Traffic to this blog has been steadily declining the last couple of years and is a little less than half of what it was at its peak. Reader engagement has dropped to almost nothing. My post about getting hit by a car only got a couple of comments. In the past a post like that would have gotten at least a dozen comments. I’d also usually get multiple comments on almost every post. The decline in traffic and comments isn’t entirely unexpected since blogging much less of a priority the past couple of years. I’d like to change that now since it doesn’t make much sense to continue blogging if nobody is going to read my posts.
In 2012 I received a lot of criticism on a post about using the income based repayment plan to repay my student loan. Although I try not to let internet bullies bother me, the insults and disparagements did get to me. That led to fewer posts and to self-censoring my posts to avoid more criticism. I think that might have contributed to the blog’s decline in traffic and comments.
I also recently discovered a widget was redirecting some of my traffic but I don’t think that was having too big of an effect on my traffic and comments. If you have had any trouble accessing this blog please let me know and I will try to fix whatever is causing the trouble.
I do have some ideas for changes to TFM. I’m hoping the changes will actually be improvements. Last year, most of my posts were income, expense, or SWR posts. The income and expense posts will continue since I like them. I’m not sure many readers care about them though. That is why I intend to write more posts on ways to save money or money. There will be at least one post a week with actionable advice on one of those topics. The first post will be up Wednesday. I’m also planning on changing the theme and writing about paying down my student loan. Please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions on how I can improve this blog.
I’m here…and still reading. Yours is one of the few blogs I read regularly…though I wish you’d post more often.
I enjoy the income/expense reports, and wish you’d continue them. But I REALLY like the reports on the trips you take, including advice on how to save money, good spots to stop, etc. The Vegas one was interesting, but so have the posts on hiking the AT.
Need another writer? I’m still available.
Thanks for the suggestions and for continuing to read. I do plan on posting more often. I have a trip report scheduled to post tomorrow.
If I ever need another writer you will be at the top of my list.
Andy,
I am still reading too. I enjoy reading your perspective. I agree with Cindy. You should post more often. Please continue your blog. More money saving tips would be great! You have me thinking about hiking but I have not tried it yet.
Thanks. Posting more often and more money saving tips will be part of my plans.
I would comment, but then I have to make up a name and email like I did here in order to do so. I don’t feel I should have to give it all up to comment. And if you would rather the likes of me stays away, hey I get it.
Thanks for commenting despite the hurdles to doing so. The name and email requirements are standard for WordPress comment systems. I’m not sure if I can do away with them and if I did I’m afraid I would be inundated with spam.
I would love money saving tips also. I do love grocery and food saving tips, in general.
Thanks. More money saving tips are on the way. I’ll see what I can do for grocery and food saving tips.
Long time reader, not much of a commenter. But, I would find it incredibly interesting to hear more about being a tax preparer. It seems hard to find good blogs on that subject. I understand that you may be limited about saying anything specific about clients, but any insight you can offer on being a preparer, the fairness of the pay, qualifications of cvo-workers and whether or not you think your advanced education has helped you with preparing taxes would be neat to hear about. Also, I would like to hear more about your thoughts on tax strategies for early retirement, and/or lower income living.
I’m not a tax preparer. I work in the corporate office doing tax law research to help tax preparers with some of their trickier return questions. Since I don’t prepare taxes I don’t have anything to share on that subject. I might write some posts on tax strategies since I do know the tax law.
Long time reader. I used to find the posts on food stamps and sleeping in your car where your best. So much controversy. Food, utilities and income are fascinating to almost everyone. I am amazed at how low all of your bills are. I live in NW Ohio and I thought it was cheap to live here, wrong! It would be interesting to see what you set your thermostat at and what you actually purchase for groceries. As a side note your girlfriend must be a gem agree to your budget lol!
The food stamp posts did stir up controversy and they still get an occasional comment. I’m not sure if I have anything more to add to that subject, but I might try to think of something. My GF is a gem. We keep our expenses separate. The expenses I share are only my expenses. She is fairly frugal though and accommodate my frugal ways when we go out or travel.
Thanks for the reply. I guess I always assumed your “tax job” was as a preparer. Thanks for clearing that up. And honestly tax research sounds better than being a preparer. 😉
Anything you can do on tax law, Andy, would be interesting…especially if it gives a heads-up to ways we could save on our own taxes.
Which some of us (ahem), unfortunately still have to do because we filed for an extension.
Not that I know anyone like this… 🙂
Cindy- I’ll try to do some tax posts but they probably won’t help you with your 2014 taxes.