Welcome to another not SEO-optimized post, sharing my goals + results as a blogger. One of the reasons that I even became interested in blogging is because other bloggers shared their financial results. My plan is to update this post monthly, with real time results.
I hope that it serves as one way I can stay accountable. Even more than that, I love the idea of inspiring someone else to take action on their financial goals. Welcome to my honest results (and troubleshooting) page!
2026 (to be filled in monthly)
I’ll update this at the end of each month. Come back- I’m not hiding the numbers.
MONTH
UNIQUE VISITORS
INCOME
EXPENSES
TOTAL
LIFETIME TOTAL
July
August
September
Q3 2026 Goals (July- September)
My primary goal for the next quarter to is to practice the habit of consistency with blog work. This includes establishing a routine around when I will work on my blog. Don’t forget- I am a 9-5 er and single mom to 2 teens! I know that showing up consistently will be key for me in seeing momentum.
Within my control:
Create content plan/system
Publish 1 blog post per week
Publish 1 Pinterest pin per day
Launch newsletter
Optimize website for traffic (clickability, optins, etc)
Start participating with affiliate programs
Set up display ads on website
Results to track:
Unique website visitors: goal= 1,000 per month
Pinterest followers: goal= 100
Newsletter subscribers: goal= 50
Income: goal= $1,000
Done! I am adding this note to the bottom of the page that this post was written by me showing up early on a Wednesday morning to meet my goal of posting 1 time this week. I know that this is my starting place and it only goes up from here.
Well, here goes- I’m counting this as my very first blog post. Sure, I’ve created a handful of posts over the past year or so. In hindsight, those were practice.
Practice for what you ask? We’ll get to that further down in this post. For now, I want to explain why I’m writing this very unstructured, non SEO-optimized post.
I’ve come to realize, over the course of my financial growth journey, that how I feel earning more money is important to me. In other words, not all pathways to wealth are created equal.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for “doing the dirty work” so to speak. I’m definitely in a position where paying the bills is the priority, especially as a single mom.
Here’s the thing- my personal finances are stable-ish for the first time since pre divorce.
I’m ready for the next chapter of my financial earning story. I’m ready to do something new. Instead of leaning into what’s next in the Corporate world, I am starting this blog instead.
Let’s talk about why I’m starting a blog specifically…
1. Create an additional stream of income
While the temptation of securing a new higher paying role in the Corporate world sounds easier at the moment, it’s important to me to diversify how I’m earning money.
I also understand that pursuing success in Corporate sounds easier because it’s something I’ve done before.
There are a lot of ways to generate additional streams of income. Continue reading to see why I’m choosing a blog specifically.
Essentially, I want to create additional streams of income to achieve my financial goals faster.
Ultimately, I desire to free up my time and I will not do that by continuing to increase my income in a Corporate role.
2. Set up “passive” ways to earn money
You’ll notice the word passive is in quotations. In my opinion, this term can be misleading.
Generating income requires an exchange of money for value offered. Value offered could be time, expertise, service, etc.
The way I think about passive income is money exchanged for work not necessarily happening now, as in today. For example, I’m writing this post in April 2026 but you’re reading it today.
In my analysis of ways I could earn additional money in my current situation, a blog became the obvious choice for the following reasons:
Minimal monetary investment
Multiple ways to generate income (many of which can be set up once and continue to work!)
Work can be on my own time vs. during certain hours
A few examples of ways blogs generate revenue include through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.
All of these revenue sources can be set up to work behind the scenes to continue generating revenue.
Pretty cool!
3. Learn/utilize existing skills
Okay here’s a fun fact about me: I don’t love school and I never have. I absolutely love learning, but on my own time.
Give me a good problem to solve and I’m all over it, so long as I have an interest in solving it.
Give me an assignment for something I have no interest in, with a looming deadline and I’m checked out- bye!
I used to feel a lot of shame around this characteristic but I’ve since come to embrace my approach to learning. It’s turned into an asset for me.
I know when I set my mind to something, I will go all in and knock it out of the park.
Creating an online business offers the unique opportunity to learn and practice new skills in real time. I’ve heard entrepreneurship described as personal development on crack.
