It’s growing up before our eyes, *tear*! So crazy how time flies, eh? I think it’s officially an old man ;) Everyone knows that a blogging year is equal to like 20 “real” ones, haha… even more than doggy years! So it’s quite the achievement indeed for me. Especially as someone with massive A.D.D. and real non-love of writing, haha….(well, I DO enjoy getting my *thoughts* out, but I genuinely hate all the editing and sentence structuring and blah blah blah… while it looks like all these posts were done in 15 or 20 min. windows, I $hit you not when I say it probably took HOURS. Even this one took me 3 ;) Crazy, huh?)
But of course it’s been 100% worth it, and it’s made for one helluva ride so far. And before I can even say another word further, I have to formally thank each and every one of you for your continued support you’ve showed me from day 1. I honestly, truly, appreciate every last email and comment and tweet and everything else you’ve done to help grow this community with me, and there’s no way in hell I’d be here without you guys! So THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU!!! It’s the best thing you could ever give me :)
And now, a quick stroll through memory lane… four years ago we were…
- Getting 5 people a day coming to the blog (our actual birthday was on Feb 12, 2008)
- And only a few people leaving comments, across our dozen or so posts…
- With maybe 10 people signed up to our feed.
- Blaring Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake while I blogged (hence, where “Budgets Are Sexy” came from – cuz I was bringing BUDGETS back, baby!)
- Working at a start-up watching my CEO blow through millions of dollars a year
- Engaged to be married to my now wife, and future mother of my child!
- 20 pounds lighter and still partying it up like it was 1999.
- Clueless you could even MAKE money online.
- And overall just floating through life with no real game plan whatsoever…
And now, 4 years later…
- We have over 3,000+ people a day coming to the site!
- With over 23,000 comments being made, across 1,400 blog posts…
- And 5,000+ signed up to our feed, with another 10,000 following on Twitter.
- While I blare Bob Marley and Mumford & Sons to help stream my thoughts away :)
- And my old 9-5 now bankrupt, almost bringing down everyone else with them…
- But not before I escaped to blog full-time! And now VERY much know you can make money online!
- And that there is WAY more to life than just money and beer! (Though they certainly do help ;))
This blog is proof that you can accomplish stuff if you really pour your heart into it. And if you do a good job surrounding yourself with like-minded people (aka, you guys!). No big project can be completed alone, so whatever you’re working on, be sure to ask others for help and continue seeking out that knowledge – no matter what challenges get in the way. You are your #1 fan, and if you don’t believe in yourself no one will! So keep pushing forward! We all love you and want you to succeed!
If you ever need anything at all, please just give me a shout – my door is always open to you. You have literally changed my life, and I thank you all so very very much! To another 4 years!
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(Photo by C G-K. Doodles by J$)
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Congratulations on the radical accomplishment! Can you believe how quickly times passes?
Here’s to many more years of sexy budgets. May you live long and prosper!
Congrats man:) Your blog is incredibly entertaining, it’s always a nice surprise when I get here and your desire to help others has not gone un-noticed… may the first 4 years be only a beginning:)
Congrats on 4 years!
Congratulations! I remember when you first started (back when I was Rainy-Day Saver) — you’ve come a long way, baby!
Congrats, J! We’re thankful that you let us ride shotgun on your journey! :)
Happy Blog o versary!!!! I wasn’t on the train at the very start (shortly after) but now I need to go back and read the ……errr……….birthing from the start.
Congrats J!!!!!!! I have to say, the year (or is it 2 now?) that I’ve been following the blog has been one heck of a ride!
Happy blogoversary! Budget are Sexy is an old man.
Your making good progress! My blog is only 3 months old so my stats are like yours were in 2008.
congrats j. Is that you in the background with striped shirt? lol. I remember back at my old job when I was bored at work and stumbled across your site. I have been hooked ever since. Because working in finance i know it can be pretty dull, or we are always seen as the uninteresting people. Your site makes it widely known that finance is cool it is everywhere and you might as well embrace it.
Congratulations! I’m only a few months behind you, but I don’t have anywhere near the stats that you do. Your community here is awesome!
YAY! 4 yrs!!! I know I’ve been actively following your blog for little over 2 years. Here I thought I was just reading this rad PF blog…little did I know I would end up meeting an amazing person who has changed my life…(and I’m not talking about Nate).
Love you, friend!
Congrats J$, here’s to another 4.
Thanks everyone!! You make me blessed :)
@Frugalfries – Thanks! One day you’ll be here too ;)
@IntelligentSpeculator – Awww, appreciate it :) Big fan of yours too!
