I’ve been thinking about writing this post for weeks. I wanted to wait until I had everything settled in my mind and heart and that my team had given me the a-okay to move forward with this.
Some of you have been worried as I’ve mentioned the “big changes” that I was going to stop blogging.
Well, I’ve got some good news for you: I’m not quitting blogging. On the contrary, I’m actually starting three new blogs this year! 🙂
Yes, I promise I haven’t lost my mind. Let me explain… 🙂
When I started MoneySavingMom.com, I had every intention of having it be a side thing that I did in addition to other blogs and online things. However, I never expected that it would blow up like it did and become our family’s full-time income.
Within two years, I had shut down all of my other online things and blogs (yes, I used to have two other blogs), because MSM was requiring every single bit of time I had to give it.
That worked well for a while. I was in a season of change personally and focusing on just talking about saving money online gave me space to step back and process other beliefs and convictions that I had once held and had blogged about (those of you who read my earlier blogs know what I’m talking about!!).
I needed to be in a quiet season, where I inwardly processed instead of sharing what I was thinking through and pondering with all the folks on the internet. 🙂
But after about two years of that quiet season, I had various things I wanted to write about that weren’t related to saving money. Since MoneySavingMom.com was my only online platform, I shared some of those things here.
Over time, as I had more and more things I wanted to write on, this blog became more of a scattered, random conglomeration of my personal thoughts and passions and interests. And it strayed from the original purpose of helping people save money.
You all have been along for the wild ride. And you’ve been gracious and kind. You’ve rarely complained, but I know that it’s been confusing to some people.
I know many people have wondered: Why is a blog called MoneySavingMom.com talking about things that have nothing to do with saving money?
I was kind of confused about this, too. 😉
On the one hand, I know I can’t confine myself to just writing about money topics. I would get bored very quickly with that. But on the other hand, it’s important that I define what this blog is about — and that people know what they can expect when they come here.
However, if I re-focus this blog back to its original purpose and only share deals, freebies, and money-saving tips and advice, what on earth am I going to do with all the other topics I’m passionate about and want to write about???
These are the things I’ve been thinking through, pondering, asking people for counsel on, and praying about for many months. Actually, it was most of 2016!
I’d come up with ideas and what I thought would be a solution, but then I’d quickly realize that it just wouldn’t work longterm. So then I’d start over again.
It took many rounds of ideas and much contemplation before I finally landed on clarity. And here’s what that clarity was…
What’s Changing in 2017
1. It’s time to re-focus MoneySavingMom.com back to its original purpose.
Starting today, this blog will only be a place where I’ll be sharing things related to saving money/earning a little side income: great deals, freebies, money-saving tips, free ebooks, frugal living inspiration, money-saving recipes, ways to earn a little side income, grocery shopping trips, frugal family fun, and much more.
I plan to share at least 2-3 posts of my own here each week, plus feature a few guest posts. If you are interested in contributing a guest post, you can read our guidelines here and submit your post here.
The only non-money-saving posts will be my Sunday Peek Into My Life posts. I thought it’d be fun to include those to change things up a little and for me to have one place per week to share a little of what is inspiring me, what I’m reading, links I’ve loved, pictures from our week, etc.
I’m also bringing back the daily LIVE show on Facebook. I’ll be going live every weekday morning between 9 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. CT. On this show, it will be a place for us to hang out and talk about great deals, for me to share money-saving tips, for me to answer a few of your questions live, and to just share daily inspiration with you. It will be like having our morning coffee together every morning… except I don’t drink coffee anymore! 🙂
Want to know my favorite deals every day? Follow my Deals Only Instagram account that I personally curate and post to each day.
2. It’s also time to give myself permission to start some new blogs.
After much thought and counsel and contemplation (and making sure that I’m not biting off more than I can chew!), I’m ready to let you know that I’m launching two new blogs in 2017!!
These are blogs that are on the topics I’m most passionate about and are ones that you request I write on the most:
YourBloggingMentor.com will be a blog dedicated to inspiring and educating beginning and intermediate bloggers find their voice, increase their income, and broaden their impact.
