Two million and counting.

th-1When I started Surviving and Thriving back in 2010 my life was very, very different. I’d recently gotten a university degree (at age 52 – better late than really late) and was making a living as a full-time writer for MSN Money plus an every-other-week staff writer at Get Rich Slowly. I freelanced for other publications as well, and traveled a lot.

Now I live in Anchorage, Alaska with the love of my life and am back to freelancing full-time because MSN Money fired all its writers on the same day back in autumn 2013.

Earlier this year I started an online course called Write A Blog People Will Read* and also hung out my shingle as a writing coach.

Tired? You bet.

Grateful? Indescribably so.

 

Although this is coming a bit late for a Thanksgiving column, here’s what I’m grateful for, professionally speaking:

  • The chance to making a living as a writer
  • The chance to help others with my words
  • The chance to build a community here at this site

The community aspect is what’s making me feel guilty about having maintained radio silence for so long lately. Ten days between posts is doubleplusungood, especially since I should be thanking you all: Recently this blog passed the two million pageviews mark.

 

Prizes, prizes, prizes

My weekly(ish) giveaways are one way that I show gratitude to my readers. In honor of those two million page views, I’d like to show a little more gratitude than usual.

Were it possible to stage a $2 million giveaway, I’d do it. Since I’m a small business owner, however, I’ve got to stay within a sensible budget. So here’s what’s up for grabs:

  • One $50 Amazon gift card
  • Two $25 Amazon gift cards
  • Three $10 Amazon gift cards

Seriously, I wish it could be more. In the meantime, you can enter up to six ways for your chance at a gift card:

If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.

The deadline to enter is 7 p.m. PDT Tuesday, Dec. 8. If I don’t hear back from the winners by 7 p.m. PDT Wednesday, Dec. 9, I’ll have the random number generator pull another name.

*This link explains a little more about the course. If you’re interested in taking it, here’s the link. And if $147 is not in the budget right now, e-mail me at SurvivingAndThriving (at) live (dot) com and convince me to give you a discount.

Please follow and like us:

357 thoughts on “Two million and counting.”

  1. Hope you had a great holiday and best wishes for those ahead. I am grateful to get to read your articles you post. Please know you are truly appreciated. Take care.

    Reply
  2. It’s fun to look back occasionally and see the curves in the road we’ve travelled. I’m glad you’re sharing your journey with us!

    Reply
  3. I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving Day with your family, and thank you for this great giveaway.

    I truly enjoy reading your emails when they arrive in my inbox. Thank you. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Belated Happy Thanksgiving and congratulations on hitting the two million mark!

    Thanks for the giveaway – I can always find something I need on Amazon.

    Reply
  5. Donna, you are a blessing! I have so appreciated your honesty and suggestions over the years. Your words have positively impacted my life, my family. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. I found you via GRS and have been reading your work since. Thanks so much for writing with humor and common sense,and for keeping the “this is the way or you are stupid” scolding out of your writing. I stopped reading most other sites when I found yours. Ask Liz Weston is the exception.

    Reply
  7. Donna, I follow you via email. I’m thankful that I found you this past year, I’ve needed to hear your common sense and inspirational approach to finances, and well, LIFE. After working for the past 20 years to help two daughters through undergrad and post grad, it was finally time to ramp up saving for retirement and also enjoy the little wiggle room that my income provided me and my husband. Unfortunately I was laid off 14 months ago and haven’t been able to find another job. It’s been an adjustment. I was surprised at how it has affected me emotionally. I still get the blues occasionally but your words help me to remember that we are all more than our job titles and salaries. Even though money is tight, we have everything we need, and we’ve always been frugal. But it’s fun to hear how you and your readers get creative to save and stretch your dollars. Thanks for keeping me grounded, and for helping keep the panic at bay : )

    Reply
  8. Wow….2 million viewings…that is impressive. Can’t believe it’s been over 5 years …. where did the time go? Every once in a while I come upon the short videos on the net of you picking the stones out of beans you were preparing in the little apartment or of your visits to “Value Village”….”classics”. It seems like a life-time ago. Thanks for the opportunity and Happy Holidays!

    Reply
  9. Leaving my comment too. Happy Thanksgiving! The amazon card would be awesome. I learned about a neat pressure cooker on Amazon, so I’m aiming for a pressure cooker and cookbook for the holidays, or a a self gift/investment if its not a gift. Super fast cooking, great nutrition retention – cooks most beans in under 30 minutes from dry. I’ve always thought I was wasting money on canned beans – love the possibilities!

    Reply
  10. Congratulations on reaching the two million mark and Happy Holidays! I have learned much from your experiences, but mostly you showed me that its not important to spend a lot, but to spend it wisely. Thank you!

    Reply
  11. What an amazing giveaway. I love reading your work. I signed up for the writing blog newsletter. I am looking forward to exploring the site.

