Update: Thanks to Mike for the heads up about the AOL/Time Warner error. The graphic has been fixed.

In an effort to give you, the reader, an optimal reading experience, we’ve decided to redesign FrugalDad.com. What you’ll see in the next couple days is a cleaner, more easily-navigable site filled with opportunities to save money while following along on my journey to financial freedom.

Since several thousand of you read these posts via feed reader or email, I’d encourage you to click over to the site later this week and check out our new look.

Thanks for your continued support – without input and motivation from readers I would have given up long ago.

Today marks a significant blogging milestone. FrugalDad.com just turned three years-old. In those three years we’ve seen 1,000 posts, 22,480 comments, and over 4 million visitors to the site. Frugal Dad has also attracted over 11,000 subscribers.

It’s been a fun ride, and for those who weren’t around in the beginning (about 10,095 of you), I thought I’d take this opportunity to reflect a bit on how Frugal Dad got started.

Three years ago today, I sat down to build a little blog from scratch. I’d been writing online for several months, but up to that point, I’d been posting on other’s blogs and on article directories.

After stumbling across personal finance blogs like The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly, I thought, hey, if they can do it, I can do it. I just wasn’t sure what “it” was.

Three years ago there wasn’t as much material about blogging readily available. Many newcomers were still using Blogger and other free installations to host their blogs.

I made a decision up front that I would establish my own domain, buy a cheap template, and pay for an inexpensive hosting package. I asked a fellow blogging newcomer, Pete from BibleMoneyMatters.com, to design our first logo.

Over the years, we’ve tweaked the site theme and logo a few times, upgraded hosting, etc. But three years ago we were still deep in debt, and were just beginning our own personal finance turnaround. I certainly couldn’t afford to take on new business expenses.

However, I decided to gamble $100 on the business idea, the latest in a long string of unsuccessful entrepreneurial efforts. For less than $100 I was up and running with a domain, first month’s hosting package, a template and my new logo.

The first couple months were pretty quiet around here. I wrote an article every day, but few were around to read it. That all changed in March of 2008, when on a whim, I decided to document a project my kids and I worked on – building a square foot garden box.

The post got picked up by LifeHacker after getting a mention from another frugal blog (BeingFrugal.net). Then it was mentioned on MSN.com, and Digg, and several other social bookmarking sites. I went from just a handful of subscribers to over 500 in just a couple weeks.

That early success motivated me to stick with it. I also benefited from good timing, as summer and fall of 2008 were tumultuous times, financially. The things I wrote about (living on less, paying off debt, being frugal, etc.) went from being weird to mainstream.

Even national publications began covering frugality, since so many people were now clamoring for ways to save money instead of spend it. Over the years, I’ve been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Smart Money magazine, and the website has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, Ladies Home Journal, and a number of other national media outlets.

I’ve even given a couple radio interviews. My favorite was for a California-based personal finance radio show whose host was convinced I was up to no good for “hiding money in my home.” I finally convinced him it was only a couple hundred dollars for bug-out money, not $10,000 stashed under a mattress.

Writing About the Highs and the Lows

Early on, I tried to set myself apart from other sites by sharing more personal details about my life. It was something I liked about The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly – I felt like I knew those guys after reading their blogs for a few months.

I wanted readers to be along for the highs and the lows, because for me, it was those experiences that often shaped how I spent money (emotional spending), and what I spent it on. It was my hope that readers could relate to these experiences and follow along, something you couldn’t really do with a “textbook” writing style.

Sadly, I lost my biggest fan, my mom, in September of 2009. She was only 54, and until her final year had been a strong, independent, successful, energetic individual loved and admired by many. She raised me as a single mom, worked insane hours to provide for us, and built her career without a degree in a male-dominated industry. She was an incredible inspiration, and my best friend.

I wrote about her illness and passing, not because it directly related to finances, but because that experience shaped my opinions on things like emergency funds, health care and overall financial preparedness. But I also wrote for selfish reasons. It was therapeutic for me to write.

People often asked how I helped care for my mom, then confined to a wheelchair, worked full-time, continued to be an engaged husband and father AND wrote for the blog. Well, the last part was my therapy. It helped to get those feelings out, and you helped by being there to read and give feedback.

Fortunately, Mom did get to share in the growth of Frugal Dad before she passed away. She always got a kick out of seeing her son’s work featured in those much larger publications.

The attention was exciting for me, too, and a bit nerve-wracking. After all, I’m just a husband and father who works full-time and writes a few articles early in the morning from his “frugal office.”

