Work At Home Success Story: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Lifestyle Media LLC
This week’s Work-At-Home Success story comes from Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Lifestyle Media LLC. Michelle is a finance writer and online business owner. She is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about paying off debt, earning more money, and living the life you want to live. She is currently traveling around North America in an RV with her husband and two dogs.
1) How did you get started working from home?
I started working from home in August of 2011. I did it on the side of my full-time day job as a way to pay off my student loans more quickly. Then, in the summer of 2013 I decided to leave my day job and work from home full-time.
2) How did you choose the work-at-home career you do?
It all just happened spontaneously. I started my blog as a hobby and then it grew from there. My income that I was making from my blog was around $10,000 a month, and I knew I could live off of that. So, I figured why not take the leap? I loved blogging much more than my day job anyways. I enjoyed helping others create a budget, pay off their debt, start a blog to track their journey, and more.
3) How did you get started (basic initial steps)?
I started blogging on the side then took it full-time. I started with a few freelance clients and month after month is just seemed to grow significantly. When I started blogging full-time in 2013, I was earning around $10,000 from home. Now, I’m earning over $30,000 a month from home.
4) How did you get your first client or customer or job?
My first job was through a blogging friend. She knew someone who needed advertising and passed them along my way. I ended up making $100 from that and it was nice to be finally paid for my blogging-related work. It took 6 months to make that first $100!
5) How do you market your business?
I market my business in many ways. This includes Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, networking with other bloggers, taking part in interviews (such as this one!), and more.
6) What does your usual day look like?
My usual day varies a lot, especially since we are currently traveling extensively in an RV. I usually wake up for a few hours and work. Then, I try to enjoy the day, especially if the weather is nice. Then, I work again later in the day for several hours.
I try to enjoy each day due to the fact that I am location independent and have been given this great opportunity.
7) What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
I wish I would have known that I should have started on WordPress. I started my blog on Blogger, which was a HUGE mistake. It probably cost me a little bit of money, rankings, and professionalism. I highly recommend that every blogger start on WordPress.
8) What advice would you give someone who wants to work from home?
My top piece of advice would be for a person to create a realistic plan before leaving their day job. You should create an emergency fund, think about what you will do to earn a living, find ways to cut your budget, and more.
To connect further with Michelle, visit
Website Making Sense of Cents
Twitter Handle: SenseofCents
