We had another record month with our blogs and I just had to share it with y’all!
Granted the majority of the income we make from blogging does not come from House of Rose, but still. I at least get to say I play a role in all of it since I work for the hubby’s blogs, right? Ha!
And I’m not complaining about the income I am starting to see from this blog either. I am finally starting to see my BlogHer income increase and I am extremely excited about dipping in to affiliate marketing {which I just started to do this month and already had $450 in conversions}. Plus I just joined another ad network and added adsense back. We will see how it goes!
I personally think it’s much easier to make money in the personal finance niche than in the mommy/diy niche….but it’s totally doable. Just takes a ton of hard work!
One of the main reason that we share our income reports with all of you is to show you that it can definitely work.
Be sure to check out our post over at Dollars and Roses to see the full details on this month’s income report.
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Ok, now on to something a little more fun….handbags!
Do you ever make impulse buys? Ok, well I just did that last week on this gorgeous bag…
Isn’t it fab? I know chevron won’t stay in style forever. In fact, I am just waiting for it to go out of style any day now, but until then…I will carry this bag proudly! And probably keep carrying it far longer than chevron is cool. Haha!
I definitely don’t regret this purchase! I bought it from Lucy Jane Totes {I met her at Blissdom and she is a doll}. When she posted that it was her last one I knew I needed to snatch it up! Don’t worry, it comes in other gorgeous colors too {in case you feel the need to go make an impulse purchase like I did}.
It just so happens that my Thirty-One order came in the same day that I got my Lucy Jane bag. Talk about feeling slightly guilty.
Ahem.
Luckily, most of my Thirty-One items were free since I hosted a party.
See how I talk myself out of feeling guilty?
My favorite Thirty-One purchase to-date? The Retro Metro bag in grey.
It’s no secret that I’m loving anything grey lately, but this bag….ahhhhhh….love love love! I went with the raspberry monogram color, which is not like me. I usually go more neutral, but I’m kind of digging it! It makes me feel a lil sassy.
I also added a fabric flower from The Pleated Poppy {who I adore, by the way}. I met her at Blissdom too and I am obsessed with anything she sews!
More reasonably priced handbags are more to my liking these days. I’m so over spending hundreds of dollars on a handbag. I use to {pre-kids} when I had money to blow, but now…I have to save for their college. All this money we make from blogging goes straight to some type of retirement, 529 plan or other investment. Oh the perks of being married to a financial planner.
Ok, what bag are you carrying these days? And I’m curious…what’s your limit on what you will spend on a handbag?
I like to keep mine at $100 or less. $50 is even better!
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I’m heading over to Lucy Jane Totes now ~~~ Love your newest purchase ~~
I just hosted a thirty-one party as well!!! I can’t wait to get mine in:) And once Christmas is over, I’m buying a Lucy Jane Tote!!!!
I LOVE your blog:)
Thanks! The Lucy Jane is seriously so cute! You’ll love it!
OMG, you are so good for spending $100 on a bag, ha! I am also a little upset that I did not stumble upon that Retro Metro bag at the last ThirtyOne party I went to…… oh well, looks like I need to host one myself 🙂
Love these bags – so jealous! I’m still carrying the purse I bought 3…maybe even 4 summer ago. Ugh. I want a new one so bad – I just hate spending money on something to put money in, ya know? I did just get a compliment on my purse a week or so ago so I might keep it around for a couple more years if it holds up! 🙂
Cute handbag! I used to tote around any old thing I found at Target or a cute deal at TJ Maxx. In the past couple of years I was introduced to LongChamp. I have 2, but don’t feel too bad since one was a gift! I did purchase myself a pretty pricey leather purse from Lands End Canvas. Price was over $100…but I justified it as my 30th birthday present to myself 😉
Love Lands End Canvas!!
I prefer to spend no more than about $200 on handbags, but I opt for classic colors that I won’t get tired of quickly so I can carry them for a while. I recently found a gorgeous Badgley Mischka bag that is on my Christmas list from Saks off Fifth Ave. If you know where to shop, you can find bags that regularly run $500+ for around the $200 mark.
