Who’s Reading Fabulous Financials?
Everyday, all day, I blab about myself.
I did this and that…
I accomplished this…
I failed at that…
My goals are blah blah blah…
But enough about me already!
I want to know more about YOU. Call me nosy if that’s what you prefer (I won’t deny it LOL), but I want to know who reads my blog so I can better connect with my audience. It will also give me quick writing ideas when I’m in a blogging funk and allow me to bring you more useful information. So I’ve create a few polls and tried to include every possible scenario, but if you don’t fit the mold, feel free to leave more details in the comments. Thank ya kindly!
1. GENDER
2. AGE
3. EDUCATION
4. FAMILY
5. HOUSING
6. EMPLOYMENT
7. GEOGRAPHY
8. INCOME
9. DEBT BALANCE
10. DEBT
11. NET WORTH
12. FOCUS OF PERSONAL FINANCE
13. BLOGGING
14. BLOGGING IDEAS
So you all won’t think this info exchange is one-sided, I’ll answer the questions too:
1. Female
2. 30 range
3. MBA
4. Single Parent
5. I own (and rent). If you’re new to FF, read Apr-May 2007 archives.
6. CSS driver
7. East
8. $100k+
9. Non-mortgage debt free
10. Mortgage only
11. $100k+
12. Investing for non-retirement, everything else on auto pilot
If you read via RSS reader or email, please click through to answer the polls.
Thanks in advance to all who participate. Me luv you long time! ;-)
Credit for this idea: Millionaire Mommy Next Door.
This blog is all about Finance, Fitness, Fashion & Fun - the sum of my life. If you like what you've read, feel free to subscribe via (feed reader) or (email) to follow along.
Nice survey. Do you plan on posting the final results?
Of course! I’d like to leave the polls up for a little while though. I need to figure out where to place the link so people won’t miss it after new articles push it down. [-SM]
I want to know what set you off? What was the kick in the pants that turned your life around. No doubt you have written about it before…
Maybe this post or this post will answer your question. If not, can you be more specific? Set me off how? Turn my life around from what? [-SM]
I had to look up my net worth–I knew it was right near one of your boundaries. It actually crossed the boundary line this month!
I just want to add that although good writers write for their audience, remember that your audience is full of people who like reading just the kind of things you’re writing now!
Aww, Debbie, thanks! And congrats on crossing a major threshold! [-SM]
I’m waiting on one reader in particular to cross that last threshold. I’m sure they know who they are. ;-)
SM,
I too am an AA female (who up until recently was a single parent). I love your blog and the things that you write about. So much of it I can identify with! I love your posts about professionalism, money and Mr. Eye Candy all the same (what sista doesn’t love to hear about another sista’s love affair)! I really think that your posts are brilliant and spot on. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Brenda. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. ;-) [-SM]
Hey Singlema, I filled out the survey and wanted to leave my comment here in regards to what I would like for you to blog about. I know this might be a bit throw-back, but could you blog a bit more about your graduate school experience with babygirl. I’ll be graduating next May and I’m a bit nervous about finding a place, moving to another state, being a FULL TIME student and FULL TIME mom. Any advice, suggestions etc will be nice to read about – if you have already done this, point me in the right direction.
-me
Hi 2nd Chance! Long time, no hear from! Glad to see you’re still hanging in there and doing well. The last year is right around the bend. How exciting! I remember the feeling of senior-itis and I just wanted to be DONE! LOL Good luck with the move.
I’m going to tag each comment that has a suggestion and try to address them in upcoming posts. Thanks. [-SM]
I particularly appreciate your discussions of how you handle issues relating to having a very different financial situation/plan/orientation than your family.
I try not to talk about my family too much. They read my blog and I don’t want to offend. If I ever quit blogging without an explanation, then you’ll know someone in my family hemmed me up over something I wrote. LOL [-SM]
Single Ma,
I just graduated from college earning a degree in Business Admin. As much as I would like to really become debt free, my main problem is finding a job that provides a challenge for me. It would be great if you provide more advice for those coming out of school.
Added to my list, thanks! [-SM]
Hi Single Ma! I did the survey and wanted to stop by and leave some love because I really enjoy reading your blog! I graduated from college in Dec. 2007 with my B.S. in Biology and will be teaching high school and starting grad school in the fall. I still have a lot to learn about my finances and I have some old habits that I am trying hard to break, but blogs like yours help me to concentrate more on my finances. Thanks for blogging!
