I put a call out on social recently to see if I should continue with my blogging month updates and income report.
Most people seem to enjoy reading them, but they do take a long time to put together – mainly because I’ve got such a bad memory that I have to try and recall what I did blog-wise throughout the month. I also have to research all my affiliate and blog collaboration earnings for the month, which takes a while.
However, I do love doing them because I feel that I’m helping others by providing an insight into my blogging world. But over the last six months, life seems to have got busier with the launch of my new community magazine. As such I’ve had difficulty juggling the monthly updates, not least because I still write a monthly column for BritMums and I publish a monthly Favourite Finds too, on top of writing and putting together a 48-page community magazine.
So next year, I’ll be knocking the monthly reports on the head and doing more round-ups every now and then. It’s nice to keep my hand in, but I shouldn’t feel obliged to provide them month after month. We all need less pressure in our lives, not more.
The main picture for the post this month features one of my last chemo sessions. In true tradition, here I am in the chemo suite working away! But I’m delighted to say that chemo has now finished and I’m about to embark of a month of radiotherapy, which I’ve heard is far less gruelling. Come January, my treatment should pretty much be finished J
Collaborations
The collaborations have calmed down a little this month but only because we went up in size on the magazine – from 40 pages to 48! It was our best month sales wise and my business partner and I were both able to pay our mortgages this month and not rely on our husbands’ pay packets, which was a mini milestone.
Who knows what January and February will bring? Without having yet done a full year on the magazine it’s hard to gauge how business will go.
The good news is that I’ve managed to bag a presentation slot at a magazine conference next year. I’ll be talking about the systems, apps and schedules that I use to juggle the blog, a full time business, a family and dealing with cancer.
I’m hoping to inspire and motivate the audience – I’d love for them to get some great ‘take-away’ lessons – practical information that they can start implementing. Wish me luck…now to work on the actual presentation…!
Who I met
This month I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend Kerry at World Travel Market. We actually didn’t get a long time together as we both had meetings to go to, but it was lovely to see her albeit briefly.
I’ve got another get-together planned with Kerry and Alex from Living Pretty Happy. And I really wanted to get our mutual Instagram friend, Susie, along but sadly work takes priority for her that day.
Speaking of Susie, I did manage to get together with her to do a spot of retail therapy at B&M and Dunelm. She was such a sweetie and bought me some goodies to try including organic liquorice pebbles, a TKMaxx gift card and some gorgeous smelling almond hand cream – that girl knows me so well!
Epic fails
I almost posted one blog post a week this month but fell at the last hurdle because delivery of the magazine took precedence. It’s a strange feeling that you’re always chasing your tail isn’t it? That’s why the Miracle Morning book has helped me get on top of things a bit better.
I just feel like I need a HUGE clear out – of my desk and my mind. Getting organised is key to avoiding overwhelm for me, so as much as possible that’s what I try to do. So yes, although I failed to post every week of November, I did achieve 4 posts – My Last Blogging Month, What Having Chemo Really Feels Like and November Favourite Finds. That’s better than nothing of course!
Blog learning
I’ve just discovered that you can now schedule Instagram posts on a desktop using Facebook Creator Studio. Here’s a video to explain how to do it!
Another thing I came across is that Google updated its no-follow attribute in September to avoid comment spam. I don’t understand that much about it if I’m honest, suffice to say that the rules are changing in March 2020 whereby bloggers can announce via links that blog content is sponsored. You can read more about it here – and do let me know how you think this will affect you if you’re a blogger.
Out and about
This month I managed to get along to Dunelm’s Spring/Summer 2020 showcase in London. It was a fleeting visit, but an eye-opener as there’s just so many lovely products being launched by them that I can’t wait to get my mitts on them!
There’s a real focus on a mindfulness home for next year too – creating a sense of calm and comfort in the home which I’m all about. Some of the colour palettes coming out were very soothing (apparently green is the most relaxing colour!), but I’ve got a bit of a thing for mustard yellow at the moment – it’s just so cheery on these dark mornings.
Income report
Other income streams in October:
– JustPark I earned £138.30 just through renting my driveway for parking. I also use JustPark for when I’m visiting hospitals, town centres, stadiums, airports etc to avoid paying extortionate parking charges – and to get a guaranteed car parking space! Here’s a free £10 to get you started!
Top Cashback: £82.63. This is how I earn FREE cash for shopping online! It’s REALLY easy to use – you just sign-up for a for free account, search or browser for a brand you like, click through to their site and shop as normal. Everything else (the tracking etc) is done for you. Check it out for yourself.
I also earned £25 via Quidco back on my household insurance and bought an exclusive deal – 5 Odeon tickets for £20 and got 5% cashback. Nice!
