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Jacob and Vanessa are only in their 20s - but they've already got the personal finance world figured out. Since their engagement, they've started blogging about their shared interest in early retirement and financial independence. Now, over four years later, they offer expert advice to anyone looking for the same. They're here to share their advice on blogging, and give us a look into how they've found their way in the blogosphere.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF! FIRST NAME, WHERE YOU'RE FROM, YOUR "DAY JOB," AND ANY OTHER FUN FACTS YOU'D LIKE US TO KNOW.
Hello, I'm Jacob. I'm a married 20-something PhD Candidate, CFP® Candidate, and full time blogger. I'm studying to get my PhD in Financial Planning. My wife and I live in Lubbock, Texas, but we love to travel. We've been to Thailand and the Caribbean, and we're planning a road trip through Canada later this year. We paid off our student loan debt in under six months, and have since been working hard to achieve financial independence. We believe that being financially independent is the best way to achieve lifestyle freedom, and are pursuing it wholeheartedly.
Our blog is called Cash Cow Couple, and it grew organically from the type of life my wife and I decided we wanted to live when we got married. We were disenchanted by lifestyle inflation, debt, and the rat race in general, so we began our journey to financial independence and starting blogging our way through it. As we've grown and learned more about personal finance, and as I've gained more degrees in the field, the focus of our blog has shifted to expert advice on personal finance, such as investing, smart ways to pay off debt, and how to build wealth.
My wife and I started blogging when we got engaged. I had become fascinated by the world of early retirement and financial independence, reading about it in all my free time. I could see that blogging was a great way to earn extra money on our way to financial independence, so my wife and I started Cash Cow Couple. That was over four years ago, and it has changed our lives.
We feel our blog is unique in two ways. First, our blog is run by a couple in their 20s. Although we made our fair share of financial mistakes, we've recovered quickly and are in a solid financial position at a young age. Neither one of us came from money, so we're a great example of what a married couple is capable of if they're dedicated to living well below their means while simultaneously increasing their income. Second, and more importantly, all the content on our blog is backed by academic research. As I've gained more degrees and certifications in personal finance, my writing has become more technical, and therefore more helpful to the reader. I write about the same topics I teach to students at the university where I teach part-time. I believe this adds great value to the reader at home who usually has not studied personal finance at a university level.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING TO START A BLOG?While there are numerous ways I could answer this question, I believe the most important advice is to remind the new blogger that it's a highly competitive market, and getting more competitive all the time. So, find a niche, do your research, add value to the reader, do everything with excellence, and finally, understand that blogging is a long term gain. Most bloggers don't start experiencing success for at least a year, but usually two or more. It's a highly rewarding experience, and can become a serious business if you work hard for a long time. Set the right expectations from the beginning, and you'll learn and grow into a better blogger with each passing day.
Talking about television shows is our favorite way to get to know new people! There are so many good tv shows on right now. Television is having a moment in entertainment. We love "Suits," "Vikings," "Daredevil," and "The Voice," but our favorite is "New Girl." It's the perfect antidote to a long day of hard work.
My wife and I are lovers of food. We often joke that food is our love language, so we take snacking very seriously. Jacob's favorite snack is nachos - with chicken or steak, lots of shredded cheese, and some strategically placed jalapeños with a side of spicy salsa. Vanessa likes nachos, but would pick a bowl of queso over nachos any day. We both love dark chocolate and cookies are a particular hit with us.
You can read Jacob and Vanessa'a blog at CashCowCouple.com. You can also follow them on Dealspotr, Facebook, and Twitter.
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