@Michelle – Thanks!!
@Nicole @ The Penny Frugalista – Hah! Yeah, so crazy! I remember that too :) Happy Birthday to you also!
@Ryan – Me too, or else I’d still be floating around aimlessly in the cororate world ;) So HUGE thanks to you and the others.
@jolie – Haha… you probably didn’t miss much, don’t worry. I was pretty scatter brained back then ;)
@Emmy – Thanks Emmy! I love it that we know each other in “real life” too now – makes seeing these comments from you even better :) Thanks for always supporting the blog and me!
@Daisy – No doubt about that ;)
@Squeezer @PFSuccess – We all go through the phases :) Pros and cons to each too – back then, if I said something stupid no one would catch it, haha… hope you’re enjoying it as much as I did back then :)
@Christopher @ This That and The MBA – Thanks bro! Luckily it’s not that hard to make money interesting because of how boring it usually is, haha… so I’d gladly take the reigns to keep spreading the good word! (And nope – not me in that pic, but man – that would have been a good idea :))
@Shane @ Beating Broke – Aww, thanks man. You’re included in that community btw ;) And I bet you have more of an outside life too than I do, haha…
@Trinnie – HAH! Love it. As I was telling Emmy up there above, it makes SUCH a difference knowing who some of the readers are in real life – and you are by far one of my favorites ;) Really really appreciate everything you’ve done to help out my projects, and glad to call you a friend for life. Go USAA!!
@DebtnTaxes – Thanks! I hope you get to 4 too if it’s something you want :)
Happy 4! I celebrated 4 years back in September. I guess that means we’re preschoolers?
congrats JM.. 4 years blogging is an eternity..
you, my friend.. are a rock star.
and good job on improving your tunes selection..
brit -> mumford is a pretty big step up in class :-)
You’re an inspiration, JS! Think I’ve been following you for just about a year and even in that time it’s clear how much the site has grown. Happy birthday to you and here’s hoping the next four years bring truckloads more success and sexiness.
Congrats! Hope the next 4 years are as great!
Congrats J, this is an awesome thing to celebrate! Here’s hoping for another (at least) four more years of success and inspiration and awesomeness!
Happy 4th Blogiversary! I hope your next 4 are even better than the last. :-)
Happy Bloggiversary!
Four years is a lot.
I just hit my 1st and I didn’t even notice. Time certainly does fly. It’s probably going to take me a three hour post as well.
You and your blog really are a huge inspiration.
Congratulations!!!!! Haven’t been there since day one but read some articles here and there to make my own sinapsis of your blog. Your path of succes es very impressive and inspiring to me. I just knew about your blog kinda’ like three days ago and I just cannot diss. Every day I pass by to check out what is new around this blog of yours. I want you to know that because of you I decided to open my own blog and I’m motivated to be successful on it like you did. Thank you for your inspiration. I’ll stay tuned. I wish you the best. Blessings for you and your family.
Woohoo!
Congratulations and keep up the inspiration for us all!
Congrats! Keep up the amazing work.
Congrats on 4 years! Many blessings to come in the year ahead (and with a baby, plenty of blog and budgeting material!)
Congrats buddy! I bet I was one of initial commenters LOL
Hapy bloggin’ B-Day!! Glad you’ve stuck around this long and wish you success in the many years to come.
Always love to stop by and see what you are up to. You always write from the heart and it’s always entertaining. No wonder so many people keep coming back.
Happy Blogaversary! Four years is a lifetime in blogging years — congrats to you!
Wow J, Congrats!! You’re honestly one of the nicest, most hardworking guys in PF so it’s good to see you be so successful. Go forth and keep doing well my friend, you deserve it for sure :)
Congrats on sticking to blogging for 4 years. This is huge! However, I really enjoyed exploring your memory lane as it gives us newbies so much hope! :)
Hey J, Happy Anniversary!!! Ooh, thanks again for letting me win my awesome bag on the giveaways!!! As a former English major, all I can say is that I love your style — it’s real, it’s funny, and so very you. I always find your topics interesting, even the ones I can’t relate to (like student loan debt). But I find it important to know what is happening with real people in their everyday lives and how that can impact the economy, as it’s a nice slice of life. Good for you, cheers!!!
Happy 4th birthday! You deserve all your success.
I read your blog everyday. Thank you for the entertaining post and reminding me daily to save my money. Although we don’t know each other personally, i look up to you very much. I wish you much success in everything you do!