Oh my goodness, that chevron bag is so cute! I’m in love. I used to be a strictly less than $50 on a purse kind of girl. About 4 years ago I “splurged” and bought myself an $80 raspberry faux crocodile Guess bag. I haven’t turned back. I carried that bag for a solid 2 years. I didn’t buy a new one until I fell in love with my current pewter Coach bag. We’re pretty much in a committed relationship. I figure if I carry them for long enough I can justify the cost. Even though I know to many people, $100 isn’t that much for a bag.
I completely AGREE! A purse is something you use over and over again so it definitely justifies spending a little more. Coach use to be my guilty pleasure, but I’ve had to trade in my Coach bags for diaper bags. LOL!
I like to purchase 1 – 2 nice purses a year. I will spend a couple hundred dollars…but I like to coordinate my purchases with the Coach coupons that come in the mail. Who can resist $100 off your $300 purchase. GUILY PLEASURE!!!
By the way…thanks to House of Rose and Dollars & Roses this blogging thing is coming together better. Many thanks!!!
Awesome Katie!! Glad that it’s been helpful! I use to ALWAYS shop with Coach coupons or head to the outlet!!
Seriously? You are making THAT much money? I’m in the wrong blogging industry. I do make more than your blog, but you have been getting more page views than me (I get between 11k – 16k a day) so your checks should start being a lot more money. I only use adsense and blogher because I just don’t want to deal with any other types of revenue (affiliate, sponsor, etc). Congrats on all your blogging success! I have subscribed to all 3 of your husband and your blogs now. Very inspiring!
I want to clarify, I make more than your House of Rose blog (based on what you stated on your other blog), not more than the 13k! My point was that you should be making more than you make especially now that you are on blogher.
Hey Allison! I just started monetizing House of Rose in the last few months really. I have been focused on helping my husband, but recently decided I want to take my blog to the next level. Just a couple weeks ago I had BlogHer backfill my ads with adsense so that when they have no ads to run at least something is running. Plus I joined Lejit and I am going to do google DFP in hopes that it will increase my CPM. If you have any other suggestions on the BlogHer side please share!! 🙂
I’m that single girl with no kids that spends money on purses!! HA!! My current bag is a burnt orange leather Coach and I L~O~V~E it!! I also have 2 of the retro metro totes, but I sell Thirty~One so I have a ton of it!! I use it as my gym bag.
Love both of your bags! I would never be able to pick what one to use 🙂 I am currently using my Steve Madden garage sale purchase bag! A $100 dollar of more bag that I scored for $30 ???? I love it even more because of the price! I am also a momma to boys so I have had to learn to find the good deals when I can and learn to cut back on my purse fetish!
That is a very cute tote. I agree when you have kids your priority changes. I usually carry a Lollibag which I make and I try and keep the prices low, I only price at what I would be willing to pay, not for the time I have into them. They are one of a kind… http://www.lollipookiesoap.etsy.com
psst. I have to admit I DID splurge on a Kate Spade for my 40th birthday! (hubby didn’t get me anything)
WHOA! A serious congratulations to you and your hubby! I’ve been a lurker for lordy knows how long… I think you were pregnant with baby #2? I don’t even remember how I first found your blog! Anyway… SO inspired by what you and your husband have done. I’ve had a photography blog for a couple years now for my business but never wrote about all the other things on my mind…parenting, design, decor, etc. And you guys have inspired me to give it a shot 🙂 http://www.onejulyliving.com (eek!) Keep up the awesome work!
I love that you guys share your income and how you make it! How do you go about getting into affiliates/ads/etc? I just started being a SAHM (well WAHM technically, since I run a crochet business), and I would love to bring in some income from the blog. Total (with my crochet orders) I would like to bring in $1,500 a month, any tips for me? You guys are awesome!
Also, I love that first bag! {And I am guilty of the chevron craze.}