$3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

Hey everyone! I know that every weekend and every month seems to fly by, but I really mean it this time: September went by super quick! I love October and Fall. Mainly because it means that sooo many holidays are upon us. And I really love Christmas so that just means that we keep getting…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: May 25, 2023

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Hey everyone! I know that every weekend and every month seems to fly by, but I really mean it this time: September went by super quick!

I love October and Fall. Mainly because it means that sooo many holidays are upon us. And I really love Christmas so that just means that we keep getting closer and closer. And as you can see, my online income in September was awesome! I am very happy with this.

Also, lots of fails on my list, but I still consider September a successful month.

We plan on handing out candy this Halloween. Usually we go out every Halloween, but this time we plan on staying it (we still plan on going out the weekend before of course 🙂  )  Over 5 years of living together and this will be our first time! I can’t help but be a little excited. However, I did price out candy and it looks like we’ll be spending around $50. Hopefully I don’t eat it all myself either.

September Goals

  1. Cut my food budget down to $400. FAIL. BLEHHH Should we even talk about this? Haha we will do better! We did a little too many celebrating last month.
  2. Workout at least 4 times a week and run with my dog. PASS. We’ve been running at the track in our neighborhood. I love it!
  3. Make an extra $1,500 this month. PASS PASS PASS. See below 🙂
  4. Read 2 books. FAIL. I didn’t read any and I didn’t finish the last Hunger Games book.
  5. Lay new stones around the front of our house. FAIL. We were going to look at the store, and then turned out because we were lazy.
  6. Hire someone to put carpet in. FAIL. Haven’t done this yet. I plan on calling places soon. I hear the best time to do this is soon, as if we wait any longer than we will run into a Christmas rush for carpet. What did you do to save money on carpet?
  7. Paint the guest bathroom. FAIL. Plan on painting it coral soon though!
  8. Install a new light in our dining room. FAIL. Wow lots of fails on my list.

October Goals (some of these are the same as I wasn’t able to accomplish them).

  1. Cut my food budget down to $500. I increased this a little bit. Hopefully this can be done!
  2. Workout at least 4 times a week and lose 3 poundsKeeping this on my list so that I can constantly be thinking about it. I’ve also put on a little extra weight since school has ended. I hate it so I’m determined to lose it.
  3. Make an extra $1,500 this month. I kept this at the same amount as last month (even though I did awesome last month!). I’m thinking I can definitely do this 🙂
  4. Do all of the house stuff from last month that I did not do. Lay new stones around the front of our house. Hire someone to put carpet in. Paint the guest bathroom. Install a new light in our dining room. The list goes on and on.
  5. Find an awesome Halloween costume. I have no ideas. What are you going to be?
  6. Plan a girls trip to KC to see a friend. We were supposed to go in 2 weeks, but instead it was pushed to November. Oh well!


Blog Goals (I’m not focused on numbers, but it is interesting to see where I’m going).

  • Twitter Followers: Goal was for 1,200, I’m currently at 1,230. I’m hoping to get 1,350.
  • Alexa rank: Goal was to be under 90,000. I’m still stuck at around 90,000. I noticed that ever since I switched to WordPress, that is has been dropping (my 1-month and 7 day average) though. My goal for October is to be at 85,000.
  • RSS readers: Goal was for 1,300, I’m WAY under this because I lost over 700 subscribers from the switch from Blogspot to WordPress. Oh well! Hopefully you guys are all still reading 🙂
  • Guest post at least 2 times this month. I failed at this yet again.

 

Extra Monthly Income in September

  • Online Income – $2,425
  • Selling Clothes – $0
  • Miscellaneous – $472
  • Mystery Shopping – $53
  • Rent – $325

So I actually made $3,275 extra last month!

How did you do in September? Any extra income?


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. Congrats on the extra monthly income! Seriously that is huge. I am really focusing on side income because it just feels like "extra" and I would love to beef up my savings or put some more money in investments.

    You make a lot of goals each month so I hope you don't feel bad for not passing all of them. I also have goals of reading books but never seem to get around to them. Too much else going on.
    My recent post What is the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)?

    1. Thanks! And yes, extra income is nice because I can apply it towards debt and it's like I'm not even missing any money.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  2. We didn't do very well on our "home improvement" goals lately either.. It just seemed like our energy levels were down in September, and it was hard to get going. October is going to be better tho, I can feel it. One of my favorite months!

    Nice work on all of the blogging income.. That is a huge number!
    My recent post Debt Payoff Progress: On Target With the End in Sight

    1. Yeah I hope October is better for the house as well! I just have too many ideas.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  3. Hey… Well done on the blog stat… and on the goals. It is great you are making time to run! How did you manage to build up such a great subscribers list? I am really struggling on this front!