And thanks for reading! As a recent grad, you have so much to look forward to. Good luck establishing your new life/career. [-SM]
I second t’s comment about articles dealing wtih family and their money situations! Also, I ‘d love to see more of your in detail summaries about purchases, like you did with cars and tires.
Ha, that’s funny! Those negotiation posts seem to be the most controversial – next to not paying for my daughter’s college education. LOL As you know, it doesn’t stop me from writing them though. I haven’t made a big ticket purchase in a while and don’t have any planned, but when I do, I promise to write about the experience. [SM]
Hey Single Ma,
I filled out the survey per the request. As far as what you write about in the future, I don’t have particular suggestions. The posts I enjoy the most are actually the rants and the just bloggin ones…mainly because I laugh out loud. I also appreciate posts that make me think in ways I had not done previously, like the one about your credit card inventory. That was fascinating to me, frankly because it was contrary to how I relate to credit in general and credit cards in particular.
For me, my main focus is on non-retirement saving and reaching certain milestones. (Gotta keep a wine promise:–), so if you want to blog about that, I would be able to relate. If not, that’s cool, too. I’m easy.
By the way, more than any particular topic, what I enjoy most is your actual writing…so as long as the topic is presented in the Single Ma way, it’s all good.
I finished the whole thing just for you! One thing I’d like to see a post on is office appropriate clothing. What is okay to wear, appropriate lenght of skirts/dresses, is pantyhose necessary, flats vs. heels, etc. I work in a business casual enviornment.
Whatever you write about, I love reading it!
I love your career posts. They are very helpful to me.- mid-twenties, female, fellow NOVA resident.
Dear SingleMa:
Thanks for inquiring about us. Me, I’m interested in it all. I, too, am at the point where I almost bore some of my friends with my discussion of personal finance and my quest to become even more fabulous.
Blessings and be well to you and your baby girl.
ToniAnnette
What does CSS stand for? I see this acronym on your site frequently and always wonder what it means….I love everything you blog about but I love the more personal posts the most, the ones about BabyGirl, Mr. EyeCandy, and shopping, especially frugal finds at Ross, as that’s my absolute favorite store!!!
People always ask, but they never come back to see the answer.
It’s a term coined by the ultra fabulous Supa Sister and it stands for:
Corporate
Slave
Ship
[-SM]
My results are going to look a little bit funny, I own a home (because my grandmother left it to me)so my networth is over 200k. But the home I own in my hometown in NJ but I reside in NOVA so I’m renting and just scraping by. Make sense?
I love your blog, you are my 30something she-ro. I especially love the touches about your personal life. I don’t read fashion blogs because I find them unfulfilling, but the little touches in your blog are both relevant and fun. And I love reading about Mr. EyeCandy, does he read your blog? Just wondering.
He’s seen it before, but I don’t think he reads it. [-SM]
Great poll! I just finished it, kind of neat to see the stats.
I would like you to write more about how do You deal with stress, difficult situations. You know situatiions, when the load seems to much to bear, when it seems that it is impossible to deal with this. I read in one of your posts some thoughts in this direction about spiriuality, God, leeting God take care of the situation…. For me this are new thoughts. I am normally quite rational and can very well take care of myself. But I often think, that if I would believe the my life would often be better.
Believing in a Higher Power has nothing to do with being rational or being able to care for yourself. It’s exactly when the load seems too much to bear that I turn it over to the person who is stronger/more powerful than me. I don’t need to carry the burden because I have faith in His love for me and I believe that He controls all things.
Is this irrational? Absolutely not. It would be irrational to continue carrying a burden when you don’t have to. Does this mean I can’t take care of myself? Absolutely not. I’m just smart enough to know when enough is enough and allow someone else to do it for me.
I’ll add your post request to my list. [-SM]
LOL @ this.. I felt like I was filling out a damn job application!!! :) Gina always giving folks work cause she got writers block!!! :)
Well since I was going to write about student loans and how they are the devil.. LOL and then I saw over at Ginger’s spot that dat heffa mae named Sallie is no longer consolidating loans.. LOL I err figured you could touch on that.. you know some options for those of us wallowing in student loan debt LOL I know the interest rates are going to supposedly “reset” on July 1st.. Hmmm
Wow! I’m shocked how many of your readers (okay, almost all of your readers) are female!
