So, we’re finally here. We’ve reached the self-evaluation checkpoint I gave myself when I retired. I try to be very intentional with my decisions and how I spend my time since that’s all we have in this life 🙂 . Similarly to this post discussing if I should reveal my identity online, I wanted to examine if I should stop or change my blogging in the wake of my retirement.
So it’s now been a year of retirement with my weekly writing schedule, and I want to decide if I should continue this cadence, change it, or if blogging has served its purpose in my life and it’s time to move on. Writing these kinds of posts is how I often process information, clarify my thoughts and make decisions – so let’s go on this journey together. I’m curious what y’all will think about whatever I decide 🙂 .
Weekly Blogging: Pros & Cons
Consistency (PRO)
Blogging wise, every week is the same in that I publish a blog post every Tuesday. The consistency helps me never forget, which is good since I barely know what day it is anyway 🙂 . So if I blogged every other week, for example, remembering if this was an on or off week would most likely lead to me fucking up.
I’ve also heard that writing is like a muscle – exercising it consistently helps keep it strong. I have found that to be true. I’ve been writing consistently here for almost 4 years and starting that consistent schedule has helped me not have a gap. Writing has become a fairly easy thing to do instead of something I second guess every word.
In that same vein, posting weekly doesn’t allow time for my perfectionist tendencies to sabotage me. I can’t make a million edits and wait until I deem something ‘perfect’ (Spoiler: it’s never happened) before releasing it into the world. Instead my mind goes “Tomorrow’s Tuesday – time to send it out in the world”. Consistency has helped me overcome some of my less helpful characteristics.
Consistency (CON)
This is also a little bit of a con in my mind because one of the things I looked forward to in retirement was having no set appointments or things I have to do each week or on a certain day. However, I’m starting to realize that might be next to impossible.
I still have weekly calls with friends that I don’t want to switch to “random” just to make my life feel like it has less of a schedule. Living a life without any set appointments might be a goal I need to let go of – it might belong in the past before clocks or something 🙂 .
Another Cadence?
Based on the things I brought up above, I don’t think a different cadence would be better for me. Bi-weekly would most likely lead to confusion given my lack of understanding of what day/time it is.
Monthly would just be my monthly recap posts, which I think would be helpful, but I also suspect they would become 10,000 word mammoths if that was the only thing I was writing. That schedule also wouldn’t allow me to do anything else but recap my life and I think chatting with y’all about the things I’m thinking and feeling in addition to the hard facts of what I’m up to is one of the best things about this blog.
A sporadic schedule of posting whenever I think I have something worthy to say would most likely be dead on arrival because of my perfectionist tendencies. Nothing would ever be ‘worthy’ of me breaking my silence. As a result, I suspect I would just go radio silent since nothing would be “good enough” in my mind.
Blogging At All: Pros & Cons
So should I keep doing this at all? Do the pros outweigh the cons?
Helping Others (PRO)
The emails and DMs I get about someone getting on the FIRE journey because of me or saving money or finding a job, warm my heart. I never thought I could have that kind of impact on the world and getting those messages keeps me going if I ever have a slight moment of doubt.
This blog has had a bigger impact than I ever could have dreamed and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I feel good that I’m providing an example of a black woman doing what might seem impossible.
Well just make my entire week on a Monday morning why don't you😍🙌🏾💜😭🥰 pic.twitter.com/gB8UbjyJ8e
— A Purple Life (@APurpleLifeBlog) July 12, 2021
I Look Forward To Your Comments (PRO)
Every Tuesday I’m excited to see what y’all comment and think about my post. It’s the best part of that day. Y’all help me learn, correct me when I’m wrong and provide fresh perspectives. Engaging with you really is my favorite part of all of this 🙂 .
I Like The Challenge (PRO)
I like creating something, even if it’s as small as putting my thoughts in a logical order to explain why I love Bombas socks so much. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish a post and share it with the world.
And the sense of accomplishment feels bigger than when I plan a trip for my partner and I or complete a new non-fiction book. I don’t think I’m one to intentionally look for challenges to complete or mountains to climb (though I guess my non-fiction book challenge might say differently…), but this blog provides a consistent, but low stress challenge in my life.
