Timing is truly everything. I’ve only been blogging about three months now and have already come to feel like I know everyone. The PF community is one of the most accepting and amazing out there. Even when no one else was reading my site people liked, commented, or followed me back and I appreciate every bit of it. There aren’t enough ways for me to express gratitude. (Except for my giveaway! Which you should enter at the bottom of this post!) Still, I’m sad I’m not going to FinCon this year.
I had toyed with the idea of going when I first heard about it back in June, but I was still unemployed (with no end in sight….) and didn’t want to be frivolous. I was quickly running through my severance package after a few ill-advised I’m unemployed-yet-still-fabulous getaways earlier on. I didn’t think it would be wise to go to the conference. Besides, blogging was slow going at that point, and I still didn’t know if I was truly going to fit into this niche, what with the over-saturation and all. Yet, this past month or so things have really starting coming together in terms of readership, follows, mentions etc. and I began completely second-guessing my decision. Money aside, I now work Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights-which is a lot of ground for my replacement to cover and I didn’t think it would look good, me being a new employee and all.
The Real Reason I’m not going to FinCon
I was so close to buying a ticket last night after a conversation with PF guru extraordinaire-Andrea. Then I thought about how I recently decided (perhaps in a bit of a premature haste) to switch to self-hosted and needed a new website design. It’s fabulous, and I love it, but pretty things cost pretty pennies. So that is where the FinCon money went. I definitely think it’s money well spent (as the conference would have been, heck yeah) but on a budget you can’t have everything you want.
……And I’m pretty sure the antithesis of personal finance blogging/talking about getting out of debt is not putting a trip on your credit cards.I should have been planning better, should have had more foresight…. but there is always next year.
Mostly I just want to go because I thought it would be an amazing time to meet others and party. I need to learn from my mistakes in college and not feel bad about not going to every party (even though the 80′s party girl in me knows it will be THE party of the year, metaphorically speaking). I hope everyone else has an amazing time, I’m definitely jealous of all the tweets and posts, which I’m sure will only crescendo the closer we get to the conference date.
I’m not going to FinCon and I’m a sad little pony, but I”ll get over it.
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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Don’t feel bad I’m not going. Right now I’m investing in my savings account. We are barely getting back on our feet and an expense like FinCon was not an option. Plus, as a new employee I don’t feel comfortable taking vacation yet.
SavvyFinancialLatina recently posted..I’m Already Thinking About a New Master’s
Yeah-the vacation time was the biggest to me.
I’m glad I started my blog in October. FinCon was newly over and I got to read about it, but there was no option to go. I think now that I have nearly 11 months under my feet, I can look at the list of topics and know better which things will give my blog the most “bang for my buck.” I do know that some very new bloggers went last year and were able to jumpstart their learning curve (Carrie Smith comes to mind as one), but had I been in your shoes, I don’t think I would have been able to justify it yet.
We’ll miss you, though!
AverageJoe recently posted..Blog Post of the Week! by Afford Anything
Thanks Joe. I’m already looking ahead to next year. Perhaps we can swap jokes then
Don’t feel bad! I’m not going either. Maybe you and I can have a sulking party.
Michelle recently posted..Self Employment: One’s Perspective
Lets set up a time in google calendar to gchat. We can drink wine and complain how we aren’t there and then swap blog stories!
I’m not going and I’m super bummed about it too =(
Maybe next year?
Bridget recently posted..How rich is Christian Grey from 50 Shades of Grey?
We’ll miss you! I’ll be sure to pour out some wine on the conference room floor for my homeys that couldn’t make it.
Michelle recently posted..Savings Goals for Families
I will take wine on the floor and a sweet ass dance solo.
I’m a sad pony too, but like you I can’t justify it when things are extremely tight right now. I get jealous anytime anyone talks about it. I want to go so bad, but it’s something to strive for next year!
Budget & the Beach recently posted..Prioritizing & Finding Solutions
We will all go next year. When we are all ballers.
Sorry you’re not going to FinCon, but your site looks great so it was money well spent
I’m really loving your site and how it empowers young women to take control of their finances. Way to go!
Thanks girl! I’m happy we found each other
I think you made a good choice, and there’s always next year! That is such a sad pony cartoon
haha. Thank you!
I think you made a great move with the site redesign. I’ll get there someday. You’ve done great for 3 months. Maybe we’ll meet there next year! BTW, that is a sad sack of a pony.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Can’t Keep My Eyes Off These Blogs #2
Thanks Kim! I appreciate your kind words and you stopping over
You’re right – that pony is way too sad! I will never ever show that image to my 4-yr-old who’s currently obsessed with unicorns.
I’m right there with ya’! I’m not going to FINCON12, but I really really wanted to go. Just got my magazine today and it only makes me want to go even more! I’m not going because I have a 3-month-old at home and don’t want to leave him behind just yet.
Next year, it’s on!!
See you there!
Lena @ WhatMommyDoes recently posted..How Our Life Insurance Needs Have Changed Over the Years
You got a magazine? I want a magazine!
And a baby trumps everything
I shall have a drink in your honor, and a request a moment of silence for your absence. I will then #pfworkout and post it. LOL.
Travis recently posted..I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 8/24
You must run twelve miles in my honor, Travis. I demand it.
Man, that IS a sad pony. It appears to be Twighlight Sparkle by her cutie mark…having little girls means you get to see a lot of “My Little Pony.” But, I digress.
We’ve been blogging about the same amount of time as you, and we aren’t going to be going either. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I wish we could meet all of the new friends that we have made (virtually). Oh well. I figure I can just sit in front of my computer drinking my rum and cokes, reading all of the tweets and it will be like I’m there anyway.
Greg@ClubThrifty recently posted..The VIP Club – Weekly Roundup 2nd Edition
Haha. Thanks Greg! Enjoy those rum and cokes.
And I’m glad to now know the name of my sad pony. If you could email me and tell me why she is so sad I’d appreciate that too. lol.
This is my 2nd year in a row of not being able to attend FinCon. It sucks, but what can you do (without screwing yourself)? I get a little jealous hearing about how everybody else is going, how much they learned last year and just seeing the dramatic improvements from those who went to the first one.
It’s definitely motivating me to work even harder to get there next year.
I bet we will be the first two people to sign up for next year!:)
I’ve been blogging for over a year and I still don’t think I’ll go. I think it all depends on what you plan to do with your blog over the long haul. FinCon could be pretty neat to make some good advertising contacts and network. But I don’t think I’m in any rush.
My Money Design recently posted..Status Update – Being Fired Over Facebook Rants
I didn’t go last year and only found out about it as it was happening. I don’t think anyone started reading my blog that was another blogger until about December! So this year should be a lot of fun and next year we’ll see you there
American Debt Project recently posted..BILO: Seasonal Restaurant
Sorry you weren’t able to make it! Fortunately, Phil plans some local meetup opportunities also. Check out the website to find one in your area before next year’s conference.
LaTisha recently posted..How to Save Up to Buy a House