CrystalPaine.com will be my very personal blog filled with practical advice for the everyday woman on topics of faith, family, fitness, and fashion.
Each of these blogs will just have one post per week, mostly written by me. I’m excited about the opportunity to offer specific niche blogs so that you can subscribe to the topic(s) that most interest you and don’t have to come here to wade through lots of content that isn’t related to you or helpful to you. I’m also excited to have a place where posts that I put a lot of time and effort into don’t get quickly bumped down by new deal posts.
Note: The blogs aren’t live yet, so in the mean time, while we’re working behind the scenes to get these blogs set up, if you want to get my weekly personal email newsletter, sign up here. You can also follow me on my personal Instagram account or subscribe to my channel on YouTube.
We’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as these blogs are up and running. Our goal is that they will be live by the end of March! I’m SO excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Thank you, again, for being with me on this journey. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. It’s my heart’s desire and goal that by making these changes, it will allow me to serve you in a more organized, streamlined, and helpful manner!
Anna says
Thank you very much for your inspiration and much success with everything. Thank you for showing me, how thriving and successful one can be.
Stacie says
Crystal, I am sooo excited for your new blogs!! MSM has helped me immensely! Thank you for everything you put out into the world! My sister and I recently started a blog. We have appreciated all your blogging advice on MSM, so your Blogging Mentor site will for sure be our new fav! Lots of love, Stacie
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you so much! I’m excited, too!
Jr says
I really admire what you do. I believe in life there are times where we all should ask the question why do we do what we do and are the motives pure. I know recently in my job I got a promotion and to me it was not about money for me it was about being the example others can see where hard work pays off. I am glad that you came to a point on what is important to you. Keep up the great work.
Natalie Stachon says
Dear Crystal,
I already love your books and blog, and it sounds like there will be even more to love in 2017! Thank you for all that you do…I am so inspired by your example and I have learned so much from you.
Love,
Natalie Stachon
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Jennifer says
Hi Crystal, this is all very exciting! I’m glad you’ll be starting these new ventures. One of your “old” blogs was the very first blog I ever read!! Kind of lost touch after your son was born and recently rediscovered you through your YouTube videos. I’m now reading “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode” and it’s been such a help to me as I’ve been navigating through my husband’s expat assignment overseas. Thank you!! God bless your new ventures!! – Jennifer (Frankfurt, Germany)
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Rachel Nielson says
REALLY excited for you. I have never met anyone who gets so much accomplished! I am so glad to know you and learn from you!
Adriana says
I’m really happy to hear you’re starting a blogging mentor blog. You’ve become a top blogger, and many of us would love to learn more from you. I discovered you on Audible, by purchasing your, “Getting out of Survival Mode” book, because I was in burnout mode at a job I couldn’t stand, and felt stuck. It was exactly what I needed.
Although you didn’t go too heavily into blogging, just talking about what opportunities it’s given you lit a spark in me. Writing was my childhood dream. When I grew up, I thought that’s all it could be and I needed to go for the money and a guaranteed paycheck with benefits. I fought hard to climb the corporate ladder, and it didn’t fit me at all. It took a huge chunk out of my health and relationships.
Just saying that you made a career out of blogging was like you gave me permission to follow my dreams. And I am.
I’m not a mom, and I’ve never been a coupon clipper per se. I shop at Walmart, Ross and Winco (if you don’t have them where you live, Ross sells irregular clothes or ones that didn’t sell at other stores and Winco is a warehouse grocery store, where you do your own bagging). That’s it. So, I’m glad you’re doing a blog mentor blog, because I want to hear what you have to say to say about it!
Crystal, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for introducing me to blogging and showing me that there hasn’t been a better time to be a writer, with all the options to have diversify income online and to self publish on Kindle, Amazon and Audible. I look forward to your blogging mentor blog!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, I’m so proud of you!! And thank you for your kind encouragement!!
Adriana says
Thank you so much and you’re welcome!
Laura says
Sounds exciting! What about ereadergirl? Do you still own that blog?