I’m Still Excited To Write (PRO)
I still only write for this blog when I’m excited to do so and feel like the words are going to burst out of my body. I’m still excited to write, which makes me think I might still have more to give. I also still have countless ideas for posts I want to write. I still have things I want to say. You might even say I have too many ideas 😉 :
Me a month ago: Hmm – I have no idea what I should write about this week🤷🏾♀️. Let's do something random😜!
Me today: I have a content calendar detailing every post until March 2022🤓…. pic.twitter.com/pJOB8R3DsY— A Purple Life (@APurpleLifeBlog) August 13, 2021
I also enjoy curating my life for myself and others. Time can pass so quickly that it’s easy to forget the stand out moments. Capturing them here helps me do that.
The Responsibility (CON)
Similar to the above, I wanted to be free of responsibilities, but am now learning that might just not be possible. I still always have dishes to do, laundry to wash and our next adventure to plan. A life free of responsibility doesn’t seem to match with how I want my life to be upon further reflection.
Not ‘In Good Faith’ Comments (CON)
This is obviously the internet so before I went live with this blog I braced myself for the nasty, troll comments this medium is famous for. I braced myself.
However, a negative I did not expect were people who intentionally try to poke holes in my story, spread the rumor that I’m somehow a liar, assume I have some malicious intent or generally think it’s a good use of their time to be vaguely annoying 🙂 .
And I do get it – the internet is basically the wild west and you shouldn’t blindly trust anyone (online or off in my opinion 🙂 ). A lot of people are indeed trying to swindle you into buying something. But, if a blog doesn’t speak to you, there are a million other ones and I don’t really understand the impulse to latch onto someone and try to expose them in a lie instead of just moving on to the next blog that better speaks to you. I thought that being completely transparent with every cent in my life would help me avoid this kind of interaction, but that hasn’t been the case. Oh well 🙂 !
Anyway, this isn’t meant to be ‘woe is me’, but as my blog has grown I’ve been getting more of these comments and let’s just say they’re not my favorite 🙂 . So this is something I have to decide if I want in my life.
To insert some (dark) levity, this is what I was singing in my head while writing this section:
A Yes Or No Checklist
So those are all my jumbled up thoughts on the subject. I was looking for a way to simplify all of this so I could quickly check if I should keep doing this. I came up with the following checklist, which is broken down into items I have to say yes to and items I have to say no to in order to pass. Let’s see how I score:
Must answer YES:
Is it still fun?✅
YES! I only do the parts of blogging I enjoy and I love writing and responding to your comments.
Do I have things I want to write about?✅
YES! As I mentioned above, I have so many things I’m itching to write about that I’m booked solid until March 2022.
Am I excited on post days?✅
YES! Usually the first thing I do after awakening on Tuesdays is check to see what y’all think about my latest post.
Must answer NO:
Does a weekly cadence get in the way of the life I want to lead? (If so, is there a cadence that would not?)❌
No – my posts are scheduled in advance and as a result haven’t interfered with my life, even while traveling without service.
Does it feel like a job?❌
ABSOLUTELY NOT 🙂 .
Do I ever dread it?❌
Nope – not at all.
So it looks like I haven’t experienced any of the red flags I would need to pack up shop all together. It also seems that upon reflection, my current weekly schedule has more pros than cons. Sweet! I think I’ll keep this checklist to use in the future to evaluate as I go and make sure I’m not falling into any traps I want to avoid.
Weekly It Remains 🙂
Based on all of the above, I’m going to keep my weekly Tuesday posting schedule. I thought hard about what I get excited about in my life – and hearing y’alls thoughts about my weekly Tuesday posts is a bright spot each week. I still have longer term anticipation and excitements like a trip or seeing friends or family, but this blog has been a weekly constant that I’ve really enjoyed.
Overall, I think I still have things to say and a fresh perspective in this space. If that changes I’ll reconsider, but currently blogging is a wonderful outlet for every creative endeavor I have. Nothing else has been able to fit all my random hobbies, such as writing, photography, curation, eating, music, travel tips and movie reviews all together.
When I told my Mom (and editor) I was going to think about quitting this blog, she point blank responded in disbelief “As if you would stop doing this.” I guess she knew me better than I knew myself 🙂 , but I honestly wanted to give myself a moment to examine blogging’s effect on my retirement and if it has more pros than cons.
Conclusion
So for those reasons, I’ve decided to continue writing weekly here. I’m not going to put another deadline to reassess on the calendar, but rather just constantly mentally assess how this is going. If I decide to change the posting schedule here, I’ll let y’all know before switching it up.