A blog titled “fabulous financials” written by a single mom who talks about money, shoes, shopping, and her daughter. You’re shocked? I’m not. [-SM]
Hey SingleMa,
I just filled out your survey, and the one suggestion I would make is to take the blog to more of a focus on investing for non-retirement.
That’s been my goal all year. I’m going to make this a priority now. [-SM]
Not that I don’t love the Mr. Eye Candy posts ;)
Where’s YOUR blog man???? [-SM]
SMa-
I have a question about your education/funding – what grants/aid did you receive? How did you go about getting that aid and did you have any student loans? If so, how much?
By the way – are you a Rutgers alum? ;-)
Nope, went to college in NC. Will add your question(s) to my list. [-SM]
Great survey Single Ma –
I actually saved something this month – you are so encouraging….
I hate debt …
Interesting to see the answers! It took me a minute to figure out that I had to cast a vote on each one individually… I’ve been meaning to do this on my site too…
Great survey…should be interesting to see the results.
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog for about 6-8 months already and love your writing style. I am a divorced mother of two engaged to be married this summer. After getting divorced, I realized that I needed to do better managing my money. That prompted me to learn more about personal finance. I am also an English teacher, and I love reading, so I began to read PF blogs for fun.
Although I’ve been in my relationship for a while and we’ve been living together, we still have separate accounts. With my first marriage, I believed that everything should be combined, but as I got older and hopefully, a little bit wiser, I realized just how important it is to have total control over at least part of one’s financial life. We’re currently contemplating opening a joint account, but we’ve yet to determine exactly how much money to put there.
One of the biggest things that frustrates me in reading PF blogs is when people talk about how to increase income because as state teachers, it’s just not possible. It’s not that I don’t think the information isn’t worthwhile, it’s just that it does not pertain to me.
I love hearing about your salary and what you spend it on. I love knowing that you do WELL as a single parent and you can afford to support the both of you and live comfortably. I also love that you don’t cut out all FUN spending.
If you don’t mind me asking how did you manage to get a rebate check with your income? Is there some loophole I missed out on?
Maybe. They’re called TAX DEDUCTIONS! LOL
No seriously. There’s no “loophole” but the rebate was based on AGI. My “salary” and AGI are worlds apart. [-SM]
I answered all the questions. I just wanted you to know I check your blog daily to see if you’ve updated. I read every post but I hardly comment!!!
Hey Single Ma!
I read all the time, don’t think I’ve ever commented. Anyway, just wanted to say that I enjoy everything you write about! I am a JD/MBA, but I just got the MBA and my student loan bills are kicking my butt. HARD. I was totally not prepared for this an underestimated the payments — by a LOT. I’ve gotten in touch with a financial planner and I’ve started the quest for extra income by teaching online classes. Umm….what was my question? Oh! Not a question. Just wanted you to know that reading your blog gave me the push I needed to get my financial house in order and begin my journey to debt free living. So, Thanks!
I’m a relatively new grad (though it is getting less new!) and I always love your career posts. Taking advice from a strong successful female is much easier to relate to, and you keep it entertaining.
I think you do a great mix of topics, from babygirl/eyecandy to career series to updates on your shoes! :)
I loved doing the poll. Do you plan on changing the content of your blog based on the responses? I’ll find a happy median to satisfy all parties. [-SM] I am thinking of perhaps doing a similar thing on my blog – looks like a great idea.
I stumbled upon your blog today May 29, 2008. I love love it. A poll to find out particulars about your readers~NOW HOW SMART WAS THAT? You make me proud to call myself W-O-M-A-N.
I believe many people do poorly in the area of personal finances because of ignorance. I am so glad you are using your various gifts and talents to educate and empower others.
Hey SM! Thanks for inquiring about your readers.
I used to be a very avid reader, but I’ve come to the conclusion that we are in different spots financially so I don’t feel as though I relate to much of what’s said anymore.
I’m 29 and single (divorce, actually). Finally moved out on my own (again) about a year ago. I’m still paying off very old debt. My credit is shot because the ex didn’t feel he needed to help make the house payment and, at the time, I was bringing home $1600/mo and our house payment alone was $1100. Needless to say, we were foreclosed on.
I now make about $35,000 (I bring home only $25,000 – $1941.32/mo plus two months where I get an extra 970.66/mo). I have CC debt of $1900 (which is by far less than it was), a car note for $8420 and school loans to the tune of $39,500. In addition, to these payments (which total about $525 paying the min), I have rent, utilities and insurance totalling $1000. This doesn’t include any necessities, groceries or “fun” (which is rarely had).