Crystal Paine says
I sold that one a few years ago to the gal who was helping me run it. 🙂
Mylynda says
I am so EXCITED about this! I am a loooong time reader who occasionally comments. It’s going to be like getting to choose which genre of Crystal Paine that I want to read with my coffee.
When you first hinted about change I was skeptical, pouty and inwardly whined to myself, “I like it just the way it is and I don’t want it to change.” I am so sorry. I should have trusted you more than that, Crystal.
Thank you for being who God has called you to be and thank you for all of the encouragement that you have given us over all these years. I think this new venture is going to awesome!!! Good for you too! Now, you can be as focused, intentional and creative as you want to be for each type of reader that you have. God bless you and your family.
Hels Bels says
Hi Crystal, long time lurker here… I’ve often wondered why you don’t let readers ‘select’ what content they are interested in. I am in Australia so your deals have no relevance for me but I like reading the encouraging stories and hearing about your life – it would work really well if I could choose these areas. Have you considered this? I fear that you will lose people by separating the blogs out.
Diane says
Exciting, Crystal! Happy new year!
Amy says
I’m not a blogger nor very computer savvy but surely you can put links from MSM to your new sites so it will still be very easy to almost one stop shop with Crystal and all her interests, right?
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We’ll have links on the sidebar to get to the blogs you’re interested in — and I’ll (probably) be linking to the posts I write every week on them on my Sunday post in case people missed them! 🙂
Heather says
I’m so happy about this! I’ll probably follow two of your four blogs and not the other two and will be able to see more of the content I come here for. I’ve been a reader since shortly after I got married seven years ago and I look forward to what the future holds for you and your blogs! Thanks for all your hard work.
Kay says
Is there a way you can have one place online that pulls from each of these sites so that those of us who want it all don’t have to keep up with four different websites? Maybe that’s something your team can implement down the road. 🙂
Angela says
Yay! I’m happy you found a solution that makes you happy. I’d like to suggest that the sneak peek posts be on all blogs at the same time. It will allow for continuity and they will “cross-sell” (if you will) the other blogs. As someone who will probably read at least 3 blogs, it will be nice to find the sneak peek wherever I might go. Thanks for reading and God bless!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We’re planning to have some teasers for the other blogs on the sidebars of each blog! 🙂
Darcie says
Hi! I’m so excited about your new blogs! I have been following you for almost 10 years now and it’s fun to see how you have grown and changed. I do have a question: will you have links to your other blogs from the msm.com blog? I like reading all your stories, even if they are scattered 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We definitely will!
Julie says
Been a lurker reader for most of the 8 years I’ve been reading the blog-or should I say blogs, because I remember the older 2!
I am so excited you are doing this. For a long time after our 3rd child was born 2.5 years ago I subscribed only to the “lite” feed because I wasn’t actively deal seeking. A few months ago I decided it was time to save money on certain things again so I subscribed to everything. I think there’s room for it all, but it is nice to have them separate! Looking forward to the new blogs and can’t wait to subscribe!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for sharing and for your encouragement!!
Sarah says
Can’t wait, Crystal!
Laura says
How exciting! I’m glad you’ve found a plan that will work for you. I know we’ll all enjoy reading. It’s funny to think how much I’ve changed as a blog reader over the time you’ve changed as a blogger — and it sounds like others feel the same way. I don’t read as many deal sites, but I’ve loved getting to “know” you better.
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you so much!
Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness says
Wow! Congrats, Crystal! You rock!
Jeanine says
Will it be easy to subscribe to your other blogs? I agree that this site has become so broad, I sometimes miss things. I think that even though there will be more than one blog to read, it will be OK as long as I am able to subscribe and catch the updates like I do now. I have been following you and Life As Mom for years, and I have no problem following her two blogs. I think this will be great! It just can be difficult adjust to change sometimes, especially since you have become such a part of your readers’ everyday life! 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We’ll make it super easy to subscribe!
dawn says
What’s a few more blogs in my feed reader!?