This is anticlimactic huh 😉 ? Well, it’s not totally. Like all aspects of my life, I’m continuing to reassess and if looking at other bloggers is any indication one unknown day I will press publish on this blog’s last post. It’s inevitable and I would prefer it to be planned instead of sudden. Anyway, when that happens, I’ll let you know in advance and most likely keep my associated social media in case y’all want to reach me. So this isn’t forever (nothing is), but it’s awesome for now. Thank you for being here!
Do you think I made the right decision?
Thanks Purple for all you do I’m so happy you’ve decided not to quit blogging. I look forward to your posts every Tuesday. You continually show me what’s possible. I found your blog last year after watching the Money on the Table series with Rich and Regular. Thank the YouTube gods for that one! You, along with Rich and Regular and Mr Money Wizard, inspired this brown girl from Macon, Ga to start the FIRE journey. I’m so grateful for you and the journey that lies ahead. Thanks again for choosing to pay it forward.
Ivory
Oh wow – thank you for telling me all of that 🙂 . That’s wonderful to hear and I’ve screenshotted this in case I ever need a pick-me-up 😉 . Those are some awesome people to look to for inspiration – I’m so happy I also help you see what’s possible. That’s the goal! Good luck on your journey 🙂 .
Hi Purple!
I am thrilled that you decided to keep writing and finally decided to post to let you know how excited many of us are I’m sure. As a fellow black woman from the South who is also your age and hates driving, your blog has been a wonderful read and great inspiration!
I came across your posts after a reference from a business insider article in August and have been addicted ever since. I really enjoy the diversity of your content and transparency. It also helps that you talk about some of my favorite topics such as finances, travel, and food. 😂 I will continue to look forward to your posts and just know that your amazing recommendations, such as the Bombas, Saalt cup, and use of Personal Capital have made a huge difference! Enjoy your week!
Also, loved your hot air balloon posts. I was there two weeks ago and rode in one for the first time. I was surprised that it was not as scary as I thought it would be! I also hate heights!
Did I gasp dramatically when I saw the headline of this article? Yes, yes I did. But then I checked myself—you should blog for as long as it serves you and you don’t owe us anything.
While I’m really happy to see you will continue to blog and brighten up my Tuesdays, I’m even happier to know that you’re blogging because it’s a positive contribution to your life.
This intentional assessment of an activity is a really helpful framework. I feel like I should run through this before deciding to add back in activities I stopped because of COVID, and to decide whether to keep some of the new COVID- friendly ones I added.
Hey get out of my head Jenny 😉
Purple this post was the opposite of anticlimactic. After going through the same mental exercise as Jenny I was relieved to discover your decision at the end. Re the attackers, I agree it’s awful to be subjected to it. But if we all shut up and sit down the trolls will have gotten what they wanted. Don’t let them, your contribution is far too valuable.
I do love doing things out of spite 😉 so let’s add that to my reasons for staying haha!
Oops – didn’t mean to make you gasp! I’m glad the framework is helpful and yeah feel free to use it for your own activities. I love being intentional with those choices 🙂 .
Oh wow – thank you 🙂 . And haha glad our interests align so well! I’m also happy to hear that my recommendations have been helpful. And that’s so cool about the balloon! And yeah I’m shocked with how not scary it is. Truly wild 🙂 .
The thing which struck me was how logical and clearly listed this process was 🙂 Can’t argue with your thinking at all. I for one am glad you’re going to continue blogging and I can’t wait to see what you write about <3
Haha thank you! I try to be logical about this stuff 🙂 .
The list of Pros vs. Cons really kinda sums it up, doesn’t it? Writing is still fun, exciting, you have things to say, and you don’t dread the schedule. Makes the decision super-easy!
I hear you on the negativity. Fortunately, my blog doesn’t have much of that (mostly because I don’t have that many readers!), but you see it all over the FI community. I guess if people figure out why early retirement is impossible, it makes them feel better about why they haven’t done it.
But, of course, it’s all due to choices and priorities, and nobody gets to spend all their money and ALSO retire early.
Haters will always be around–the best move is not to feed the trolls 😉 There’s always gotta be negatives with anything you do (or don’t do), so I guess that’s just an aspect of life that we all have to deal with.