    Reply
  12. I was going to wait until next Saturday to say this, but, what the heck, I’ll say it now. Happy birthday to you, me, Walt Disney and all the other Dec. 5th babies out there.

    Reply
  13. Donna,

    Congrats on all the views, very well deserved!!

    I really enjoy your posts as I feel we are on the same wavelength. We currently have a family member who is “between” homes staying with us. I am encouraging her to read your blog and change her money habits.

    Thanks for all the great articles and humor!!

    Reply
  14. I first started reading your articles back when you were at MSN Money. I was happy when you started this site, you have a very unique writing style.

    Reply
  15. It’s never too late to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, and I have always admired your positiveness whether you are facing feast or famine in your life.

    Reply
  16. Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for my husband working hard everyday so I can stay home to raise our son. Thanks for the tips to help us survive and thrive on one income!

    Reply
  17. I read your blog, it’s on my favorites page. I don’t twitter or facebook, can’t stand them. Have been reading your blog for years.

    Reply
  18. Hi Donna,

    Don’t do Facebook, but I’m a fan and LONGTIME reader of your writing, also a lover of Alaska. Visitied in 2013 and will again. Maybe next time I can catch the Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ!

    Reply
  19. I follow via email and I absolutely love your blog. I love hearing about your life and I love your tips and ideas regarding money and frugality. Many you continue for many many years to come.

    Reply
  20. I love reading your tips and suggestions about frugality. They provide me with many ideas. I was a freelance writer, and enjoyed it immensely, but the recession changed everything, so I am back to a “regular” job now, and about to enter nursing school next month. I enjoy following you via e-mail. Thanks for the help. I would love to win a gift card! Thank you for offering your readers a chance to win!

    Reply
  21. Donna,
    Congrats on your 2 million views. Three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I came home that day to find a package of something I had won from you. It made my day. Surviving and Thriving…still. Thank you for passing all your knowledge onto us readers.

    Reply
  22. I’ve been reading your work since that fateful night shift where I discovered your very first MSN article. I’ve kept reading and love your style! Learned a few things along the way and I’m glad you’re still writing.

    Reply
  23. I think your break is well deserved! Congrats on your mile mark because I am hoping that you continue for many years and hit that 5 million mark. Your words have inspired me and many others….Thanks for making a difference!

    Reply
  24. Okay, *now* I’m following you on Twitter! I thought I was before, but for some reason it didn’t take when I tried before, and then I searched and followed the wrong account…

    Reply
  25. Congrats on the 2 million mark! I have been following you since seeing a video interview with you on (I think) MSN. I really appreciate you inviting us all along for your journey – it’s been a good trip 🙂

    I follow by email.

    Reply
  26. Congratulations on your 2 million views! I am grateful that you write and give us a peek into your life, along with frugal advice.

    Reply
  27. Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful to have found you through Get Rich Slowly and have been following you ever since. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your latest give-away!

    Reply
  28. I started reading your things on GRS and then sort of backtracked to your earlier money pieces from there. To this day I still re read some of those pieces for inspiration and, I suppose, a feeling of “someone else has been there”.
    (Subscribed via email already 🙂 )

    Reply
  29. You give advice without preaching, with a voice that speaks from experience. Personal finance blogs can be so “yeah, we’ve heard that before”, but when you’re reading one by someone living in Alaska after what seems like totally reinventing herself midlife it’s sort impossible to get the same old feeling you get with the other blogs.

    (I’m already following you on Facebook.)

    Reply
  30. Anyway, kudos to you on the readership accomplishment. I hope you’ll continue putting out more content. It’s great!
    (I’m already subscribed to your “write a blog” newsletter.)

    Reply
  31. Reading your blog has been a blessing to me. They are both entertaining and informative. I also love your daughters blog. Hope you both have a good Christmas.

    Reply
  32. Donna – That’s fantastic! I am so glad your blog is thriving, as is your career. I’ve enjoyed following you on your blog and Twitter, love your insights, writing style and wicked sense of humor. I am sure the next two million pageviews are right around the corner!

    Reply
  33. Congrats, Donna! I’m not surprised that you’ve hit that incredible benchmark. Here’s to the next 2M!

    I love your newsletter and that’s how I found out about this giveaway. In the unlikely chance I win a prize, please throw it back in the hat and give it to someone else. If I win a second time, then it was meant for me and I’ll keep it!

    Reply
  34. Doing something you love, helping others, fostering a supportive community — you rock, Donna! Congratulations on your two milion milestone!

    Reply
  35. I’m just seeing this for the first time. (Thanks FaceBook) Congratulations on your success Donna. I would love to win a gift card.

    Reply
  36. I often come back to your site to look something up from your archives, though, and I really appreciate that they are here.

    Reply

Leave a Comment