    1. I think I was able to build up my subscribers list quickly because I don't just focus in one area (such as pf), I do travel, fashion, beauty, etc.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  4. Melissa

    Wow, I also would like to know how you got that much online income?! As in, detailed step-by-step hehe. Great job!

    1. Email me if you have any questions 🙂
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  5. That is some sick extra.income! Also, there is a Christmas rush on carpet? I guess I learn something new everyday!

    1. Yeah I guess it's because everyone wants new carpet before family gatherings.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  6. Glad you had an excellent month as well! Yay you! You have to tell me your online income secret

    1. Thanks! If you have any questions, just email me 🙂
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  7. gregjohnson975182420

    VEGAS!!!!!

    Good job on reaching some of your goals. Good luck on the rest for next month!!!

  8. Brian

    Way to rock your extra income!

    We put candy in a dish on our porch every year for the kids to take. We used to actually wait for kids, but then we realized that only like 5 come around. This year we will leave another dish out and we are taking our little guy to some sort of town festival for his first halloween!

    1. Our neighborhood is usually screaming with little kids, so I'm excited.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  9. therandompath

    Wow, great job on the extra income 🙂 Woo hoo!!!

    Congrats to your boyfriend on doing so well at his new job! That is awesome 🙂
    My recent post Bloggers Unite! My First Blogging Conference

  10. I'm sure you will get there soon!
    My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  11. October will be the month of home improvement! So many things on my list. And congrats on your first ever online income.
    My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  12. Well our neighborhood has tons of kids and if I'm going to give out candy, then I don't want to be the house that gives out lame tootsie rolls 🙂 I want to give out the good candy!
    My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  13. Have you checked out the boutique hotels a street or two up from Ocean Drive in South Beach? My friends and I find ridiculous deals at these when we visit, and the rooms are always awesome. Keep your options open, all of South Beach is a party, you don't have to stay right on Ocean Drive to get the South Beach experience.

    Congratulations on your extra income – truly inspiring!
    My recent post An Open Letter to Dave Matthews of The Dave Matthews Band

    1. Some of the girls that I'm going with would not willingly stay at a boutique hotel and we all kind of want to go the luxurious route anyways. We need to start saving! I should also say that I stayed in a boutique hotel last time I was in Miami, and I LOVED it.
      My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  14. Thanks! And yes set that goal 🙂
    My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  15. Thanks! And yay we're really leaning towards SoBe.
    My recent post $3,275 in Extra Income and My Goals!

  16. Wow your side income is impressive! How on earth do you do that?
    My recent post A pox on you, the poorly made Halloween costume edition

    1. Thanks! If you'd like, you can email me and I can tell you all about it 🙂

  17. brianna

    wow how do you make this awesome extra income????

    1. Haha email me and I can tell ya 🙂

  18. With $3k in extra income you can do both Vegas and South Beach!

    1. Haha if only my friends had that much extra income as well!

  19. iheartbudgets

    Nic work! Nice work on the side hustles, obviosuly the blogging is really paying off.

    I would say South Beach, but I have never been to either place!
    My recent post Why I Am Not Refinancing My Mortgage

  20. Good Job Michelle, will be $5000 next month! I'll switch my feed now.
    My recent post Will Moving To A Nicer Area Lower Insurance Premiums?

    1. I hope it's $5K next month! That seems like a little too high for me though haha

  21. You are rocking it with all the extra income! Way to go. It is a great number. You should be very proud of yourself. 🙂
    My recent post I’d Rather Have New Shoes Than Kids

  22. if you're interested in guest posting for me when i go on vacation next week, the offer still stands (: that can help your goal a bit.
    My recent post {diy} transplanting a plant.

    1. I totally forgot about that! I'll try and do one for you because I would LOVE to 🙂

  23. kimateyesonthedollar

    If you are able, buy your Halloween candy on October 31. It is usually marked way down on the actual day. That's cool that your significant other is doing so well at his job. That must be a huge bonus for the two of you.

  24. Congratulations! Great goals and great job keeping up with them!
    My recent post Motivation Monday: Unwind

  25. Canadianbudgetbinder

    Way to go Michelle!! That's some great side income. Mr.CBB
    My recent post The Grocery Game Challenge October 1-7, 2012-Giving Thanks!

  26. wow, I need to know how you made that extra income. Great job!
    My recent post Alternative To Amazon.com and Drugstore.com

  27. hazelmae89

    i want to earn extra income and but I still don't know how, can you help/?
    Thanks,
    yard clean ups