I’m glad you decided to stick around with us and keep blogging! And I know you have lots of readers who will agree 🙂
It really does 🙂 – I’m glad I took the time to write it out so I could see that clearly. All great wisdom and advice right there – thank you!
It’s not often that people accuse me of having wisdom–maybe I should screenshot that! 😉
Yay! Selfishly glad you’ll be keeping it up 😉
I wish there were a way to keep the haters and the trolls out. It would be such a relief of mental energy. (For everyone, including them!)
Haha I’ll take it 🙂 ! And yeah if only – the only way I’ve discovered is the mute button on Twitter – that’s my favorite 😉 .
Luv to read your weekly posts. Luv that your are transparent with your budget.. gives me insight and food for thought. Luv that your share other share other sources of like info.
I would luv to continue to receive a weekly posts😃
Thank you!
Yay! More Purple weekly content. Good intentional assessment. Happy to have gone on that journey with you.
Haha I’m glad someone is 😉 and woohoo for continuing the Purple streak!
Wooohoooo! Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that the pros outweigh the cons as I love Tuesdays. You were really the blogger that made me think huh maybe I can do this. Your posts each week are so enjoying, thank you!
Oh wow – that’s amazing to hear! Thank you for sharing 🙂 . I’ll keep it up.
Yay! I look forward to reading your blog every tuesday morning.
Oh wow – thank you!
That headline really made me click! I’m glad to hear that you are going to continue blogging and I can’t wait to see what will show up on your blog over the next year!
Same! Who knew Purple would turn to clickbait 😏🙄. (Obviously kidding!!! I love Tuesdays for new Purple posts 🤗💜!!)
LOL I didn’t mean to😭! It’s a question🤣!!
Haha oops. And yeah who even knows at this point – I never would have imagined I hit all the random topics I did in 2021. It’s always a surprise – even to me 😉 .
Glad you will continue writing – I found you through Reddit r/financialindependence and have been reading for a few years now.
Things seem to be going well for you and it’s impressive you continue to use this creatively versus a cash grab.
Looking forward to read about your foreign travels.
Oh cool! And yeah that’s the goal (creative outlet, not a cash grab). I’m also looking forward to curating my foreign travels 😉 – and I’m excited to take y’all on that ride with me!
So glad you’re going to continue posting! I’m living vicariously through you until I can retire 😉
I also think you’re one of the only voices in the retirement space promoting the #sluglife, which really speaks to me! Not that you have any lack of things going on in retirement, but they’re leisure things and not ‘productive’ or ‘hustling’ things. It really helps me (and I’m sure many others) to see what a full, fun life can look like after retirement.
I’m glad that the blogging is still enjoyable for you, as I know it is for us!
Haha fair – I did the same on my journey 😉 . And yessss gotta rep that SlugLife since there are so few of us (or so it seems)!
I would be very bummed if my Purple Tuesday was to go away.
Although I am way too old to qualify for Fire, your blog is one of my must read and ponder over blogs.
I have lived in Maine, New Hampshire and California so I live your retirement vicariously.
Please continue to inspire.
Don
Haha I think you’re the first to dub it “Purple Tuesday” – I like it! And that’s awesome to hear – will do!
I’m glad you’re continuing!! But I also enjoyed reading your thoughtful consideration of continuing vs not. It definitely should be something you enjoy vs dread.
I’m glad you enjoyed going on that journey with me and for sure it should be something to look forward to and I’m so glad it still is 🙂 .
I’m glad you’re going to continue blogging! I’m a traditional retiree and when I was your age I had no idea FIRE was even possible (and certainly didn’t have the money). But I’m really glad to see young people getting out of the rat race at an early age and love to read their blogs, including yours. Thank you!
Thank you so much 🙂 !
Hey Purple,
Just because bIue just started it, a good book recommendation is How to Decide by Anne Duke. Lays out tools and frameworks for decisions (instead of pros/con list)
Keep up the posts.
Jack
Cool – thank you. I’ve added it to my list.
I just write when I feel like I’ve got something to say. It might be twice one week and it might be three weeks until I post again. I’m not sure anyone even notices! I’m glad your voice will still be around, I enjoy your writing, you are talented at putting thoughts into text. You have great perspective and it challenges my old brain to see things through your eyes, which is good for an (OK) Boomer, it drags me a little closer to relevance than many of my peers. This thought exercise you went through shows how intentional you are in living your life. That’s a great character trait.
