I saw this adorable interview on several bloggers pages last week, and I wanted to hop in on the fun! I copied it from Tanya over at Budget and the Beach. It was such an inspiring inside scoop on one of the bloggers I adore most, I simply couldn’t resist. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit more about L Bee and the Money Tree.
1) How did you come up with your blog name?
Growing up, everyone called me LB. It made it easier when I was in a class full of other Lauren’s (popular name in the late eighties, go figure!) and having grown up with my parents always telling me “We don’t have a money tree growing in the backyard”, it seemed a natural fit to put together the name “LB and the Money Tree” for a site about me and my financial journey. I changed the “B” to “Bee” because it seemed cuter and made the header more symmetrical.
2) Which bloggers inspired you when you first started writing?
The usual suspects: Cait at Blonde on a Budget, and Andrea at So Over This. I am also the biggest Learnvest freak, I love all of their stuff.
3) Why write about finance?
I never talked about finance with anyone until I entered my mid-twenties, which is such a shame, since I think the first quarter of my life was governed by my bad self-esteem and subsequent bad money choices. If more people write about money, more people will feel comfortable talking about it. Hopefully in ten years, money will have lost a lot of the taboo associated with it.
4a) What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I am a writer by trade; I love putting sentences together and editing. As a nerd, editing is my favorite part! I love cutting things out or adding them in and making things better on the second go’round. It’s awesome being a blogger because you get that immediate response from readers to something you wrote, as a writer there is no better feeling.
Additionally, even though I know everyone says this, the community is another favorite part. I get emails every day from other bloggers and we share and learn together. It’s something I never had before, people so willing to help and share wisdom with complete strangers. I didn’t fully appreciate the community until I went through my last break-up; the support I got was via email and twitter was more than I ever expected, and it really helped me push through to better times.
4b) What do you enjoy least about blogging?
I am not the most technically savvy person, so updating code etc. is really tedious to me. I don’t love that part of it.
Also- having a blog is like having one of those nano-baby key chain games you had as a child. A website is a living, breathing thing that needs care every single day; leave it too long and you come back from dozens of piles of poop all over your screen. Just kidding, but a lot of people don’t realize that a website is not a crock-pot, “you can’t set it and forget it”. It takes work every. single. day, like a baby. I don’t love how stressed I feel sometimes when I don’t have things ready for my next scheduled posting day. I know it’s not a big deal since it’s my blog, but I feel so guilty when I leave things undone.
5) What’s the most helpful piece of advice you have learned from reading other PF blogs?
Hmm. I don’t know if there is any specific advice, but I will say that reading other bloggers about their struggles and successes inspires me to stay accountable. You can’t ignore what is in front of your face every day, and I love it!
6) In terms of finance, what is your main focus at the moment?
I was a bad girl over Christmas, and I’m paying off the credit card balance from that. Also, funding retirement. I’m a worrier, so even though retirement is easily 40+ years away, I still don’t feel like I have nearly enough saved at this point. Also, my 26th birthday is this weekend, so I think I’m just a little bit sensitive about getting older in general.
7) If you could give your younger self financial advice, what would it be?
Shopping will not make you feel better. Ok, it will for an hour, but it’s not worth it. Also, maybe don’t drink so much.
8) Who in your real life knows about your blog?
Everyone. Everyone on the face of the planet. My parents read it, my boyfriend, my friends, probably co-workers, my arch-enemies. It’s liberating to live your life so out in the open, but at the same time I have to be doubly careful to make sure not to embarrass myself. I realize some of the things I put out there raises some eyebrows, maybe makes my parents and significant other uncomfortable sometimes, but as long as I’m not afraid of what I said, that’s all that matters.
9) Does your real job have anything to do with finance or money?
Zero. I do work with content and social media all day, which I love, but I can get burnt out at work and come home and not want to do anything content/social media related for my blog. The price you pay for doing what you love, I suppose.
10) What’s the first thing you would do if you won a million dollars?
Buy a beach house. It is my ultimate dream to have a summer home and the kind of job where I can spend the summer on the shore. There is nothing better than the beach! Oh yeah, and probably fund my retirement account a bit.
Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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I’m so honored that you mentioned me, though I’m a little scared that I serve as inspiration other than an example of what NOT to do!