Congrats! I’m looking forward to them and maybe hoping to get a bit more blogging insight from you on your dedicated blog.
Paula Cornell says
I am very glad to read of this. I’ve followed your blog since the days of your Farmhouse Chicken recipe – which my family just loves – & way before Kansas when you all were saving for that first rental! Those blog years were so very helpful to myself and to our family, I’m really looking forward to you refocusing msm.com to those ‘ground floor years!’
And, I can see from just these responses, so much mixed feedback you will endure, but I feel this is a positive move for you.
Julie C says
Can you share the Farmhouse Chicken recipe ? I have looked in the recipe index for it and can’t find anything. We eat a lot of chicken and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. Thanks !!
Candy Rae says
Love, love, LOVE this news! As someone who entered into a difficult financial season a few years ago (and is still working through it), coming across your blog in 2013 gave me much needed help and hope. But, yes, I had noticed that it didn’t seem as much about money saving lately and I wondered why. I am so glad to hear that MSM will be refocused but I’m also glad that you will continue to pursue your other passions. I fully intend to subscribe to your other blogs as well. You have much to offer! Many blessings to you on these new endeavors!
Barbie says
awesome! I would love to see more post on the ‘we paid cash series’.
Lenetta says
I’m still around from … Biblical Womanhood? It’s been long enough that I’ve forgotten. 🙂 I was just mentioning frugal Fridays the other day. Looking forward to the new changes!
Crystal Paine says
Whoa! Thanks for being such a longtime reader!!
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
How exciting! I’m on such a big frugal kick right now that I look forward to this blog getting back to the basics. But I know I’ll be peeking in at those other blogs, too. I always love your thoughts on slowing down and being purposeful. Happy New Year!
Crystal Paine says
Happy New Year to you, too!
Lauren says
Very exciting news!!!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much!
Amanda Morris says
I love it. I originally followed you for your frugal advice, but I don’t pay attention to those posts any more. Your other topics are extremely motivating to me and I am very excited to be able to follow only those that inspire me to live life more simply and freely. Thank you for all you have done to help be be a better woman, friend, wife, mother, homeschooler and housekeeper. God has used you greatly and I know he will continue to do so. (P.S. Just signed up for 15 days to a healthier you…can’t wait!)
Crystal Paine says
Yay! I’m so glad! And thank you for your encouragement!
Rachel says
What about being a mommy and having small little ones and busy bags and encouragement for that I’ve always loved your content on those subjects for those of us who still have little ones 🙂
Crystal Paine says
If I ever have little ones again, I definitely will consider writing about that more again. 🙂
Theresa says
I’m very excited to hear that MSM will focus back on frugal living and deals. My husband and I are struggling financially and I need the practical suggestions. I’m also excited for the 3 new blogs. I had noticed that MSM was getting to be very broad, almost too broad. I think having designated blogs will streamline everything.
Crystal Paine says
Yay! This makes me happy!
Rachel says
I totally agree. I am very excited about the upcoming changes and it being more focused.
Laura says
I totally understand your rationale for this change. I’m especially looking forward to reading your blog about blogging!
Crystal Paine says
I’m so excited to have a dedicated place to get to share more about blogging!
Kathy says
I have loved through the years that I had one place to come and I liked that it was broad with many topics. It was like a grocery store where you could pick & choose what you wanted to read though I read and enjoyed everything. I can understand why you want to do this but I had loved the way your blog had developed over the years to be broad with different topics and most of them very appealing to a mom’s heart and concerns.
Naomi says
I agree. Even though I don’t always read all the posts, it is easy to scroll through quickly to what I want to read. As a busy mom, I’m not sure that I will have the time to visit different websites. Your website and Pocket Your Dollars are the only two blogs I visit regularly. What I have loved about your website is that I get the money saving deals, the book recommendations, and the encouragement all in one place, and I’m disappointed these will no longer be all available in one place. Clearly you are very excited about the changes, and I hope it goes well for you!