I’m looking forward to learning all the things, including learning the art of hiring help for the skills that I have no desire to learn.
And let’s not forget- I already possess several skills that will aid well to blogging. I enjoy writing and communicating information in an easily digestible manner.
In my personal life, I frequently receive the feedback that I’m great at connecting dots for people. I look forward to doing that for my readers.
4. Share my journey to financial stability/freedom
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past 6 years as I’ve adjusted to becoming a single mom, it’s that there are not enough women talking about finances.
When I found myself unemployed going through a divorce during the pandemic, I scoured the internet looking for someone relatable.
Sure, there are several gems online that are sharing great information (so grateful) but we need more female voices talking about the realities of finances for women.
Realities for women like going back to work after taking time off to stay home with kids, recovering financially from divorce, or the unique challenges faced by women in the workplace.
I have a lot to say and I know that the information will be helpful to other women.
5. Ignite passion for helping women succeed financially
That’s a nice segue to why I ultimately chose personal finance as the topic for my blog.
I have a deep passion for helping other women succeed financially.
It’s a serendipitous feeling to realize that everything you’ve experienced in your life has led to this current moment.
I’ve experienced many financial setbacks over the years including credit card debt, large medical expenses, unemployment and more.
I’ve also experienced a lot of financial privilege including affording the opportunity to graduate college with minimal student loans and having a loving/supportive family that has helped me out at the drop of a hat.
The contrast of setback vs. privelage has shown me how important financial stability is and just how quickly being financially unstable can derail your life.
This is especially true for women. If I have learned one thing over the past 6 years, it’s that more money in the hands of women will be a blessing for everyone.
My hope is to be a safe space for women to achieve financial stability and more. I am so excited you’re here and I can’t wait to hear about all of your progress!
Comments Off on High Paying Career Skills to Succeed in Today’s Economy
by Jess Kinsey
One of the key principles of my Income Accelerator Method is to increase your income as a method to achieve financial progress faster. If you’re in the market for a new job, consider honing in on a high paying skill career as a way to increase your income. This post covers 10 high paying career skills that I would consider in 2025 if I were setting out to increase my salary (p.s. I personally chose to focus on developing my project management skills to pivot to a higher paying role!)
How High-Paying Skills Can Accelerate Career Growth
Whether you are just starting out in your career or you are looking to make a career pivot, focusing on the development of high paying career skills is an excellent way to prioritize financial progress.
I attribute much of my early career success to a pivotal moment in college when I had to select my major. I really wanted to focus on the education aspect of public health even though I knew my job prospects after graduation would be much broader if I acquired a degree in health administration. The degrees were in separate colleges at the university I attended.
I chose the path that would open the most doors; I’m forever grateful to my 19 year old self for having the forethought to think about future opportunities. That is what I will invite you to do here- think about the career path that will open the most doors for you financially.
Wherever you’re at in your career, high paying career skills will address an evolving job market and ensure you stay competitive to meet market demand. If you are in a situation of desiring more income quickly, pivoting to a new role can be an excellent way to increase your income!
10 Career Skillsto Accelerate Income Growth
Data analysis and visualization
Description: Data analysis refers to the process of extracting meaningful insights from data and data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data.
Why it’s valuable: Businesses and organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decisions .
Examples of roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst
Tools to learn: Excel, Tableau, Python, Power BI
Project management
Description: Project management is the process of using skills, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, and complete a project on time and within budget.
Why it’s valuable: Fast-paced organizations often have competing priorities that require management across different functions of the organization.
Examples of roles: Project Manager, Program Manager
Certifications to consider: Project Management Professional (PMP)
Digital marketing
Description: The practice of promoting products or services through online channels.
Why it’s valuable: Digital marketing can be more affordable for businesses to implement than traditional marketing and is arguably a requirement for success in today’s business landscape.
Examples of roles: SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager
Description: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from cyberattacks.
Why it’s valuable: Cybersecurity aims to protect people, financial assets, data, applications, devices, and computer systems.
