Jun
9
WOW! Amazingly it has been two months since I started the journey of blogging about my debt situation and the twists and turns of dealing with it. To be certain it has been wild ride so far. I was fortunate enough to have an interview segment on CNN, which in turn generated some decent traffic to my site. Before that interview I was struggling to get 100 visitors per day, where I now get somewhere between 200-250 visitors per day. By no means overwhelming, but nothing to shake a stick at in just under two months. I’ve also had to take a long, hard look at my plan to eliminate the debt. Initially I did think I would be able to do it ALL on my own, while avoiding any kind of settlements or DMP type arrangements. Reality however, took hold and although not the ideal way to do things, it is probably the ONLY feasible way to do it without quite literally bankrupting myself. So to all those who encouraged me to put all the options on the table, thanks for keeping my eyes open and not letting my pride get in the way. As many of you have said, it took me many years to get into this amount of debt and it will surely take a fair amount of time to get rid of it as well. I’ve come to terms with the fact that there is no quick fix here and only hard word, extra income, discipline and sacrifice will get me there. There are certain things I will ABSOLUTELY NOT sacrifice during this ‘debt cure’ such as frequent trips to visit my daughter, eating healthy and exercising, but other than that, I’m trying to simplify my life as much as possible while still trying to live a life not completely devoid of fun. The last few weeks have indeed been trying and somewhat discouraging, as witnessed by my lack of frequent posting, but the support and positive feedback from my readers has reinspired me to keep it all going.
So, as a thank you to my readers, I actually have a decent giveaway–a tangible product–for you to enjoy. I will be giving away a copy of Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, which does have the very cool 3-D Window toggle navigation that you have all probably seen.
There are three ways to enter and you can utilize any or all of them but you can only enter once via each method. Here is how:
- Leave a comment on this post; this gets you 1 entry
- Link to my site in a post/blog review; this gets you 3 entries
- Add me to your Blogroll (email me to confirm as I don’t always see the inbound links); this will get you 5 entries
The giveaway will run for the next 30 days, at which point I will announce the lucky winner. Am I using the giveaway to potentially attract some new readers. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. That said, I’m also trying to give my loyal readers something back, something tangible that will not put me in the hole. So, by all means comment, link, add me to your blogroll if you choose, but most importantly keep reading and inspiring me to continue the journey. Thanks everyone for a great and frankly life altering two months so far. This journey will one measured in years, so stick with me and witness a true transformation.
As an added bonus, look for the official lauch of my Weight Loss blog tomorrow. Some of you already know the URL and if you are saavy, you should be able to figure it out, but tomorrow I will make it official; there isn’t anything up there just yet.
Posted: June 9th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Bonus point, you’re already in my blogroll. I’ve enjoyed your blog over the past few months as you have been very open about your situation. Debt is like one of those things that ignoring it is easier than facing it. Keep it up you’re doing just fine.
Posted: June 10th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I’ve written about your blog, link in my recommended blogs section, and I’m leaving a comment here!
I say sell the Vista on ebay and pay off some debt!
Posted: June 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
If I could sell it I would, but I can’t. Hopefully you can read between the lines there
Posted: June 10th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Fellowes, You’re in my blogroll all ready, too! And…I’ve done at least one post about your site and plan on others. Your story is not uncommon and needs to be told. I’m hoping that by pointing people to your site, they will learn from you and your honesty.
Posted: June 10th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I don’t have a blog. Wheeeeeeeee!
Posted: June 11th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Fellowes, I have been a reader since your CNN interview. I just wanted you to know that there are readers of your blog that don’t regularly leave comments for one reason or another (myself), but I check in every day and am rooting for you to overcome this debt! Keep up the quality writing!
Posted: June 11th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Thanks C. My traffic hasn’t been that great in recent weeks so I was starting to wonder a bit if people cared anymore about my journey or if they simply didn’t like my style of writing or whatever. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Posted: June 12th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Fellowes, I like your writing style just fine, but some of the larger text blocks could be broken into smaller paragraphs. Just easier to follow it that way.
I for one would be interested in hearing the backstory of your plight, mixed in with your posts about how you are overcoming it. What you spent on, how it affected your marriage, etc.
Maybe I’m just nosy
Posted: June 12th, 2007 at 11:52 am
How now brown cow! Getting 200+ hits a day took me a long time. 2 months is great! Now that you are 3 mos old, shoot me an email so I remember to blogroll you on my next link change.
Posted: June 15th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I must say, you have nothing to be ashamed of in terms of traffic. I have been around a similar time frame and I am happy if I get 50 hits a day! But I am grateful for each of them.
Posted: June 15th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Well I don’t have a blog, but at least I can get an entry. Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted: June 15th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Great website, congrats on the increase in traffic!
Posted: June 15th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
i agree with beyondtheconsumer. this is my first time visiting your site (linked in from trish), and i was a little put off by how long that first paragraph was. i actually skipped down to read the shorter paragraphs first, and then i went back to read the first large paragraph. i plan to be a frequent visitor, though. keep up the good work!
Posted: June 15th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
No blog yet.. but soon.. how about an extra entry for the thought?
Posted: June 16th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I’ll take one entry please
Posted: June 16th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Leaving a comment, I do have a blog, but I do not know what the Hell I am doing on it. In other words I don’t know how to link or create a blog roll.
Is that a type of roll you have with dinner?
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Vista sounds neat. Count me in!
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 6:42 am
You’re on my blogroll. Great idea, I may have to use a similar contest at some point!
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Cool blog, I’m in
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Nice blog, I will check it out and read through some archived posts. I started mine around the same time as you.
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Hey
I can’t say I’ve read your blog but I just bookmarked it to read from now on.
Posted: June 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
will vista let me enjoy these blogs more?
Posted: June 19th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I’ve enjoyed your blog and have read it with some interest. I’ve been impressed with your perseverance, and your willingness to admit when things are tough.
Keep it up and I’ll be reading!
JTS
Posted: July 5th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Pick me! Pick me!
Posted: July 5th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Please enter me for the drawing!
Posted: July 5th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Wow, cool… I just started reading your blog a week or two ago and wasn’t aware of this give way until your post today. Count me in. I’ll add you to my blog roll to at The New Self - http://www.thenewself.com. The link will be up momentarily.
Posted: July 5th, 2007 at 11:48 am
One entry for the giveaway!
Posted: July 5th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Enter me pweze!
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Enter me please.
Posted: July 9th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement! We can do this!
Posted: July 10th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Keep going! You need to update the Debt o meter, but and post some more, but you are doing great! Checked out Pound buy pound too! good for you!
Posted: July 11th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Great Site!
Posted: July 13th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
[...] Buy Dollar, he’s celebrating his two month blogging anniversary by giving away a copy of Windows Vista. Stop by, enter the contest and say [...]