In the midst of writing under deadline for a client I glanced at my wall calendar and noticed the next day was January 24. Why did that date seem important? The question nagged in the back of my mind for a little bit. A quick Facebook check confirmed I wasn’t missing an important birthday. Peach and I have our anniversary in September…but anniversary…then it clicked. I’d completely forgotten Broke Millennial’s birthday! Perhaps it’s like a couple that’s been together for so long they sort of forget about the anniversary dates.
Four years ago I just wanted to write funny stories and help some of my friends get their financial lives together. This blog has changed the trajectory of my career, twice. It helped me achieve a childhood dream, just not in the way I expected. It’s allowed me to travel more both personally and professionally. It’s lead me into a world where I’ve created offline, real-life friendships with women and men whom I greatly respect.
And most importantly, I’ve learned there’s just no way to get a good still shot of yourself talking.
Highlights of 2016
- I signed a book deal (and finished writing it and got to see the uncorrected proof right before we entered 2017).
- Decided to take the leap into freelance life.
- Got to be a podcast guest with Peach on The Paper Year (in case you wanted to know what he sounds like too).
- Became a Forbes contributor.
- Went on a few all-expenses paid business trips, which made me feel like a #baller.
- Had an article I wrote be inspiration in a “How Millennial Are You” BuzzFeed quiz.
Failures of 2016
- Didn’t accomplish any of the goals outlined in my last Broke Millennial “birthday” post.
- Felt really disconnected from the larger personal finance community as I found less time to read other blogs and interact with people online.
Goals for 2017
I detailed a lot of my goals in my first post of 2017, but Broke Millennial-specifics ones include:
- Launching a podcast
- Actually starting a newsletter (for reals this time)
- Redesigning the site, which is in the works now and will actually be happening!
- Building my email list, which you can help with right now by joining!
Favorite Posts from 2016
- Take the Risk and Invest in Yourself
- Balancing Unequal Incomes in Relationships
- Are You Paying a Luxury Tax for Your College Degree?
- 27 Things I Learned About Money by 27
- $15,000: The Price Tag of Attending Other People’s Weddings
Post I was Most Hesitant to Publish
Most Viewed Post from 2016
Most Importantly…
THANK YOU so much to you, you person reading this right now, for reading/subscribing/following/commenting/emailing/making this site become more than the ramblings of just another millennial.
Image from Unsplash
Congrats on 4 years! That’s great! And even better news with the book deal and that wrapping up/getting ready to be launched. How exciting. Sounds like a great start to 2017 already!
Thanks so much! Can’t wait to get the book into people’s hands.
Four years is a good long time and you’ve made some great steps and taken on a lot of new challenges. Hopefully the next four years continue to bring good things.
I know plenty of bloggers are far more senior than I, but I think I’m easily a middle-aged blogger now. 😛
Happy blog birthday! Seems like the new year is a popular time to start a blog – I just started mine last year around this time as well.
Looking forward to more of the stuff you’ve been putting out. Love it! 🙂
Probably in an effort to hold yourself accountable or be more creative? It wasn’t a resolution, but I wish it had been because then I’d have actually been successful at one.
Happy blogiversary, Erin! I’m looking forward to both the book and podcast 🙂
Thank you! I’ll certainly have to have you on.
Can’t wait to hear your podcast! I don’t know of another financial millennial podcast and I think it could be a hit. You’ve created an awesome platform already. I am recently podcast-obsessed and it’s really the direction most blogs are going. It’s also great for generating revenue with ads! Cheers to year 5!
I’m uber-podcast upset, so narrowing down to a format has been rough! So many great styles already out there.
Happy 4th! We’ll have to toast to it next week 🙂
Yes, please! All the vino
This is awesome!!! Congrats on 4 years. Can’t wait to hear the podcast! We’d love to have you on the Millennial Money Minutes podcast to promote your book if you are interested! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/millennial-money-minutes-personal/id1185368686?mt=2
Thanks so much and I’d love to come on the podcast!
Happy blog birthday! I’m really looking forward to your book! Awesome cover.
Thanks, Colin! I’m so pleased with how the cover turned out. It actually ended up being a mash up of the two options the publisher originally presented me.
Though 2016 might not have been a good year, you still have this year to accomplish those. It’s never too late. Happy Fourth!
Well, I did get that book deal. I’m calling it a win even if I didn’t hit my original goals!
Congrats on 4 years. I hope 2017 is amazing for you!
Thank you! And I can’t wait to watch you shatter the $1,000,000 marker.
Looks like you have had a fantastic year. Good for you!
Yay! Congrats on your accomplishment, and thanks for sharing your top post.
Wow, 4 years already! I hope you can reach all the goals you set yourself! Can’t wait for your podcast!
I also wish you good luck for building your email list, email marketing has a huge potential.
Best regards,
Fabi
Congrats on 4 years of blogging! I can’t wait to have been doing it that long, I feel like I am still muddling through in my 10th month!