Haha I notice Steve!
Uh oh lol!
Haha you seem to have more discipline than I 🙂 . Without that constant writing muscle flexing I think mine would atrophy. And thank you for telling me that! I’m happy to help.
“I just write when I feel like I’ve got something to say”
I do the same, Steve. Probably not good for SEO, but I figured early on that I’d write when I have something to say. I saw too many people writing stuff that was clearly filler, and didn’t want to do that myself.
I’ve run the Froogal Stoodent blog since May 2014, so I must have more to say than I thought!
When I lived in Arkansas for a year, though, I was too busy with my day job to write much for the blog ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Alas, I didn’t know about your blog then, or I might have taken a day trip to visit you!
So happy you will continue posting! I have read many financial blogs in my day (since before MMM started) and yours is one of my favorite. We are middle aged now, with 3 kids, and coming up on our retirement in a few years, but I send you blog link to younger people I know who could use the inspiration!
Oh wow – that’s high praise! Thank you 🙂 . Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!! That’s super exciting.
Yay! So glad you’ll be continuing (selfishly). We really enjoy your posts every week. More importantly, it’s great to hear that you’re still getting value from it. Really appreciate how thoughtful and self-aware you are about decisions like this – and that you bring us along! Cheers!
I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 . I get excited every time I see y’all drop a new post and am happy to hear the feeling is mutual.
That’s very methodical. 🙂
I think you should continue blogging. If you still enjoy it, why not?
Just ignore the trolls.
Oh, I’m reading the psychology of money. It’s a good book. I think top 5 in personal finance. Thanks for the recommendation.
Haha I try 😉 . And you’re completely right – this post could have been a lot more succinct if I went to you first! So happy to hear you’re liking the book – definitely top 5 ever. I love it so much.
Purple, don’t scare us like that! I saw the title of this post and I was afraid you were going to quit blogging… I’m so glad you aren’t quitting! 💜
Uh oh – I didn’t mean to scare you. My bad! I tried to lean into it being a question instead of some type of bait in switch. Hopefully knowing I’ll still be around will help make up for it 🙂 .
I’m glad to hear you’ll be sticking around on here for awhile longer! I enjoy your blog posts and really appreciate your perspective. Excited to keep on reading!
Thank you so much!
My first reaction to the post’s title was: “Please don’t!” 😀
I still have 28 months til I am CoastFI and am looking forward to your posts every week. My job is not the worst but clearly in the category of Bullshit Job as outlined by the wonderful David Graeber.
Thanks for making my Tuesdays a liitle lighter 😉
Haha fair 🙂 . And woohoo 28 months! That’s exciting. I’m excited to read that book – still waiting on it from my library. Thank you!
Thanks for the blog so far! Very happy that you are continuing the Tuesday posts! Look forward to them every week, but know that they are finite, so I try to enjoy each one.
I like that you analyze what you are doing to make the most of your time. It’s a great skill that to have! I analyze different areas of my life regularly and identify paths to take to live the life I want. If only procrastination weren’t a thing!
Sounds like an awesome approach 😉 . I forget everything is finite sometimes and savoring every second is definitely the solution! And I love that you’re so intentional about that stuff – also I’m now suspicious of procrastination and am wondering if it’s like laziness and doesn’t really exist 😉 .
Glad that you will continue to post. I look forward to your posts on Tuesday mornings and appreciate your perspective on FIRE and just life in general. We need WOC in this space. We need people who are honest that working life just wasn’t for them and who show that you can retire early without tons of side hustling and having another source of side hustle income waiting in the wings. If it gets to the point where you are over it and the cons out weigh the pros, then definitely stop posting. Just glad it’s not that time yet!
I’m glad it’s not that time yet too and thank you!
I enjoy reading your weekly posts especially that it comes out on a Tuesday – the toughest day of my work week. Of course be free to write or not whenever as you should be.
However like you said, this structure I believe helps anchor your life so you don’t feel like you’ve lost gravity and floating in space. It gives you a sense of purpose like livingafi so famously talks about.
It’s also been helpful from the perspective of the psychology of FIRE. Most of all, I really love your unconventional choices and the way you explain why it’s right for you. It helps us the readers ask ourselves why we follow the rules of society when they don’t even match our values.
Of course reading about your adventures is very entertaining as well. Keep it up!