I didn’t graduate from a prestigious college. I don’t have any certifications or advanced degrees. And I’ve made just about every stupid financial mistake you can make.

This started out as a small post to mention the three-year mark, and as usual, I’ve rambled on longer. Again, I appreciate every single one of you who follow Frugal Dad. In the New Year, I hope to reach even more followers by being more active on our Facebook page, on Twitter, etc. If you happen to a part of those social media networks, I hope you’ll join me, and share the things you like.

I’m excited about moving into a new year, and I hope you’ll make 2011 the year you get out of debt, reach your savings goals, and accomplish your own personal finance turnaround. All signs are pointing to more rocky times ahead, financially, so I can’t stress enough the importance of getting your own household in order. Don’t worry; we’ll do it together. Chat again next year.

Stay Frugal!
Jason

Another Loss

Some of you may remember that last September we lost my mom aftera year-long recovery effort following an aneurysm and subsequent stroke. She was 54 years-old, and the glue that held our little family together. We were very close – best friends, in fact, and her loss affected me deeply, as it did my kids and my wife (and many others who knew Mom).

It also took a toll on her dad, who had to deal with something none of us should have to face – the loss of a child. Even when our kids are grown, we expect to outlive them as part of the natural order of things. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way.

My grandfather was like a dad to me growing up, so naturally when we lost my mom, he and I grew even closer. In fact, he lived with us, sharing our home with my wife and kids (and our dog, who quickly became his dog). It was great having everyone under the same roof; something we had done earlier in our marriage.

Sadly, in May of this year my grandfather was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He opted for chemotherapy and wanted to fight. Would you expect any less from a 29-year Marine? But the damage was done. We lost him October 1st.

The last few weeks were rough, with him in and out of the hospital. Once again, I tried to balance the roles of caretaker, full-time employee, father and husband, and blogger. Obviously, with only so many hours in the day, blogging took a back seat. I wanted to write more about the experience at the time, but honestly, I just had no motivation to do so.

Our family is doing well. We miss him terribly, but are comforted in the knowledge he suffers no more. He lived a full life. He loved his family, and he loved his country, and sacrificed much for both.

Focusing On What’s Really Important

The loss of my remaining family has been tough, and I am blessed to have my wife and her family, and my children, surrounding me. I have learned a number of important lessons throughout the illnesses and deaths of both my mom and my grandfather.

Prior to their illness I had my priorities screwed up. I was distracted by things that now seem so insignificant, like sports, politics, and even money. Not to say money is insignificant, but it is certainly not worth obsessing over. And trust me, neither are college football and politics.

When a loved one is seriously ill, and when you lose them, noises going on outside your little world become much quieter. It’s like someone has a giant mute button and tunes out all of life’s distractions. The only thing worth focusing on is that loved one, and when they are gone, the memories of that loved one.

All that to say that I am weary of the petty arguments going on today, when so much more is at stake. I am sick of the current political climate. I don’t want to turn this into a political rant, but I have to say that I could not possibly care any less about following the twists and turns and debates of every single race across the country. The name calling. The mud slinging. The attack ads. The cheesy ads. The amount of money wasted on those ads. It is all rather sad.

When I sat at my grandfather’s funeral watching the Marine Corps fold the flag draped over his coffin, listening to Taps, all that “noise” went away. Everything about our country, and our freedoms, and our future, seemed crystal clear.

Here was a man that gave nearly 30 years of his life to his country. He fought for that flag. Politicians like to tell us that they will “fight for us,” but how many of them really mean it in the same way members of our Armed Services fight for their country?

Standing in the halls of Congress delivering a tough speech is not the same as standing on top of an armored personnel carrier fending off enemies trying to kill you and everyone else inside. That’s a real fight. That’s life and death.

Shame on those who take our liberty for granted. Shame on those who pretend to uphold the values of our forefathers, and then undermine them at every vote. I will never believe my grandfather, and the millions like him, fought and died for nothing. I have always been proud to be an American, and always will be.

“I am an American” need not be stated apologetically, rather it should be exclaimed proudly. I hope the younger generations remember the lessons of that great generation, and carry them forward for us.

Back to Blogging

Thank you for allowing me a moment to vent. That felt good! Over the next few days I plan to get back to regularly scheduled programming here at Frugal Dad.

Let’s get back to basics. Let’s remind each other of the way our grandparents used to do things. Let’s challenge each other to get out of debt, to build a strong emergency fund, to be more self-sufficient, to strengthen our position so that we may lend a hand to others.

Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Though most of us have never met, I feel a kinship with many of you, and I am inspired by your success. Keep the comments flowing. Feel free to share new ideas on Facebook, or via email. Feel free to ask questions. Feel free to challenge ideas. Tell your friends about the blog, so that we may grow our frugal community even more.

I look forward to another year of sharing life’s ups and downs with you. May we all have more ups this year.

Five Posts You Should Read If You Missed Them the First Time

July 1 – Store Credit Cards Spark Celebration

July 8 – Seven Secret Places to Hide Cash in Your Home

July 15 – Become a Debt Killing Machine in Five Steps

July 20 – The Tri-Level Emergency Fund

July 24 – Living Off the Grid With Kids

Schedule

Now that the mid-year rush at my full time job has slowed to only a mild rush, I plan to start posting more often. Look for more two-a-days here at Frugal Dad (email subscribers will have to scroll down to check for a second post). I’m hesitant to commit to a formal schedule of twice daily posting during the week, because things come up often that keep me from the keyboard. So for now I’ll just leave it that Monday – Friday the plan will be two posts, and maybe one on the weekends, but don’t hold me to it…please.

Forums

For members of the Frugal Dad forums, I have bad news. I’ve decided to remove the forums for a variety of reasons. First of all, they are a huge target for spam, and I don’t have time to adequately moderate them to keep out the filth. Second, they didn’t quite take off like I had hoped, but most of that is my fault as I did not seed them with topics often enough to keep the discussion going. I hope you won’t mind if I cut them loose and refocus my efforts here at the blog.

How Can You Help?

Every couple weeks I receive an email from an appreciative reader looking for ways to help me spread the word here at Frugal Dad. I certainly appreciate it when readers are compelled to tell others about the site, and decided I should formally point out ways you can help me keep things going here. Again, I don’t expect any of these from you, but I am forever grateful for your help.

• Email articles that interest you to friends and family
• Tell offline friends about FrugalDad.com
• Instead of bookmarking, sign up for a free subscription
• Visit sites that I mention here at FD (in roundups and various article features)
• Share FD articles with your blog readers, friends on Facebook and Twitter, StumbleUpon, and other social networking sites

Again, thanks for a successful July. August promises to be busy for all of us with kids returning to school, and the kickoff of fall sports (did someone say college football?). It’s a new month and a clean slate – no better time to get control of those finances. Stay frugal!

With the first half of the year nearly up, I thought it might be a good time to review those goals and the progress made so far in 2009.

Blogging Goal 1: Attract 7,000 subscribers

When I set that goal I had 4,899 (on 12/30/2008). As of this writing I have 7,507 subscribers. I’m flattered over 7,000 people find what I write here worthy of following. I’ll let you in on a little secret – I have a stretch goal of 10,000 followers by the end of the year. You can help by continuing to tell your friends about FrugalDad.com, and by sharing the occasional article with them.  And if you aren’t already receiving my daily articles for free, why not sign up now?

Blogging Goal 2: Receive 250,000 page views per month

At the close of 2008 I was averaging around 110,000 page views a month. Unfortunately, I haven’t enjoyed as much growth as I would have liked as I’m now averaging around 135,000 page views a month. I’m grateful for every visitor, but I need to find new ways to find more.

Blogging Goal 3: Earn 100% of my regular, full-time earnings from writing

When I shared this goal with you I was earning nearly 50% of the earnings from my day job. That number has trended higher and as of May 2009 I’m now earning just over 60% of my full-time income.

When I set this goal I had the idea I would one day replace my full-time job with writing, but now I see the benefit in continuing both (assuming I can keep up the insane schedule).

Blogging is not something you can earn big money with quickly, but given enough time and dedication it is possible to claim it as a decent side hustle. I’ve been writing for the web for over two years, and here at Frugal Dad for about 18 months. That might seem like an eternity to some, but the real champions of blogging started back in 2005 and 2006 (and earlier).

Again, thank you, the readers, for sticking around through the ups and downs. I’ve never attempted to separate my personal triumphs and failures from Frugal Dad, because I hope you are inspired by them, or at least learn from them (as in, my screw-ups).

I would now like to turn things over to you and ask for some feedback on Frugal Dad.

• What types of posts do you most enjoy?
• Do you like days when I post more than once?
• What other peripheral topics would you like to see covered more often (careers, entrepreneurialism, household tips, investing, kids and money, etc.)?
• Are there things you strongly dislike about the site – layout, content, etc?

Please give me an honest assessment as I’d like to expand Frugal Dad’s reach in the second half of the year, and I’ll need your help to do it. Thanks for your continued support!