I have recently taken on a second job to help out some. I am working six days a week to make ends meet and try to get out of debt. Can you see how a girl can get overwhelmed and not see the light at the end of the tunnel?
You once adviced that I should move to a place where I can get a better job. In a perfect world, I would do that. I would love to do that. But all personal factors involved, it isn’t a reality.
All this to say, I feel like my financial situations is very different from yours. I know the key factor to getting out of debt and managing ones finances is discipline. There’s no two ways about it.
I must say that I do enjoy your posts about your career. I’m attending a Leadership Academy through work to try to better myself and move up and your posts in regard to that topic have been helpful.
Thanks SM
Jess..You have had the wind knocked out of you. Hang in there don’t give up. I hear so many people saying the same thing about the Oprah Winfrey show. I am not even on the corner of the page financially as it relates to Oprah but some days I am able to connect with the basic message of educating and empowering.
check the following website http://www.daveramsey.com listen to his radio talk show online for free or on the radio if it’s at all possible. why? for knowledge, encouragement and motivation. He talks to the single parent who has to leave “the home”, newly divorced, foreclosed, bankrupt persons, etc.
I love your fabulous site! I think you’re the most unique pf blogger I read on a regular basis. Most of all I love any posts about your babygirl – I’m not a mom and don’t want to be any time soon, but I do want to become a high school counselor. So I’d also love to hear about her friends and their attitudes about money, and her attitude towards her friends’ attitudes, since I assume she’s a bit more aware of finances than most of her peers.
But I’ll read whatever you write since you have such a great style and voice! Thanks!
Jess,
Also stop by SingleMa’s Archive for February, 2006 One Goal Down…
I think you will be able to relate
Another person who doesn’t know what CSS means…
Customer Service and Support?
Combat Service Support?
Community Service and Satisfaction?
Certified Security Supervisor?
Thanks Holly! Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I have gone through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. I love Dave Ramsey! =)
I too (late as usual) completed the poll. I like it all. I like what I can relate to and what I have no clue about. I’ve said it to you before but there is no harm is saying it again…I have learned SO much from you.
You have inspired and taught me so much. I have an emergency fund because of what I learned from you. Saving is now addictive because of what I have learned from you. I may not be debt free (yet), and I may not have your income, credit,money, etc, but I still hang around because what I learn here and from the commenters and the other blogs you read, can educate me and show me how to make it to and beyond your income level. My credit and money could mirror or exceed yours if I keep it moving forward and learn as I go.
I remember when we met I was seriously going through but I tell you what….tough times don’t last…tough people do. corny but true.
Keep doing what your doing.
Single Ma,
I am one of your older readers (48+) but I absolutely love your blog. I am working to get out of debt, save and becoming financially fit and free. I live within my means, pay myself first and am definitely saving for my retirement. I also absolutely love to shop but I have been able to find the best thrift shops in the swankiest neighborhoods, so I am looking good while keeping my budget in-tact. My real passion throughout the next 10 years is to visit each continent. I just came back from a 10 day trip to London and Paris and am planning my next trip to China for next year. I have a vacation savings account that I contribute to each payday in addition to my emergency fund account. Keep up the good work. You inspire me to live FABULOUSLY.
Singla Fabulous Ma,
I’m so impressed with you and Baby Diva in Training. I was a sgl parent for years, he’s 27 and on his own now. I’ve suggested he subscribe to your PFB and others as well. After taking the survey I was quite surprised @ your age, so sharp and a wonderful writer as well. I love the EyeCandy & job challenges as well as the wonderful encouragement on working toward becoming debt free. You are a daily inspiration and your suggested strategy of surrounding myself with ‘other encouraging friends/relationships’ I will take to heart. GF, keep up the good work!!!
What a great idea. Hope you don’t mind – I may use the same sort of format/idea… since it’d be interesting to know who I’m reaching out to
I enjoy your blog, i presently rent my home but am in the middle of completing construction of my first home; roofing this month. Most of what you write about is applicable to my own situation but thank goodness I have never had to deal with credit cards!
Great stuff!!!
Hi Single Ma,
I’ve labeled myself “Life in a Shoe”, because I have so many children, etc. Actually, I only have three very-close-in-age little kids. They are so close that I could potentially have all three in college at the same time. Could you please talk more about your strategy for paying Baby Girl’s future tuition? And what if she wants to go to an Ivy League $$$chool?
Thanks,
Life in a Shoe