On Saturday, Broke Millennial turned two. While I still feel like a bit of a novice, blogging years are somewhat like dog years and making it to two is about the equivalent of a sweet 16. I spent my real-life sweet 16 going to prom, so this version is much cheaper.
I founded this blog to answer questions I heard my peers asking about money and to improve my own knowledge. About eight months into blogging I interviewed for a job with a public relations agency who works for Bank of America. During one of the seven interviews I went through, an interviewer asked me, “Why did you start writing your site? I find people often begin side projects when they’re feeling unfulfilled at work.”
Frankly, I’d never thought about a lack of creativity and enjoyment at my then-job to be an impetus for me starting this site. But it was. I missed writing (I studied journalism in college) and I felt I could be doing something productive with my downtime. I had never read another personal finance blog. I had never heard of the term “side hustle”. I never thought this could turn into a money maker or more importantly, completely change my career.
Luckily, I didn’t take the job staying in PR with Bank of America as a client. In fact, I turned it down because when they offered me the job, I was informed I’d have to deactivate Broke Millennial and cease all freelance writing.
Many readers have probably seen a drastic drop off of in posts in the last six months. In large part it’s because I’m more satisfied at work and do a lot of writing and editing during the day. However, in year three of Broke Millennial, I’d like to focus back on building this site and expanding my freelance work.
Now, let’s give me a moment to #humblebrag about some of my favorite moments from 2014.
Highlights from this year
- Quoted and pictured in USA Today print and online
- Did more broadcast segments including great podcasts and this fun one for AOL
- Syndicated to Business Insider (admittedly they seem to prefer to US News & World Report pieces)
- Started working for MagnifyMoney.com – it’s pretty epic to be with a startup from launch
- Began writing for US News & World Report and had work syndicated to Yahoo! Finance
- Continued writing for DailyFinance
- Went to my first FinCon and meet some of my favorite bloggers in person
- Got nominated for and had a great time losing at the Plutus Awards
Favorite Posts
- This Is America, Right?
- Rommates: A (possible) Financial Nightmare
- Want to Save a Fortune (and Your Marriage)? Ditch the Fancy Wedding
Post I Was Embarrassed To Publish
- Confession: I Didn’t Have a Savings Account (yup, embarrassing)
Top Two Most-Viewed Posts
Most Importantly…
THANK YOU so much to you, you person reading this right now, for reading/subscribing/following/commenting/emailing/making this site become a community and afford me a platform to discuss the importance of millennials understanding money.
Congrats on two successful years!
Thanks!
Congrats on the anniversary! I’m glad you didn’t take the PR and deactivate the site!
I am too! A much better offer came along. Sometimes it’s good to wait and see.
What a journey and such a perfect illustration of how much opportunity you can create for yourself if you just buckle down and do it. Congrats!
Thanks, Stefanie! I know you sure know the opportunities you can create for yourself.
Congrats on two years! Feels like you’ve been blogging for much longer.
Sometimes I think it feels like longer too. 😛
Congrats on the anniversary! I’m looking forward to reading some of the posts you link towards the end here too — I haven’t been reading you that long so I have some stuff to catch up on 🙂
Thanks! I hope you enjoyed them.
That interviewer must have just been jealous of your blog. 🙂
Obviously! What corporate drone isn’t?!
Congrats on two years! It’s crazy how time flies but I love your growth and development. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks, Jason! Just gotta keep trucking.
Happy blogiversary Erin!!!!!! You have had an epic year on and off your blog and I am SO proud of how far you have come!!! I can’t wait to see what year 3 has in store for you!!
I hope it keeps on rising! I feel like so much success came early it’s hard to believe it.
Congrats on the anniversary! Here’s more to come!
Thanks very much!
Congratulations on your two years! I’m glad you stayed true to yourself and didn’t take the job if it meant deactivating your blog!
xx, Mikkaela
Thanks very much! It’s a decision I’m more than happy with, even a year later.
Congrats! It’s amazing how much can change in just two years. I’m excited to see how much more awesomeness you’ll get to experience in your life, just by doing something as crazy as starting a blog 🙂
Thanks, Ben! I know a ton has changed for you too just from starting a blog. Funny how much impact one seemingly small decision has in life.
Congrats on the Broke Millennial turning 2, Erin. You’ve accomplished so much and I am so proud of your success. I can’t wait to see what you do this year, my friend. 🙂
Thanks so much, Shannon!
Congrats on the two year anniversary! It seems that turning down that job offer and continuing to write sent you down the correct path.
I couldn’t agree more!
Two years? Wow! Congrats Broke millennial! Cheers for another fruitful year!
Thanks, Jayson!
Congratulations! Looking forward to the next 50 more years! 🙂
Oh, boy! Then I’ll be Retired Millennial!
Huge congrats on hitting 2 years! I like the analogy that blog years are like dog years–I definitely feel that :). Looking forward to reading along in year 3–I wish you all the best!
I knew you’d love the dog analogy!
Great article.. It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained!
Glad to hear it.
That’s amazing you accomplished so much. I’m a late bloomer I guess… I also agree dog years makes perfect sense. So much stuff changes in such little time you feel it had to have been more then just that.
It’s also so easy to burn out quickly. I’ve certainly gone through my phases.
Congrats, Erin! And you’re right, in dog/blogger years, you’ve already been around the block ;o) Your #humblebrag was well deserved. I’m excited you’re planning on posting a little more over here – the posts here usually have a more informal tone that I really enjoy!
Thanks, Mel!
Congrats! Your blog has been a huge inspiration, so keep up the great work 🙂
That is so kind! Thank you!
Wow…two years!Thats a big progress.Thanks for sharing.Congrats for your anniversary.
Thanks very much
Congratulations, Erin! You’ve got a lot to be proud of and I’m so happy that you didn’t deactivate your site. I love that picture of all of us from FinCon. Looking forward to hanging with you again in Charlotte! 🙂
I’m already pumped for Charlotte! We’ll have to do another ladies bar hop. 🙂
What was their reason for telling you to cease your blog in order to work for them? I am so glad that you did not take their offer.
A client would’ve been a major bank so the PR firm saw it as a conflict of interest.
Congratulations! You should be proud