Featured Finance Blog: Budgeting In The Fun Stuff

Today’s featured blogger is Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. (She’s actually featuring Faith and Finance on her site today, so jump over there when you’re done here! Thanks Crystal!!) I’ve been following Crystal’s writing for the last six months and have really enjoyed how she makes personal finance issues so…well… personal. That’s the best part of Budgeting in the Fun Stuff – she brings everything into perspective with specific examples of what she does in her own life. You can’t help but feel welcomed on her site, or her other sites for that matter (Crystal Clear Thoughts, Dog’s Life For Me, and About Life Insurance).

If you haven’t already subscribed to her blog, I’d encourage you to subscribe today (rss or email). I hope you enjoy getting to know Crystal and Budgeting in the Fun Stuff a little better!

Oh and here are a few of her most popular articles – definitely worth taking some time to read through these!

Why did you start your blog?

I started Budgeting in the Fun Stuff (BFS) on February 20th, 2010. I had been reading personal finance blogs for a few months by then and realized my comments were getting to be almost as long as the posts. I’ve always loved talking about personal finance and I seemed to have a bunch to say, so when a fellow commenter at Free Money Finance replied to one of my comments that I should start my own blog, I took it to heart. I’m now a full blown blogging addict and am attempting to turn it into my full time career within the next 12-18 months.

What are your goals for BFS in the next year?

I have just recently started thinking about creating an ebook for BFS. I haven’t fleshed out that idea yet, but a few of my readers have asked me about it and that got me thinking.

I am also creating at least two more niche sites, like About Life Insurance, by the end of 2011. If I am serious about blogging full time, I will need a steady passive income stream built up. BFS is anything but passive since I spend about 25 hours a week on writing, promoting, and answering emails. I absolutely love it, but I’ll need a few other revenue streams as well.

Besides blogging, what do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy spending time with my husband, friends, and family. My husband and I throw monthly board gaming potlucks and have a blast playing games, chatting, and eating from 6pm to the wee hours of the morning. We also watch a lot of television. Our favorite show together is The Big Bang Theory, which has to be the smartest comedy I’ve ever seen. I personally am also a big fan of White Collar, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and The Good Wife.

What’s the first thing you’d buy if you had 1 million dollars?

That’s a tough one. If it was “just” a $1 million, we probably wouldn’t spend it willy-nilly. We’d invest it, quit our jobs, and live off the interest. At even a 3% return, we would be getting $30,000 a year. That plus my blogging income and my husband’s hobby income from sports officiating would be more than enough for us to live very happily on.

Now, if we won the lottery tomorrow and took home more than $5 million after taxes, we’d start having our dream home built. We want a one-story house with at least 2500 square feet with a party area, a living area, and at least 4 bedrooms so we can have our master, a guest bedroom, and two offices/libraries. That would probably run us about $200,000 to $300,000 around here outside of Houston, TX.

What’s the latest book you’ve read? Any favorite books you’d recommend?

When I’m not blogging, playing games, talking, or watching tv, I listen to a ton of audio books. I usually can polish off at least 100 books a year. My favorite recent series was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. My favorite series overall is the Eve Dallas In Death series by J.D. Robb. I’m also currently enjoying the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. All of those books involve death and murder, BUT I like the underlying plots of hope. I love that the main characters are generally great people that are doing the very best that they can with the skills God gave them.

Do you have any ‘hidden’ talents or skills not mentioned in your blog?

I can touch my tongue to my nose. :-)

Other than that, I’m personable. I love people. I love listening to a person’s back story. I love talking about everything. I am not sure if being the best chatter-box ever is a hidden skill, but I do tend to be able to make close friends pretty quickly if they like me after my initial burst. I find that my abilities to empathize and to make people laugh helps bad situations and makes good situations even better.

Is laughter a skill? I laugh a lot. Sometimes I laugh until my mouth hurts or I can’t breathe right…the best potlucks include me needing my asthma inhaler at some point. :-)

Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better Crystal! Say hello in the comments and/or stop by her site to say HI.