I didn’t realize that you were out of the blogging closet – I think you’re so smart to do it that way! I tried so hard in the beginning not to let anyone know about my blog, and while I still don’t advertise it to people I know in real life, I don’t worry about someone finding it like I used to.
I also love your advice to your former self – if you could tell *my* former self the same things while you’re there, that would be super.
Of course! You are THE fairy blog mother after all
I’ve been out of the “closet” since day one, loud and proud baby. For this reason, I can’t rant the way I’d like to sometimes. Definitely something I love about your site-you are hilarious!
I was just going to say… the usual suspects? That is so freaking cool, LB. Thanks for the mention
Cait recently posted..The Best Female Role Model a Girl Could Ask For
A million bucks? Hate to break it to you, but that’s not going to buy much of a beach house these days =) Maybe a beach condo in some places.
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..PoP Income Statement – February 2013
Nice interesting post. I should really do something like this one day soon.
I only recently started telling my friends and family about my blog. I’m not sure why I didn’t tell them straight away, but I agree that it feels liberating.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..A no-headache checklist for moving house
I love Andrea and Cait’s blogs also! And I’m a Learnvest freak too, so you are definitely not alone.
Michelle recently posted..$5,983 in February Extra Income and Goals
You’re right in that the blog is a living, breathing thing. I hate going back to pages that haven’t done posts in months. It just doesn’t work that way. I love the blog name!
Budget & the Beach recently posted..One Step at a Time: Part One
I love the “blog is not a crock pot” comment. Once, at age 9, I had a guinea pig and didn’t feed it for a week. When I finally realized that his bones were sticking out I tried to feed him ten times that day. He ate like a champ and was dead a few hours later.
So, a blog isn’t a crock pot. It’s more like a guinea pig.
AverageJoe recently posted..What Do You Do When Things Go Wrong? – 2 Guys and Your Money
I love the blog name, as well! So catchy
The only person who knows I have a blog is my husband. I like it that way. I’m a very private person sometimes.
SavvyFinancialLatina recently posted..I Filed our 2012 Taxes
I like this getting to know you post! and I agree on people should be more comfortable talking about money! I am, but many of my friends aren`t, but I`m trying to talk casually about it, trying to make it into a regular thing.
The Norwegian Girl recently posted..Be SMART about phone use and SAVE money
I should probably do one of these sooner or later… I just really try hard not to blog about blogging and I struggle on whether or not this crosses my mental line in the sand
Always good to get insight on the author though 
Lance @ Money Life and More recently posted..Change of Plans – From Student Loan Payoff to Buying a House
I love reading theses
If you ever get that beach house built I’ll come visit!
Catherine recently posted..First Hand Experience: The Importance Of Rental Insurance
I loved learning more about you. I may consider doing this…
Mochimac recently posted..Can we trust anything made in China? My life with as little of China in it as possible.
Happy birthday! I’ve seen these posts around, and I think I need to post my own version soon. Love the name of your blog–it’s one of the ones that always comes to mind when I’m thinking about catchy names that already exist as inspiration for new ventures/blogs/etc.
The Happy Homeowner recently posted..Increased Productivity = More Money in My Pocket
I love reading these interviews, it gives such interesting insight into my favorite bloggers’ lives. I think it’s so brave that your friends and family know about your blog. So far the only person who knows about my blog is the bf. I guess I’m a little nervous my family would read and think, hmm you’re talking about me aren’t you. Maybe I’ll get to that point eventually, but for now I’m OK with “nobody knows”.
Hey another blogger who is “out”! I started my blog knowing that eventually, I wanted people to know about it. Because of that, all of the content is safe for family, friends and coworkers. I’m don’t brag about my posts on Facebook or anything, but it’s really easy to find my blog by googling me.
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..Are You Suited to Being an Entrepreneur?
Love this! It’s so much fun getting to know the person behind the blog. I’m out to everyone too!! I love the support from my family and friends, but yes, it does mean that I am hyper-sensitive to not say anything that would make my daughters upset or get teased. I can handle anyone who comes after me or disagrees with my views, but leave my girls alone.
I’m glad to meet you “L Bee” and be a part of this wonderful, growing community.
Shannon @ The Heavy Purse recently posted..Meet Shannon Ryan: Financial Literacy Advocate
I loved reading about your blog! it’s nice to get to know the people behind the blog. It’s great that you are doing what you love, learned from your mistakes and you blog so publicly. That is great!
Do or Debt recently posted..Where did you learn about money?