I’m a little (okay, a lot) nervous to share these blog income reports, so here’s some background. This site launched at the end of February 2017. I actually purchased the domain in September of the previous year — a full year ago already. I let the blog sit untouched for about four months before I began working on it in December and then launched three months later. I felt like a tiny fish in a massive pond, and that hesitation was my first mistake. After researching, experimenting, and procrastinating, I finally dove in. My goal was to create a space that expanded my Instagram presence and let me write and connect more deeply with people.
I started this blog to share recipes, tell my story, and create a place of my own. Making money from it wasn’t my original intention — I had no idea how bloggers monetized their sites — but it evolved naturally. I do this because I genuinely enjoy it. I love developing healthy recipes, sharing my journey and struggles, and having a creative outlet. I’m both grateful and a little surprised that I’m now earning side income doing something I love. I want to turn these updates into a blog diary that documents this journey and, hopefully, inspires you along the way.
If you came here for recipes or other blog content, feel free to hop over to the recipes or blog sections.
Why I’m Sharing Income Reports
After struggling to make ends meet — juggling student loans, a car payment, high rent with no roommates, and long shifts — this blog income has become a welcome financial relief. My intention with these reports isn’t to gloat but to stay humble and transparent. I hope these updates help anyone trying to earn side income, work for themselves, or pursue a passion while balancing life’s demands.
Side note: I wanted to publish income reports from month one — the month I earned $0.27 — but a single discouraging comment stopped me for months. I regret waiting. I wish I’d tracked what I did (and didn’t do) from the start. Don’t let one person’s opinion stop you from doing what you want on your own blog.
Over the last seven months I’ve learned a lot and continue to learn every day. These monthly reports will document the strategies I try, the lessons I learn, and how my efforts progress. When I first researched monetization I found other bloggers’ income reports invaluable, and I want to offer the same transparency to others. The reports aren’t just about money — they’re a record of the work I’m doing toward financial freedom and a way to share what’s working (or not) in real time.
I don’t know where this blog will lead, but I’m excited to be on the journey. Thank you — truly — for supporting my health journey and this site. Your support makes all of this possible and I’m deeply appreciative.
I hope this post offers insight and motivation if you’re new to blogging. If you’re interested in starting your own blog, check out my post on how to start a blog. If you feel like a small fish in a huge pond, don’t worry — there’s room for everyone who’s willing to put in the work.
Income This Month
Note: Income here reflects what I physically received this month, not necessarily the work completed this month. Many payouts take 4–8 weeks to process, so this report includes income from earlier work and partnerships.
- Sponsored Posts – $1,200
- Affiliates – $550.24
- Amazon: $60.24
- Bluehost: $390
- Thrive Market: $100
- AdSense – $146.22
Total = $1,896.46
I switched ad networks in July. Gourmet Ads uses an 8-week payout, so the ad revenue I earn in September won’t be paid out until November 1.
Expenses This Month
- Domain and hosting renewal – $27.87
- Tailwind – $119
Total = $146.87
What I’ve Changed Recently
Adding Gourmet Ads
I implemented Gourmet Ads in August, though its impact won’t show fully until future reports. Until then I used only AdSense and wasn’t impressed with the earnings or the ad quality. I limited ads to avoid clutter, but that limited income. Switching to Gourmet Ads has already been beneficial: in the first full month with the new network I earned more than six months of AdSense combined. I’ll remove AdSense once I reach its next payout threshold; for now I’m focusing on one ad network to keep things simple.
Long-Term Partnerships
I recently accepted partnerships that span six months. It was intimidating to commit for that length of time because things can change, but I love the products and believe this steady income helps me plan and produce content more efficiently. Knowing I have guaranteed monthly work allows me to schedule and even batch content when possible, which improves workflow and consistency.
Pinterest and Tailwind
Pinterest remains mysterious to me, and I’m still learning how to use it effectively. I don’t obsess over social media — I prefer writing — but Pinterest is driving more traffic lately. This month I started using Tailwind to schedule pins, which is helpful since I work overnight shifts and can’t post live during peak times. Tailwind costs about $10 per month (I paid upfront) and has begun to increase my page views. Some pins have been repinned hundreds — even thousands — of times since I started using the service in mid-September. I’ll continue to evaluate how well it works over time.
Hustling, Learning, and Putting in the Work
If there’s one thing you should know before starting a blog — or before giving up on yours — it’s that blogging takes work. It’s incredibly rewarding and worth having something you built entirely on your own, but it requires time and persistence.
I didn’t earn much at the beginning. It took about five months to reach meaningful page views and my first notable income. I celebrated small wins — my first $0.27, the first time a post ranked on Google’s first page, and milestones like 10k, 20k, and 50k page views. Those moments kept me motivated to push toward bigger goals.
I work long hours juggling a full-time job and the blog. I’ve spent months waking up early or staying up late to create content, photograph recipes in natural light, research, edit, and network. Every hour I invest compounds over time. I don’t have outside help with design, media kit updates, or advanced tools yet, so I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. The to-do list keeps growing, but I enjoy the creative challenge and the progress it brings.
There have been lots of “no”s and mistakes, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I hope these income reports inspire you to create and work hard on your own passion project.
Can You Make Money Blogging?
Yes. There’s room for everyone. I’m still relatively new compared to many bloggers, and I’m proof that you can grow and monetize a blog with effort and persistence. If you want help getting started, I have a detailed step-by-step guide to setting up a blog and a list of blogger resources I use. I’m happy to answer questions — blogging has become one of my favorite topics to discuss.
Until next month, friends.
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