The Simple Dollar is hosting the latest Carnival of Personal Finance, and it was full of good articles from the past week. I’ve noticed a shift in writing style in the personal finance niche over the past year or so. I like the personal stories. This “personal level,” missing from traditional media, is so easily accessible through personal publishing on the web, but this approach is disappearing from blogs as well.
Personally, I have no need to read another list of 10 things the average person can eliminate to save money. I just don’t want to read about the average person, whoever he or she is. That type of article is fine for the impersonal big publisher, like Money Magazine. Blogs are supposedly the voice of the people, so I want to read about personal experiences and thoughts. I want to hear, “Here is how I do things,” not — absolutely not — “This is how you should do things.” The articles that appeal to me show how that “average person’s” advice applies to the writer.
I realize that most bloggers are not writing for the same purpose I’m reading, and I accept that. All though I don’t always write from my personal experiences, that approach is the purpose of keeping this blog. I’d like to draw attention to some of the personal stories and anecdotes shared in the latest Carnival of Personal Finance.
* 10 Reasons Single Ma Loves Her Flexible Spending Account
* Be Honest With Yourself
* Making the Financial Sacrifice to Get What You Want
* Something That Made Tricia’s Day
* Getting Rid of Mapgirl’s Books
Even though the remaining articles are good as well, I enjoy the above articles because they have something personal to say. Start with these for good reads and make your way through the rest of the Carnival.
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Thanks for the link Flexo!
Everytime I think I’m too informal or not polished enough, I read something like your post that encourages me to remain myself when I write. Thanks!
Thanks for the mention, Flexo, appreciate it. I decided to try to be more personal as it interests me more than just rehashing “how to save money” articles. I think we have all seen them by now!
Flexo, thanks for including my post in your links. I’ve been trying to use more personal experience in my posts and it is nice to see that people enjoy that type of post.
Thanks for the shout out.
I’ve been thinking about writing my own personal finance blog, with an emphasis on the personal. I’ve been reading ‘Get Rich Slowly’ and the MoneyBlogNetwork for a couple of weeks now and had almost convinced myself that “yet another moneyblog” would just be a waste of time.
Anyone have any thoughts?
It’s not a waste of your time if you’re doing something you enjoy.
*exhale* It’s so good to know I’m not alone. :-)
I was just having a conversation with someone about this. When I browse my feed list, I look for the “personal” part of personal finance blogging and skim over the rest. I like to read how REAL people handle their finances and learn from REAL situations. Most professional finance writers present a “do as I say, not as I do” tone, which makes me wonder how well/often they follow their own advice.
Amen, Flexo. I do my best to keep a personal tone, but there are times that I let myslef get wrapped up in the advice of the professional personal finance writers. They do have valuable things to say (some more than others), but sometimes I focus on them too much.
And especially amen to this. You’ve pretty much encapsulated my life philosophy in that simple sentence.
Just when I was thinking that my blog was too personal and not “informative” enough. Good timing w/ this post…
“Personally, I have no need to read another list of 10 things the average person can eliminate to save money.”
If you want to save money, then save money! send that check to the mutual fund first, then spend the rest.