Examples of roles: Cybersecurity Analyst, Ethical Hacker
Certifications to pursue: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Security+
Cloud computing
Description: The delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence) over the internet or through “the cloud”.
Why it’s valuable: In the increasingly virtual world we live in, cloud computing allows users to access files remotely, instead of keeping them on their devices.
Examples of roles: Cloud Engineer, DevOps Specialist
Platforms to learn: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure
Software development and programming
Description: The process of creating software applications, including the act of writing computer code.
Why it’s valuable: Software development/programming allows businesses to create digital solutions that meet evolving market needs.
Examples of roles: Software Engineer, App Developer
Languages to learn: Python, Java, JavaScript
Sales and business development
Description: Sales primarily focuses on closing deals and business development focuses on identifying new market opportunities.
Why it’s valuable: Both sales and business development are essential for generating revenue for a company.
Examples of roles: Business Development Manager, Sales Executive
Description: UX/UI design refers to the process of creating digital products that are visually appealing and easy to use.
Why it’s valuable: Both skills help to increase user satisfaction, improve customer retention, and boost conversion rates.
Examples of roles: UX Designer, UI Developer
Tools to learn: Figna, Sketch, Adobe XD
Financial management and analysis
Description: The process of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance-related transactions to determine their performance and suitability.
Why it’s valuable: Financial analysis is used to improve business decision-making.
Examples of roles: Financial Analyst, Accountant
Tools to master: Excel, QuickBooks, SAP
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the broad concept that machines can mimic human intelligence, while machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on the use of algorithms to identify patterns within data sets.
Why it’s valuable: Allows businesses to analyze large datasets, automate repetitive tasks, identify patterns, and make informed decisions.
Examples of roles: AI Engineer, Machine Learning Specialist
Tools to explore: TensorFlow, PyTorch
How to Acquire Skillsto Increase your Income
If I were interested in acquiring one of the high paying career skills outlined above, here is what I would do (in this order);
Research roles, salaries, and companies- This might rule out one of the options for me so critically, this is step one! Get really clear on what you want first.
Identify skills gaps- Do you need a certification or a certain amount of experience to qualify for the roles you are interested in? This may also eliminate a few options, depending on the runway needed to close the skills gaps.
Close skills gaps- Enroll in an online course, apply to take the needed certification, or gain hands-on experience in your current role if that is an option.
Network with industry professionals- Who are you connected with already that might be able to assist you with making this career pivot? Get networking!
Benefits of Mastering High-Paying Skills
If you are ready to accelerate your financial progress or, like me, you are the breadwinner in your home and want to ensure financial stability in your career, mastering high paying career skills will be a great asset for your journey. Not only will you future-proof your career, you may even increase your job satisfaction, for being the boss that you are.
Comments Off on How to Make More Money in Your “Day Job”
by Jess Kinsey
I guess I am starting off my online coaching business with an unpopular opinion: earning more money in your “day job” is the path of least resistance to increasing your income and improving your financial stability. It’s the low hanging fruit that is tempting to overlook when presented with too many choices to make more money.
My Short List of Money-Making Ideas
Let me backup a step and provide a little context as to how I arrived at this conclusion…
In March of 2020, like many, I entered uncharted waters of my life. The world stopped. My school-age kids were at home 24/7. I found myself unemployed and going through a painful separation with my (now ex) husband. To say I was in a constant state of panic is an understatement.
My world collapsed. The ground beneath my feet became quicksand, where I began to sink into a world of sadness and depression. Maybe I will share more about this time of my life in this online space at some point. That story is not the point of this post.
It was during this time that I was faced with a laundry list of ways to make more money. Money, I will add, that I needed yesterday. My brain came up with a short list of options that included (but were not limited to) the following:
Get a salaried job (where I would have to work from home, as the kids were with me primarily during the day)
Rekindle my online blog (I had not posted content in almost a year and it did not generate enough revenue to cover my expenses)
Go all-in on a business partnership with a friend (a business idea that hinged on in-person social events)
Start a gig job (such as grocery delivery) until something else worked out
Sell all of my belongings (which, let’s be honest, would have only helped for a short time and was not any type of long term solution)
My Not So Great Ideas
Let’s not forget the other two ideas to make more money presented to me at the time…
A few weeks into the stay at home orders, my well meaning neighbor suggested that I file for unemployment benefits. Here was the problem with that idea- I had not been let go of a job because of the pandemic. I had left my Corporate career in 2016 to be more available to my little kids. I had then spent the prior 3.5 years working with my (ex) husband at his family business, while blogging on the side. Legally, I did not qualify for unemployment and the idea of “working the system” did not sit well with me.
