Tell us about your blog.
Pennies for the Piggy Bank is a blog about everyday tips to save money and make a little bit extra each month.
Why do you write about money?
I’ve always been fairly good with money and fiercely frugal. I enjoy writing and decided I wanted an outlet to talk about my views on saving money and personal finance. So, starting a blog seemed like a good way of doing that.
How did you start blogging?
I got made redundant a couple of years ago and started working as a Freelance consultant with a company I knew already so was completely home based. I wanted to start another venture for myself as well, and always enjoyed writing and personal finance so started thinking about blogging. I started reading some of the top UK Money blogs, and researching what I needed to do last summer. Then I finally took the plunge at the end of October last year when I bought my domain.
What’s your most popular post and why?
It has to be my post about saving money on your groceries. It recently got featured on Rockstar Finance, which was completely unexpected -this gave the post a ton of exposure over a few days which gave me a big boost to my confidence as a blogger.
What’s your favourite post you’ve written, and why?
My favourite post is probably my guide to making money reviewing websites. This was one of the first posts I wrote so I was kind of finding my writing style and wondering if I’d ever be able to create an in-depth blog post (I’d only really written a couple of short reviews before this). This post ended up turning into a bit of a beast in the end as the more I worked on it, the more I found I wanted to say. It’s still my most in-depth post to date, but kind of got me into the flow of producing content for a blog.
What’s your top blogging tip?
Just get started if it’s something you want to do but don’t get too hung up about comparing yourself to other bloggers (this is something I’ve been guilty of). The early days are really tough going as it’s hard to gain traction and actually get visitors to your site, so you need to stick at it and try and not get discouraged by this.
Why are you part of UK Money Bloggers?
I’d been following a few of the top UK money bloggers for a while and dicovered there was a community after reading about the 2018 SOHMO awards. When I realised I could be a part of that community it seemed like a bit of a no-brainer as it puts you in contact with the rest of the bloggers in my niche.
Who are your three favourite UK Money Bloggers?
It’s difficult to pick just 3 as there are so many amazing blogs in the UK but if I have to my top 3 would probably be:
Boost My Budget: This was one of the first blogs I started following when I was thinking of setting mine up. I’ve probably read the majority of her income reports which have given me loads of ideas for making extra money.
Much More with Less: I didn’t discover Faith’s blog until I joined the UK Money Bloggers Facebook Group but it’s now one of my favourite blogs.
I’m also a big fan of Andy Webb’s blog Be Clever with Your Cash. I’m a big fan of the Savings Challenge he ran in 2014 where he tracked how much money he saved in a year. If you haven’t read any of these, I’d highly recommend checking them out
And now…some quickfire questions
What’s your number one money tip?
Start investing as early as you can to make the most of the power of compounding. I didn’t start until about 5 years ago but so wish I’d started sooner!
What is the best bargain you have ever bought?
A few years ago, I got a year’s breakdown cover with the RAC for about £6 as there was a ridiculous offer on TopCashback. I used it for my wife’s car too. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen an offer quite so good since for this!
What is a product / service you are happy to pay the extra for?
Most things relating to home upgrades and decorating. One of the big changes I’ve made in the last few years is switching away from the cheapest paint money can buy – having 2 small children means you need something that’s decent quality and can be wiped clean – or you’ll find yourself having to redecorate every year – so paying a little bit more works out cheaper in the long run and saves you valuable time in future…
Tell us something about yourself.
I was a keen Tennis player when I was a teenager and played to a reasonable level but stopped playing as I discovered pubs and nightclubs etc. I’m trying to get back into it now though after a 20-year hiatus, which is interesting as after barely hitting a ball for 20 years my shots are all over the place. On my first week at my new tennis club I hit one of the older ladies at the club in the back of the head with a serve which was quite embarrassing – luckily, she wasn’t hurt and saw the funny side of it.
And finally…where can we find you on social media?
Twitter @PenniesforPiggy