My magazine: I run a monthly community magazine for my local area and between us, my business partner and I split the profits. We were aiming for an income of £3,500 for November but I’m delighted to say we smashed it and managed to bring in £4,200 gross for November! This means we were able to withdraw £1,000 each as wages – it’s a first for us, and a wonderful achievement less than a year after starting our mini empire!
31 comments
Congratulations on reaching your goal and even surpassed it. Sounds like you had a wonderful month and I hope it continues in the next upcoming months.
Thank you Lyanna – that’s really kind. Fingers crossed 2020 is a success for us all! x
Sounds like you’ve had a great month. Congratulations on smashing your November target!
Katie xoxo
Thank you Katie – I think I needed a mini victory to give us a boost!
I think you’re doing amaizng, I am in awe of how you are holding things together, well done Lauretta and ace news about yorur magazine growth. Mich x
Awwww you’re so very kind Mich – thank you. I needed a boost with the mag – it’s definitely a great distraction for me from everything. Let’s hope 2020 goes without a hitch for us all! x
I am so thrilled to hear you have finished your last Chemo session, that’s awesome and you totally rock! Yay for the magazine success too, it always feels good when something goes to plan and I have everything crossed that it continues into the new year for you.
It was great to wave goodbye to chemo – and I’m already seeing the results of the poison leaving me – my nail regrowth is coming through – hallelujah! Thanks for the kind words of support Jess XX
You are an inspiration working whilst having treatment. Great news that your treatment is coming to an end in January. Congratulations on the success of your magazine.
I really had to work to keep my mind off things Elizabeth – I would have gone crazy otherwise! lol And thank you for your encouragement – it’s very much appreciated x
I didn’t know you could schedule Instagram posts like that so thank you for letting us know! Sounds like your magazine is going great!
Amazing what you can learn and pass on isn’t it? always learning that’s what I say…
Just incredible you’ve managed to keep up with all the work through your treatment. You’re an inspiration to all.
That’s very sweet Sima, thank you. I know you’ve also been working very hard and have been jet-setting off every now and then keeping ultra busy. You go girl!!! xxxx
You’ve had a really busy month, such wonderful news about your community magazine – you must be so very proud!
Thank you Sarah – it’s nice to see the hard work pay off. And we do work very hard – sometimes to the detriment of the blogging, but hey ho!
I’m so happy for you that this is your last chemo, you must be so happy/ relieved. And what a great month for the magazine as well, sounds like 2020 is going to be a great year for you x
I really am Rhian, thank you. It feels like it’s gone quickly but at the same time the whole process has gone on for a while – it will be a year in February which puts things into perspective. Let’s hope 2020 is great for us all!
Congratulations with the success of the magazine! Hard work really does pay off. TopCashBack sounds like a great service.
Ah thank you – I like to think so too. I’m also going to try and live by the mantra ‘work smarter not harder’ in 2020. Now I just need to nail down a good working schedule…..I’m pretty much there…! x
Congratulations on the success with your magazine that’s amazing! I really need to look in to TopCashBack as it would be really nice to get something back
Honestly Jenni you really should. And if you didn’t pay out your cashback into your bank account, think of the nice lump sum that you would have at the end of the year – perfect for Crimbo!
I keep forgetting about Top Cashback and really should use it more, I usually buy something and then later think I could have done it through that. I never thought about renting out my driveway what a great idea x
This is such an interesting idea for a post! I’ve heard a bit about TopCashBack but nothing about JustPark. What a brilliant idea – to rent our your driveway!
There are so many ways of making a bit of extra money on the side Nina – from renting out space in your loft and garage – anything really. Top Cashback (and now Quidco) have been great for me – worth a look see!
I don’t think that one blog post a week most is a fail at all, I have really struggled myself at times recently. November has been super busy for me, looking forward to rest of December being a bit more relaxed. I think it will end up more like one post a week for me too now.
I guess as long as there are no expectations then it’s nice to set a realistic goal. Can you believe some bloggers post once a day – how do they fit in real life – as well as social media, family, a social life etc…?!!
I rely on my TopCashBack every December … I use it throughout the year and usually have around £200-300 to start off the Christmas shopping
That’s a great idea Tracey – I do the same with my Shop and Scan vouchers. It really helps at the end of the year doesn’t it?
I hope you’re doing OK and congrats on the success of the magazine. I love our local community magazine – it really pulls everyone together and is a great platform for small businesses and charities who would otherwise get overlooked.
Ah that’s wonderful to hear about your local community magazine – thanks Linda. Just got to keep up the momentum throughout the winter – possibly the hardest times…!