January Online Income Report - the frugal millionaire (2024)

I have now been publishing my online income reports for a solid one and half years. To be completely honest, I debated skipping this month’s report. But, in an effort to be extremely real and open here on the blog, I knew I needed to publish this.

When you work for yourself, you’re going to have slower months. I’m hoping this report is encouraging to those of you who may be experiencing a downswing or are “stuck” at a certain number. I typically bring in between $1200-$2200 per month in side income, which includes both freelance writing and blogging. Last month, however, I decided to eliminate most of my freelancing clients so I could focus more on my blog. The results are not good, which you’ll see below:

Let’s get to my income report, then I’ll share my thoughts.

In January, I brought in $846 in side income. Here is a breakdown:

• Freelancing: $550
• Blogging: $296

The bad news is, obviously, that I only made $846 in side money last month. However, I am still extremely happy with that number. For the first time in a longggg time, I felt like I had free time. I baked countless batches of cookies and cupcakes with my daughters, I started an exercise routine, I have more quality time with my husband, and I feel happier in my day-to-day life. Cutting out a good portion of my freelancing clients was absolutely the best decision for me at this time.

The extremely good news is that I made $296 blogging! Keep in mind that this was money I was paid out on in January, not money that I actually earned in January. You’ll see in February’s income report exactly how much I earned in January, since I’m normally paid one month out. February’s will be higher. You guys, after all this work and effort, my blog is finally at the point of producing a steady income! I have been at this since September 2014, and while it’s been hard at times, it has been so worth it!

Some of you may remember I have a goal to make $10K per month in one year. That one year mark for me is October 2016. While this month’s income was low, I really do think I can hit $10K by October, mostly through blogging! If you want to start your own blog, there is no better time than now! And, if you purchase your domain and hosting through my Bluehost link, I’ll give you a copy of my blogging book – The Beginner’s Guide to Blogging – completely for free! I truly believe us bloggers are in this together and need to support each other, so feel free to reach out at any time with questions or just to chat about blogging and life!

Here’s my tutorial on how to start a profitable blog >>

How exactly I’m making money blogging

I keep very detailed notes on how I’m making money blogging, which you can see below:

• $236.50: Affiliate sales. You guys, affiliate income is incredible. Simply blog about a product that you love and believe in, and earn a commission when someone makes a purchase. I am an affiliate for a freelance writing course, Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Mornings, Bluehost, Tailwind, and more!
• $59.50: Book sales! I released my very first book last month, The Beginner’s Guide to Blogging.While I didn’t sell millions of copies, I am beyond excited with what I’ve sold so far. This was my very first product and I’m happy to have created something that is helpful to new bloggers. I can’t wait to continue releasing products. I have a bunch of ideas and will hopefully be releasing a new product this summer!

I also make money through Google Adsense, but they don’t pay you until you hit the $100 mark. In January, I crossed over $100 and will receive a check in February. You will see this reflected in next month’s income report.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with my results, even though my income is half as low as what is usually is. You guys, this blogging thing is pretty awesome, and it only gets better and better. If you have any questions about blogging or my income reports, feel free to send me an email or leave a comment!

How was your January? Did you hit your income goal? Share in the comments!