Side Hustle Series: Have You Considered Blogging?
Good Morning everyone. Today’s post is the third installment of my side hustle series. In this series, I will highlight people making money via a side hustle or their own business. In today’s installment, I interviewed Choncè, the owner of My Debt Epiphany.
Choncè is a mom, newlywed, and 20-something Midwesterner who’s been on a journey to pay down her debt and enjoy life to its fullest. She started actively paying off her debt at the end of 2014. She has paid off over $10,000 on a salary of less than $40,000 yearly since she started her site. In 2016, Choncè quit her job to be a full-time freelance writer and blogger. She continues to work towards eliminating the remainder of her student loan balance and other debt that she and her husband share.
Have You Considered Blogging?
What caused you to start My Debt Epiphany?
I wanted to share my story and document my journey to working my way out of debt. I was scared when I graduated college because I had student loan debt, a car loan, and no job leads. I started reading personal finance blogs for comfort and got slightly obsessed. Being a writer, I decided to share my journey by starting a blog that would allow me to build a community of like-minded people and be accountable.
How long has your site been around?
I started my blog at the end of 2014, so it is just about two years old.
What do you want the goal of My Debt Epiphany to be?
I want it to be a safe place for people to learn about money and join the conversation. My main goal is to equip people with the knowledge and tools to pay off their debt but understand that life doesn’t stop after your debt is gone. I also want to help people manage their money better and use it as a tool to live their best lives. I share many personal stories and life lessons because I’m still learning and experiencing things. Plus, I want people to feel free to comment, offer feedback and feel like they’re a part of the community. The more we talk about money together, the more we learn and grow.
Do you have a full-time job?
I quit my full-time job in the web design industry at the end of August this year. Now I’m self-employed, running my blog and providing freelance writing services for clients full time.
Any advice for people thinking about starting a blog?
Narrow down a topic you are passionate about and won’t get tired of. No matter what you’re interested in, an audience will be out there for you. That’s just the beauty of the internet. It’s important to narrow down your topic/theme because most bloggers quit within their first six months because they either get tired of talking about certain topics, get burned out/discouraged, or for any other reason.
It’s important to believe in your mission wholeheartedly. Map out a few content ideas, come up with a catchy name, and then get started. The one thing I don’t regret is starting my blog when I did. Initially, I should wait to start my blog until I paid off all my debt. I didn’t have the authority to speak in the personal finance space, and I was afraid nobody would listen or care about what I had to say.
I’m so happy I put those fears aside and started my blog because it completely changed my life. Ask yourself if you will regret not starting now or later in the future. If the answer is yes, get started today!
How can people get in contact with you?
People can get in touch with me by visiting my site, or they can connect with me on social media.
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Other Side Hustle Series posts
Side Hustle Series: What Type of Camera Should You Buy?
Side Hustle Series: Selling Men’s Apparel
Jason Butler is the owner of My Money Chronicles, a website where he discusses personal finance, side hustles, travel, and more. Jason is from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University with his BA in Marketing. Jason has been featured in Forbes, Discover, and Investopedia.