Oh wow I’m glad I can help your toughest workday even a little bit 🙂 . And I’m so happy to hear I help a bit with the psychology around money as well. Will do 😉 !
I’m glad you’re going to keep writing! As a straight, white, male, I really enjoy the diversity from your blog posts, as well as from your twitter feed. I’ve stumbled across a few different perspectives that I otherwise wouldn’t have if I didn’t follow you on Twitter. I’m grateful for your presence and contribution to this corner of the internet. Thank you.
Oh wow – that’s amazing to hear! Thank you for telling me 🙂 .
Of course you have made the right decision 😁! But, like your mom, I am not surprised hehe and quite happy with the outcome of this lovely reflection.
I’m so happy keeping this regular writing schedule brings so much good in your life and only a few mild annoyances (Grrrrr on the “not in good faith” comments – you know how I have trouble resisting jumping at your defence no matter how I know you don’t need it nor how ridiculous these trolls are lol).
Here’s to hoping it continues to bring so much goodness in your life for many years to come! I mean, we wouldn’t even know each other if it wasn’t for A Purple Life and Modest Millionaires 🥺💖.
Cheers to many more Tuesdays of new posts for you my dear friend!!
Haha y’all know me better than I know myself 😉 . And you are so sweet to defend me lady – it means a lot, but yeah often it just puts you in the middle of a fight you can’t win haha. That’s a great point I didn’t elaborate on enough – all the friendships and interactions this blog brings offline! Cheers lady 🙂 !
Since retiring my blogging has taken a hit. I’m contentedly filling in my days with all the things I wanted to do (at home because we’re still in lockdown) and I’ve decided that I’ll only blog when I feel like it.
I’m sure the pace will pick up again at some stage- I’ve been blogging since 2007 after all! – but for now, I’m happy to enjoy my days doing exactly what I feel like doing.
Love the approach that works best for you! And wow 2007 was a bit ago 😉 . Enjoy!
Whew! Thank goodness you’re still enjoying it. So glad you’re going to continuing blogging. I look forward to your post every week. I’m a late starter to FIRE and your posts/blog have been such an inspiration. I’ve listened to you and your mom’s interviews on Choose FI and I’m hoping to retire at age 52.
Thank you for telling me that – that’s amazing 🙂 .
My heart dropped when I read this! So glad you’ll still be blogging. More importantly I’m glad you get so much out of it! I just love your blog and look forward to it each week and I don’t follow any other blogs closely.
My bad! Thank you so much for telling me that – it makes me feel warm and fuzzy 🙂 .
I’m excited for your post days as well! I am learning a lot from your blog. Don’t let the trolls get to you.
Thank you and will do!
So glad you decided to continue blogging, I am not a big commenter as I often don’t know what to share, but I kove reading your updates and all about your *real* life in retirement! It’s really motivating and I am looking forward to the day when I can be as free as you. Thank you Purple!
Thank you 🙂 !
Phew! The article title made me nervous . I’m glad to hear you will continue! I was really into following a lot of FIRE content a few years ago but have scaled back quite a bit and your blog is one of the only ones I regularly keep up with 🙂
I’m sorry for making you nervous, but happy you like the outcome of my assessment 🙂 . And wow that’s high praise – thank you!
That post title, Purple!!!
Don’t do us like that, my heart dropped to my shoes and I couldn’t click through fast enough. Really. I may not always read immediately or comment every post because pandemic life is no joke here, and of course you don’t owe us a thing, but I deeply enjoy your perspectives and appreciate the joys you’re sharing. I’d miss your writing!
I’m glad the logic still works for you.
(And who knows. Every few years I wonder if I should stop and I re-up my hosting for another five years so you too could become a happy blogging Dinosaur 🦖 😃)
Ah! I’m sorry. Pandemic life is indeed no joke *sigh*. Thank you for telling me that. I’m also happy the logic still works – maybe one day I can earn that awesome title!
I’m glad you’re still writing! I have been reading and enjoying your blog for a while now, and it was especially helpful for me last year around this time. I was planning to leave my corporate job a few months later and feeling all the usual anxieties around that. It was so helpful to read about your early days of retirement – whenever I would read one of your posts I would feel less anxious and more excited for the journey. I’ve now been away from the 9-5 for 6 months and it’s been everything I dreamed 🙂
I haven’t seen many other blogs that capture the early days of FIRE life so well! Thank you for writing!