Crystal Paine says
That’s one reason I’m keeping the Sunday posts — so you can still get the best of both worlds. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Uma @ Centsible Indian says
Congratulations Crystal! That’s one wonderful news. I’ll be following your 3 new blogs as well.
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you so much!
Danielle says
I’m glad to hear this! Best of all worlds! I am happy to see more money saving tips as that was my favorite part. Although I have LOVED watching your babies grow along side mine!
Crystal Paine says
🙂
Gina says
I love this idea! It makes it easier for us to find the posts on topics we want to read about (I want to read them all, haha!). I’m so excited to read your new blogs.
Crystal Paine says
Yes! That’s my hope! I feel like things are not streamlined or organized here — and it’s kind of driving my semi-minimalist self batty! 🙂
Amy says
This sounds awesome and makes so much sense to me as your blog (and self! :)) have evolved! I am looking forward to the changes and plan to follow all the blogs. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much!
Kim says
How exciting! I’m looking forward to reading ALL of your blogs!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, you’re too kind!
Patrice says
Hi Crystal, First of all I’m so happy that you will keep MSM going, but I’m sad that you will be narrowing things a bit. For me MSM is my one stop daily spot to not only catch the deals but also to catch up with what’s going on. I also think that the fact that you intermingle the two is what sets the relationship between many readers. Whatever the case, I wish you all the best in your endeavors
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much!
Cheryl says
Crystal, I’m so happy for you! I’m a long time follower (not a blogger) and see how these new ventures will let you blossom! I looked forward to seeing them in March and wish you God’s Blessings on this new venture.
Dawn says
Sounds reasonable to only post what’s relevant for the website purpose. Can you go into more detail on what will be on each website? I enjoy the goal setting and book reviews. Will this be on your personal website?
Crystal Paine says
I’ll be sharing what I’m reading each week here on Sundays. But there’s a good chance there will be more in-depth book reviews on CrystalPaine occasionally, too. And I’m doing the monthly goal updates here, too. 🙂
We’re working on getting content set up and scheduled on the other sites over the next 6 weeks… I don’t want to promise anything 100% specific there until I know for sure. But I should know more soon!
Michelle says
The goal posts, your week in review, and following you make things from scratch have always been my favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I have taken advantage of many deals that you have posted, but your goal posts have always motivated me to keep with mine. I was sad they were missing this past year.
Crystal Paine says
I’m excited to be bringing the monthly goal posts back after taking a break for the Year of Rest. It was good to take a break, but I’m so ready to be back to more goal-setting!
Amanda@CrunchyHippieLife says
Crystal, I am so excited for your new ventures! I am just working on my blog myself and will anxiously awaited your blogging website, as I’ve been soaking up information on this topic. Just today I was watching one of your previous scopes on YouTube to learn about building my email list. I got some great takeaways! Thank you so much for everything!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement!!
Carol says
I am relieved that you are going to keep blogging! I am looking forward to following your other endeavors, especially cultivating rest and your personal blog. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
🙂
Carrie Rocha says
Hi! I am a long-time reader, a fellow blogger (contributor to your grocery database thing) and a recent member of your first blogging course. I’m sad that you are going narrower on this blog as one reason MS has stayed in my reader all these years and every. other. deal. blog. has been abandoned is that there is personality and connection here through those other things.
As a blogger myself I have found your ability (what seemed like a freedom, but now I see you found it difficult) to stray from your core a bit and know that the readers here love the life you share from a money-minded perspective. I have purposed to emulate that in this coming year on my blog by broadening my tag line so I can talk about a broader scope of things in that one place.
I absolutely understand why you’ve decided this, but I hope you heard from readers that this is an actual issue and it isn’t just a result of having heard “marketing experts” talk about the value of tight brands and such because deal blogs are a commodity, but this piece of the internet is much more than that simply because you’ve allowed us into your life.
All the best,
Carrie
Julie says
I agree! I probably won’t come to MSM as much and randomly see some deal posts if there are no longer personal posts from Crystal- that’s what I came for!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! And that’s why I’m creating sites specifically so you can go where you want to go and get what you are looking for instead of having to cull through lots of posts in hopes of finding a personal post from me. You’ll be able to find those — and only those — over on CrystalPaine.com. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Ha! I rarely ever pay attention to marketing experts as most of their advice just doesn’t work for me.
