recession of 2008, when it went down significantly) and my income was $35,000 a year (which, incredibly, is less than I make in three months today.)
It was in 2007 when I opened my first retirement account – a Roth IRA and a mid-cap Vanguard fund. My job didn’t offer a 401k, so I was limited to $5000 a year in retirement investment. I knew nothing about investing and finance – I just read another 20-something women’s blog about her investing a small inheritance, and suddenly felt inspired to sort out my future. I was spending 50% of my income on a studio apartment that cost $905 a month (the same apartment now costs over $1600 – that’s how much rent has gone up here in the last 9 years.) I was 23 years old.
Admittedly, this blog has gone months without any content, followed by weeks where I’ll post three or more times a week. I never intended this to be a regular publication — I started writing because I wanted to hold myself accountable for my future. And, since I didn’t have a lot of money for financial advice, I figured some folks out there on the internet would tell me if I was completely messing it up.
Nearly nine years since starting this blog, it seems to get some fairly regular visitors. I don’t get a lot of comments — and I’m not sure if that’s because my comment system is broken or if what I write isn’t the ideal content to start a conversation. By far, my most popular posts are the ones I wrote about getting a DUI. That was the lowest point of my life, but financially probably the most interesting from a blogging perspective. I still get tons of traffic to my DUI posts, which rank very highly on random search terms like “dui depression” and “how to get your life back after a DUI.”
What’s been most rewarding, though, has been the number of people who have commented or emailed me about their DUI stories. There are lots of intelligent and otherwise law-abiding people who made a mistake and are struggling with deep depression after getting arrested for driving under the influence. Many tell me that my story has made them be able to get through the darkest time in their lives. Although I didn’t expect that to be the result of my blogging about my DUI (which was now four years ago), and I get my fair share of hate mail from people who were injured in drunk driving accidents or knew someone who was hurt in one, I do feel good when I receive comments from strangers letting me know how I’ve helped them. Helping people is the only thing in this world the makes me feel happy, so this has been a strange positive side effect of dealing with my own mistakes.
The rest of this blog is typically me just cycling through the same series of complaints, so I’m not sure how entertaining it is, or how many people out there are repeat readers. I’m sure there are plenty of anonymous readers who occasionally find their way back here. I’m curious, if you read this blog, how long have you been reading it? How did you find me? Do any posts from the past nine years stand out in your mind? Would you like me to write about anything else?
If you read this blog, please leave a comment here – and if you’re having trouble leaving a comment, email me at hereverycentcounts@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you and learning more about my readers!
I don’t think I have missed a single post of yours. I read your blog because I believe money and more money keep people happy. But then your posts show me that even rich people have struggles just that they are different. I also amazed that finding jobs is so easy for you and that you display a great determination to succeed at it. Please do keep writing.
I read! I don’t always comment unless something really draws on me since I tend to read blogs on the bus. I really enjoy your style of writing – I feel like I’m in your head sometimes!
Leigh recently posted..2015 In Review: Goals, Savings, Net Worth, Investments, and Charts Galore
Thanks Leigh. Glad you enjoy my writing. I tend to just write what I’m thinking, so it makes sense you feel like you’re in my head. 🙂
I read – but I often don’t have much to say, since your income is quite a bit more than mine. I haven’t been reading long enough to realize that you started when you were making much less – that was an interesting fact to learn. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Ms. Mintly @ Mintlyblog recently posted..We Pay $6 a Day in Student Loan Interest
I know how you feel. When I started reading PF blogs I was reading about people making six figures who had networths of over $250k, and that seemed so impossibly out of reach — I was making $35k and had a net worth of $20k-ish. Now, I realize that I’m one of those bloggers that has a high income — which I never thought I’d be 10 years ago! I’m still amazed by how I’ve been able to advance in my career like this in such a short amount of time.
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now, I think. I got interested in personal finance at that point and one of my google searches led me to your blog. I am 30 something MBA, working in tech for one of the bay area companies but I’m based in Singapore.
Hi Joy–initially I found this blog because of your DUI. Since I got a DUI about a year after you did I was interested in learning more about your experience.
However I’ve also been interested to hear about your experiences investing and also in the startup world. As someone who also spent a fair bit of time bouncing around from startup to startup I was very interested to learn about your experiences.
It is interesting that you describe your DUI as the lowest point of your life. I guess I’m the opposite–I’ve definitely found the career setbacks much more difficult to deal with than the DUI. Although you’ve had your share of career setbacks, you’ve always been able to bounce back quickly. It took me a long time to learn how to do so, and my first few speed bumps in the career arena were far more devastating to me than my DUI. In more recent years I’ve gotten to the point where I can more quickly absorb a job loss and move on–but it took me a long time to get to that point.
I enjoy the transparency and read all your posts!
I came here after searching google on stories about DUI depression, etc. your story did make me feel better and I hope you continue to tell your story, however it goes. I stayed because I’m keenly interested in personal finance as well. I don’t have as much saved as you, but I’m happy to have saved my share.
I read your blog, have read each post for the last year or so.
I leave an occasional comment.
I don’t recall if I found you thru Leigh’s blog of vice versa. Was interested in finding a couple of individuals who had pf blogs with somewhat similar net worth’s.
George H Puck recently posted..2016 Goals
Thanks for reading. 🙂 Leigh’s blog is great as well!
Hi, im from another country but it’s very inspiring to read it.I enjoy your blog so keep up the good work 🙂
Hi HECC! I just found your blog this past week and have been reading through what’s interesting. I was on NetworthIQ and NetWorthShare looking for people who also live in the bay like me, and I found you. I also just joined NetWorthShare but haven’t done the accounting for my first entry yet. <3, labangel