Oh wow that’s so amazing – congratulations on your freedom!! And thank you for your kind words 🙂 .
Hi! This is just a short comment to say that I feel the same- happy and relieved to read that the blog would continue. I am somewhat of a newbie to your blog and already anticipate your next posts.
For me, reading about your unusual journey to and through retirement is refreshing. As one who was raised with the typical notion of retirement (and honestly, that might be where I am headed), I like to learn about new ways on old customs because this oldish dog can still learn new tricks. Due to COVID, my priorities will most certainly be receiving a thorough review and perhaps I can implement some or most of your strategies.
Cheers to your next adventure!
Oh wow thank you 🙂 . And yes – feel free to implement! I love logical assessments. Cheers!
I think a better analysis would have been:
Do I still gain something by doing it? e.g. does it help with personal accountability? My personal blog produces about 200 dollars a year in income. (much less than minimum wage!) But I enjoy it and it keeps me accountable. So I continue for my own benefit but only on my own terms. Posts have gotten much shorter and to the point. This has resulted in even less traffic (but a core of die hard fans who never miss a post!)
Recommend a “fun” category of posts weekly monthly, w/e. I weekly post Sunday Punday. It is a joy to do. On the rare occassions I miss a Sunday, people let me know! It is completely irreverant and off topic but beloved by my community.
Interesting – thank you for sharing.
I am so glad you’ve decided to keep this blog going. You are my favorite voice in the personal finance community and I absolutely love to hear your updates. It’s so rare to get to hear firsthand how early retirement really feels while you’re going through it and I’ve learned so many random facts along the way. Your posts are always informative and entertaining… a rare combo! I love Tuesdays because it means a new blog post from you, so thank you so very much for deciding to keep this going for now.
WOW thank you!! That’s so wonderful to hear 🙂 .
Selfishly, very glad you’re keeping going.🙂
In the spirit of, “what’s best for Purple?” though, I still wonder. Maybe for now regular posting still makes total sense. But even if/when you decide to mix it up, I’d offer that you also have a couple more options! For instance, you could take a “sabbatical” for three months and see if you have a different perspective without weekly reporting to The Internet. You could play with totally unstructured posting rhythms (I know, as a person who loves schedules, this is probs a non-starter). You still to still be having a blast, which is the most important part. I just want to offer that, if you want to introduce a totally new experience, posting breaks could be a way to get the best of both worlds and test the impacts.
I’m so glad you decided to continue. I’m mostly a lurker but also on a FIRE journey and have loved reading your blog since I heard you on a podcast when you were still working. I enjoy seeing what people do post-FIRE and your posts inspire me! I also love that you decided to retire at $500K – your travels show that it’s possible to do this and still have a great time!
Hi Purple. I was happy to get to the bottom of the article and find out that the Pros outweighed the Cons. I’d miss you 🙂
Aww thank you – I’d miss y’all too and I guess that’s what it came down to 🙂 .
Hey Purple – I’ve been dipping in and out of your blog in recent months, and it’s one of my absolute favourites.
I wanted to ask, or perhaps just put it “out there”… have you thought about putting together a book or some kind? I wonder if it might be a fulfilling project alongside your existing blog writing, whatever shape that might take in the weeks and months to come.
Happy writing 🙂
Jas
Oh wow – thank you for telling me that 🙂 . And yep a few readers and people in the industry have asked me to write a book. I’ve declined so far. It’s just not something I want to do right now. That answer might change in the future, but for now there’s no book on the horizon for me. Thanks for asking!
You’re welcome! I’m sure you’ll know if/when the time is right 🙂
Yass, love your posts. Keep posting weekly!
This post is quite meta and educational, because what you’ve highlighted your thought process on how you make decisions on things that have a pretty significant impact in your schedule.
I personally find that writing is always refreshing and provides a great way for me to exercise the part of my brain that’s pedagogical and organizing information so it’s easy for others to consume (i.e. makes me a better communicator in general).
Of course if your weekly schedule is interfering with your life, I feel like you should do a slower cadence. But I’d highly recommend continue writing regardless because 1) your content is great, and 2) I feel the act of writing itself has a lot of inherent benefits.
Haha will do! And pedagogical is a great way to think about it – I haven’t given writing that lens for myself before. And thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 . I’m still enjoying weekly posting so weekly it shall stay!