Frugal Dad News

First, I’d like to welcome all the new subscribers here at Frugal Dad.  With your help, I’m half way to meeting my goal of 7,000 subscribers by the end of 2009 (I started the year with 5,000 subscribers).  I’m humbled by the fact that so many of you receive my emails, check my feed, and visit here to leave comments each day.  Thank you.

Schedule:  I believe it is about time I published an official blog schedule. Of course, nothing is written in stone because sometimes life throws curve balls and you have to adjust a bit.  But for the most part I will try to adhere to the following schedule:

• Monday – “Money/Frugal Living Post.”  Mondays will (usually) be the weightiest post of the week, with an in-depth look at a money or frugal living topic.

• Tuesday – “Ask the Reader.”  These have become one of the more popular topics here at Frugal Dad, I think because it provides an opportunity for us to share feedback/ideas in the comments section.  The questions could come from other readers, or from me.  I appreciate your willingness to provide feedback and adding to the community “feel” here.

• Wednesday - “Money/Frugal Living Post.” Similar to Mondays, another post on a money topic.

• Thursday – “Link Roundup.”  Mondays and Thursdays tend to be high-traffic days, and I would like to take advantage of that by linking to a few of my favorite bloggers and their articles from the past week.  I’ll add a few editorial comments to some links, and simply list others, to keep the size of the post down.

• Friday – “Guest posts, Special Features.”  Fridays will be reserved for guest posts, or a lighter post if none are scheduled. I’m human – I don’t like to work hard on Fridays, so these posts will probably take on a lighter tone than some of the deeper thoughts published earlier in the week.

• Saturday – “Weekend Projects.” In the Frugal household Saturdays are mostly reserved for household projects.  Many of those benefit our bottom line in some way (gardening, installing a programmable thermostat, etc.).  Others are done for pure enjoyment/entertainment purposes, or to add quality time with our kids.  Either way, I plan to share a little about what we’re up to over the weekend.

• Sunday – “Personal Money Stories.”  A new feature here at Frugal Dad.  I plan to give a more personal account of my daily money challenges and achievements from the past week.

Again, I’ll try to stick to this schedule for the most part, but on the occasion life gets in the way I may deviate a bit, or skip a post here and there to devote more time to a quality post the next day.

Personal News

Many of you have been following my mother’s recovery from an aneurysm and subsequent stroke suffered last September.  It’s been a long seven months, and about half way through her recovery she suffered a major setback.  Early last month Mom got very sick and we rushed her to the emergency room on a Thursday evening.  She was admitted, and it was later discovered that the aneurysm was bleeding again.  On Tuesday afternoon she underwent an 11-hour brain operation as a last-ditch effort to save her life – and she survived.

My mom raised me as a single parent, and I always knew her mental and physical toughness was second to none.  But this fight has been unlike any other we went through growing up, yet she continues to fight.  She’s been hospitalized the last six weeks or so, and recently began another round of inpatient therapy.  She is still wheelchair-bound, still not able to eat, and still mad as hell that she can’t do things for herself!

The experience has had a profound effect on all of us.  The reminder that a 53 year-old, healthy, independent woman can be struck down by something in an instant is sobering.  I feel saddest for my children, who were so close to grandma and miss here dearly.  We visit several times a week, but it isn’t the same as having her at home, having her at basketball games and school performances and birthday parties.  All we can do is continue to hope and pray that she makes a full recovery so we can all experience those joys again.

Thanks to all of you who have continued to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers these many months.  I truly believe those prayers have sustained her, and given her the strength to push through this ordeal.

Wrapup

This concludes the State of the Blog address for March 2009.  Times are hard, in many ways, but we are also blessed in so many others.  I have a job.  I have a wonderful family. And I have many virtual friends I’ve had the pleasure of meeting through this new-to-me medium, blogging.  If you are hurting, I hope things turn around soon.  No matter how down things get, take inventory of the blessings around you.  They could be as basic as a roof over your head, or food on the table.  They could be as extravagant as enjoying a week away with your family vacationing.  Either way, stop and smell the roses.  Life is short; enjoy it.

“can you use the same towel twice“
“dreams about giving up“
“upside down car wreck money“
“stop to pick up food“
“unusual rustoleum car paint jobs“

I’ll be back with more thought-provoking financial posts later but in the meantime check out some Amazon Coupon Codes or Microsoft promo codes.  Just thought with all the negative financial news out the last several days everyone could use some comic relief.  I know I could!