In light of several blogs that have recently seemingly disappeared, I am reposting this. I know that some of these disappearances are the result of the recent security breach of Equifax but others, who knows? I appreciate those who have given their readers a heads up. Yes, internet safety and privacy is a huge issue and one that must be taken seriously. But, while we must be careful with what we divulge, I also don’t want to live my life in fear of the what-ifs. That being said, please don’t leave me hanging!
A heartfelt message to all my fellow personal finance bloggers!
How many of you have ever watched a television series or read a book that leaves you hanging? I’m not talking about the ones that eventually return with a new season or a sequel; I’m talking about the ones that seem to vanish into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again. I’m sure most of us have.
As I have delved into the blogging world of personal finance, I have found myself getting drawn into the lives of the various writers. I find myself eager to read their next post about meeting a particular goal, saving more, spending less and even just stories of what is going on in their lives. No, I’m not some a Gladys Kravitz from the Bewitched sitcom of the 60s/70s wanting to poke my nose in where it doesn’t belong. I’m probably a lot like you….someone desperately trying to do whatever I can to get out of debt and reach my retirement goals once and for all.
One thing I have experienced in my financial quest is stumbling across a lot of very well written blogs that have left their readers hanging, wondering just what happened next. They are bloggers with often similar stories to mine. They are bloggers who have given me hope that I, too, can continue making progress in my own journey to financial freedom. So then, just what is my message? My message is to all you wonderful bloggers (I mean that!) who, like a television series or a book have invited me as your reader (and fellow blogger) into your life. Please don’t leave me hanging wondering what became of you!
While no, we don’t owe it to our readers to finish our stories, I think we should. I don’t feel we have the right to let readers into our lives without at least saying goodbye. For those who have, I am thankful! I do get where there are times when a person loses the desire to write, or perhaps they feel that they’ve come to an end of their story. I’m also certainly not pointing fingers because I’ve been guilty of doing the same thing myself. I honestly feel bad about having done so. Although I still own the domains, my old blogs are no longer searchable on the web. I can’t offer a guaranty that someday I’ll end this blog too. When and if that time comes, I will do my best to at least say goodbye. I won’t leave you hanging, wondering where I went or whether or not I did succeed in my quest to achieve financial freedom. That, I feel, is what we all owe our readers.
Aww, thanks, we DO want to hear how your journey progresses, so it would be disappointing if you disappeared without a word! I’m already looking forward to your next post!
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Thank you! I blog for several reasons. It not only helps keep me accountable, but I also hope it serves as encouragement for others who are traveling a similar path. I am quite certain my hubby and I are not alone. I am bound and determined to see this through!
I have a few blogs that quit (but it’s been awhile now) that I still wonder about. I’m curious – why would the equifax breach cause someone to stop blogging?
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I’m wondering the same thing!
I wondered that too. It was Frugality, Financial Independence & The Middle Class who posted “This Will Be My Last Post Here”
7 hours ago. She said it was because of the Equifax breach, but didn’t elaborate. That post and her entire blog have now since disappeared. She did say that she was going to ask Sluggy over at “Don’t read this; it’s boring” if she’d let readers know when she would be back to blogging. I enjoyed her blog so was sorry to see it end.
Ne too!
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It’s almost as if we lost part of our group!
thanks for posting this. I do like to follow your blog and am pulling for you in your debt free journey.
Thank you! I appreciate your support and encouragement.
I know – there are a few that I miss as well. I have been in and out as I get offended very easily (my issue) and quickly decide to just drop the blog, but I always come back. I think one blogger got a divorce, so his life changed. One moved to Hawaii and again, their lives changed. I think they stopped because the focus was different or maybe their lives just got too personal and too painful to write about. It probably happens more than you think.
I am almost ready to get on the getting out debt mode. Hopefully by the first of November.
No doubt I get sucked into these blogs far more than I should. I enjoy reading about the experiences of other people and many times learn from them as well.
With everything you’ve had going on, I think it would near impossible to even think about budgeting!
I feel the same way! I get so invested in the lives of the bloggers I follow. It’s sad to see them drop off (though it’s something I’ve done in the past as well). I’m committed to blogging throughout this debt repayment process, first because it motivates me, and second because I want to show people that it can be done.
Thank you for sharing YOUR story. I always enjoy and appreciate your posts.
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Thank you! I am enjoying reading your journey as well. Battling debt isn’t fun, but like you said, it can be done!
There have been several blogs that I follow that have just abruptly quit blogging without warning.. Or if there was a farewell message, I missed reading it before the whole blog was deleted completely. One blogger has done this several times, and then started up with another title. One wonders if the blogger is unstable. I can understand deciding to quit blogging, but one should at least tell one’s followers goodbye and leave it up for a while. Sometimes a lot of worthwhile posts that would be inspiring re-reads are gone forever..
It sounds very much like we were reading some of the same blogs! I, too, wonder about the constant changing of blog titles. If it were over just wanting to change the name of the blog or platform, the posts could be transferred over. That is what I did when I went from The Line has been drawn (at blogger) to A Dime at a Time on WordPress. Whether or not my old posts are inspiring re-reads, that is questionable. Lol