Congrats. You’re definitely an inspiration.
Congratulations! Huuuuge milestone!
Happy bloggiversary! Thanks so much for all the entertaining and informative posts.
Congratulations!
And thank you so much for your email – you really embody the whole “share the wealth” mantra!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll certainly say it again, You, Mr. J. “Mortgage Killah” Money, are a hero to all of us.
Dude, congrats on four epic years. I’m betting on at least another 20 b/c I need my future little bambinos to be schooled in all things sexy $$ from this site… :D
Thanks for making me blush everyone! ;)
@Kacie – Woo! Almost time to go to school :) Congrats on our 4-years too!
@jefferson – Haha… well, I never said I stopped listening to Britney all the way ;)
@Skint in the City – Thanks dear! Big fan of yours too, so let’s grow together! :)
@Marianne – Some to you, Marianne!
@Jessi @ PracticallyFunctional – Thanks so much, means a lot :) Can’t even imagine where we’ll all be in another 4 years… crazy.
@Jen @ Master the Art of Saving – Thanks Jen!
@Rafiki – Awesome, congrats to YOU too! The first year is def. the hardest, and most blogs die out way before that. So way to make it through the hump! We’ll continue writing 3-hour posts together, haha… jeez.
@Caroline – Cool! Way to go on starting your blog, that is wonderful :) I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Lots of fun and learning around the corner – holler if you ever have any questions.
@Kathy – Thanks for always supporting me, Kathy!
@bogofdebt – Thanks!
@chimomwriter – Haha, no doubt about that ;) Just gotta make sure this doesn’t turn into a “daddy” blog, eh? You owe me a text/call btw, I’m waiting for it! :)
@Evan – Yeah dude, you’ve been around the block a while too! So big congrats to you as well :)
@Glen Craig – Thanks so much man, really means a lot coming from you. You’re one of the original pf bloggers! Wanna share a beer at FINCON 2? :)
@Christa – Haha, oh yeah. Here’s to all of our success!
@Azra – Awww, thanks so much – so sweet of you :) Btw, congrats to YOUR team for hitting Entrepreneur magazine this month! I was flipping through the pages and was like, “Hoooooold up! I know them!” Haha… very cool stuff.
@Aloysa @ My Broken Coin – Hehe, I like seeing them on others’ sites too so I stole the idea ;) Thanks for always popping up and saying hi!
@Carol in Mpls – Thanks friend!! You are too kind! I hope you win even MORE stuff over the years ;) Be sure to enter today’s $5,000 IRA giveaway!!! I think you’ll like that more than the bag ;)
@Shondellclarke – Thanks!
@Katherine – Awww, thanks Katherine! Really appreciate you stopping by, and esp for leaving such kinds words :) If I can ever answer any questions that’s not on this blog here, just shout, okay? Always up to help!
@Edward Antrobus – Thanks man, so glad I can put your face to the name now :) Makes interacting so much better online!
@BrokeElizabeth – Thank you!
@Andrew from FabulousSavings – Thank YOU so much for all the support :)
@SJM – Ofcourse! I don’t know much, but what I do I’m happy to share and help out :) People do it for me evey day!
@The Happy Homeowner – HAH! Now *that* would be something…. imagine how different the web and life will be 20 years from now? Man… by then J. Junior will be posting on my behalf! :)
Congratulations J$ and I am so pleased you kept going that long – I found you only about a year ago but as I said before, I really like the company. So here is to many more productive and enjoyable years to come. And on this wave, mine will be one year old this coming Saturday – youngling, really. Just hope that I love my blog as much as you love yours and that I have similar eagerness to learn, improve, relate, make people think and entertain. Cheers!
Congratulations! Four years of blogging takes real perseverance and dedication. May your blog last longer!
@maria@moneyprinciple – Awesome! Congrats! Yes, keep pushing and putting out all your thoughts out there as you never know how big of an impact you’re having on people :) MOST readers never EVER leave a comment (I think the % is like only 2% tend to comment?), so you can be changing lives without even knowing it. And it keeps your own finances in check too, which is great :) Congrats on the 1 year!
@Cherleen @ My Personal Finance Journey – Thanks Cherleen! Yours too! :)
Congrats – that is AWESOME!!
Thanks friend! Y’all are well on your way to being vets too! :)
Congrats! What a great achievement!
Congrats man!
You’ve gone on quite a journey over the last 4 years and we’ve enjoyed traveling with you!
Thanks! So glad y’all have stuck w/ me throughout it too :) Good times still to come!