I started blogging on Blogspot in January. I had a vision, and a plan. It’s changed a bit along the way. I’ve grown in ways I didn’t anticipate. I have begun endeavors that I wouldn’t have dreamed.

Writing here has changed my relationship with money. It has helped me face the issues I have with spending (I am terrified to spend money… and feel incredibly guilty when I spend on myself). This blog, and the connections I’ve made here, have also helped me to change my “dirty little secret” mentality about discussing personal finances … for good or ill. *See Can I Get Rich On A Salary’s post Sex or Credit for more on this topic*

The biggest unanticipated benefit to writing this blog is that Mark and I have a far stronger money communications relationship now. In the beginning, I would say “budget” and he would instantly tense up. When we realized we were both working toward the same goal, we just had different communications styles; it was a whole new ballgame. In case you missed it, I even ribbed him a bit over at Emily’s Blog, Remodel This Life when she shared a guest post from me during her vacation.

With the good, of course, comes the bad. We’re more aware of our downfalls in spending. We track everything so closely, while we’re at a lull in the earnings department, that our 15 year old daughter wants to get a job because she thinks we’re hurting financially. No matter how much you try to tell children that things are ok, if they’ve never been faced with a budget for nights out to dinner before, they’re going to worry. I wish I’d read Clever Dude’s post about Teaching Your Children Finances Early … about 15 years ago.

What about you? Have you learned something from reading or writing about finances that you wish you’d known 6 months ago? 10 years ago? Has the blogosphere changed your relationship with or about money?

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