Not to be outdone by…
The first divorce attorney I met told me that I would be lucky to find a job earning more than $50,000 a year. He advised me to take the path of NOT finding a job, which would increase my awarded settlement of child support and alimony. I still get the taste of throwup in my mouth when I think about this advice. He was obviously not hired!
In my process of idea elimination, the above two mentioned ideas (those not on my short list) were immediately out. While I’m not above asking for help or asking for money when I am rightfully owed, both of these ideas offered a solution that relied on others. I knew that if I slipped into the mentality of my financial stability relying on others that I would likely not problem solve on my own. My gut told me the thought train of relying on others would not lead me to the financial independence that I so desired.
Choosing How to Make More Money
The “short list” of money making ideas sat written on a dry erase board hanging in my apartment bedroom. I stared at the list daily and frequently listed out the action items I needed to take to make each idea come to life. That activity left me feeling overwhelmed, more confused, and worst of all- not taking action.
Fortunately, I had a good support system in place in the form of my therapist and my immediate family. I experienced major anxiety and panic attacks at the thought of not providing for my kids and myself financially.
There were two impactful moments that shifted my mindset, ultimately leading to me choosing and acting on a solution to make more money:
#1: Focus on ONE thing at a time:
I read the book Essentialism by Greg Mckeown and asked myself the question- what is the ONE thing I can do that would have the biggest impact on my financial stability? The clear answer was to prioritize securing a work from home job. This job would meet most of the financial needs I had at the time.
#2: Face the reality of inaction:
In one of my (almost daily) calls to my closest sister, she virtually slapped me on the face. She said that I was not taking action and that is why I was not having results. I would like to note here that I did not want to hear this but I needed to.
Now of course there were many other events and plot twists during this time that had an impact on my journey. These two events were the biggest key ingredients to changing my trajectory.
Going All-in on ONE Idea
While everyone’s financial journey is different there are overarching themes that translate across experiences. When I argue that the easiest way to make more money is your “day job”, I am making the case for leveraging the part of your day that has most of your attention. This may be a 9-5 job for many of you or it may look a little different. The path of least resistance in earning more money is to focus on increasing your main source of income.
In a world of “shiny pennies” everywhere, it may be tempting to entertain the idea of spreading your attention across many different income generating ideas. I am not judging- clearly I did this too. I would like to offer the idea that if you focus on ONE place to significantly increase your income, you may have faster results that surpass what you originally desired.
How to Make More Money in your “Day Job”
Once you’ve made the decision to focus on earning more in your day job, you really have two options:
#1: Get noticed at work:
If you have the desire and opportunity to advance within your current role or company, this could be a good option for you. Leverage any of the following to get noticed at work:
Midyear or annual review process
Master an in demand skill
Network within the company
Start/maintain a “brag book” of accomplishments and feedback
#2: Switch roles and/or companies:
Sometimes the income and/or opportunities you desires are just not available at the company you’re with or on the career path you’re on. Instead of trying to make the impossible work, you have the option to just “step over” into a new reality. Stop making it harder on yourself; I say this from experience. In 2023, I was able to increase my Corporate salary by 30% simply by switching companies into a similar role.
Pep Talk for the Single Moms
If you’re not a single mom, this still applies to you! It may be tempting to try a bunch of things at the same time. The reality is if you are feeling insecure/overwhelmed about your finances, the “throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks” is only going to contribute to those feelings over time, and you might not even end up with the result you desire.
Ask yourself- what is the ONE thing I can do that would have the biggest impact on my financial stability? And go do that ONE thing. I’m rooting for you!
Earning more in your 9-5 may be the path of least resistance to achieving your financial goals.