I heard from a LOT of readers — dozens and dozens and dozens (maybe hundreds??) over the course of the last 5 years — which is why I’m making this change. I wouldn’t have considered it had not so many people suggested something like this and said that they don’t read this blog for the deals at all and only read it for X and wished that I would include more of Y and hate having to wade through all sorts of posts that don’t apply to them to find what they were looking for.
It’s also for me personally so that I can be more organized and have more of a solid plan. And so that people can know what they are getting when they subscribe or follow a blog. 🙂 I’m hoping it’s a way that I can serve my readers better.
Jen says
Looking forward to the upcoming changes!! I’ve been a reader for 5-6 years, but less frequently over the last couple years because of the extra and varied content that does not interest me.
And, if I am in the minority, who says you can’t change things up and re-integrate the content down the road? 🙂
Thanks for all you do!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! I so agree! 🙂 I’m super excited to have some quieter places on the web to call home and to have a more organized set up for blogging!
Guest says
I agree with you. I’ve read MSM since my 9 year old was a baby. I intentionally read only a few blogs for simplicity reasons so am not likely to read all of these different blog. 🙁
Beth says
I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crystal Paine says
Aw thank you so much!
Francis says
Great ideas – I am cheering you on!
Davonne @ The Tidy Mom says
I’ve really been enjoying your posts & updates Crystal! Excited for you! Once a week is how much I typically write on my only blog & it’s a great pace for me. I’m happy to see you doing your own new blogs as a slow, manageable level. Looking forward to seeing your sites develop!
Crystal Paine says
Yes, I’m excited about focusing on quality not quantity of posts and having a much quieter pace in blogging to allow for deeper engagement!
Jody says
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this post since you’ve been hinting at it! I am incredibly excited for all three of the new blogs, all sound like ones I will for sure be signing up for and I’m sure devouring as I do everything you write!
I’m really glad for you also that you have reached a place in your life and on your own journey of rest where you have come to this conclusion of knowing and courageously truly pursuing what you are passionate about. I’ve been so inspired and impacted by you over the years, I’m really really looking forward to these changes you are making. (I don’t think I’m able to fully convey the amount of excitement I feel about these changes in this comment lol but I’m trying so just know as a reader here I have a GREAT feeling about this direction you are going!).
Looking forward to March and the announcement of the new blogs being up and running! I also like that they will be one post a week, enough to be inspired with and think about and implement but not information overload.
Congrats Crystal and I’ll be cheering you on (and reading along) on your new ventures!
Lindsey says
I’m looking forward to this! I hope to see some more of the We Paid Cash posts on MSM. I really enjoyed those guest posts and I could use the encouragement as we are trying to save money for new floors in our home. When we get them done, I’ll be sure to write a post about it!
Karen says
I miss those posts too! They were so inspiring!
Carrie says
We’ve been looking forward to these for two months now 😉
Getting my Bloglovin subscribe trigger fingers ready!
Carol says
I am so very glad that you will be continuing blogging!!!
Amy Lee says
I love this idea! Money saving tips are what initially brought me to your site, and over the years I’ve implemented many of the ideas shared here. Overtime I found myself coming here more to read snippets of your life and hear you share your passions and words of encouragement than I did the daily deals, so I’m thrilled you will have blogs strictly dedicated to these things! Looking forward for what’s to come and cheering you on!
Kacy says
How incredibly exciting?! I can feel your enthusiasm jump off the page! I’m looking forward to traveling with you down these new roads.
Sarah @ The Teacher's Wife says
Such exciting news, Crystal! I can’t wait to follow along as you write about ALL of your many passions! Sometimes I wonder if I should move away from being a frugal lifestyle blog to something more specific, but I just don’t think I could b/c I like writing about different topics – frugal living, home management, and a little bit of family thrown in. I definitely look forward to your blogging site!! 🙂