Be Clever With Your Cash turns three!

Wow, it’s three years since I told the world (ok, my Facebook friends) about Be Clever With Your Cash. Three years since I went from mid-career “what do I want to do?” crisis to a proper personal finance journalist.

I don’t often write blogs like this, but since a huge amount has changed, even in the last 12 months, I thought it would be good to reflect on some of that – and what the next year holds. Plus, at the bottom of the page I’m keen to get your thoughts on the content I produce for you.

The blog

In the last year, I’ve written close to 100 articles and updated dozens and dozens of deals. Which means there’s a good chance you might have missed one or two. So here are some highlights from the last year:

My favourite posts from the last year

• My addiction to yellow reduced food stickers

• My week of being clever with my cash

• How we saved thousands on our wedding

• 2017: Six easy ways to make nearly £2,000

• 2017: Six quick and easy ways to save £1,500

I’m always amazed that traffic to the blog keeps growing every month. There are now around 75,000 views a month and in total 1.5 million since I started. If this carries on and grows a little there should be one million views in the next 12 months. I think that’s mad. But thanks for reading!

My career

A year ago the blog was my hobby. Now it’s the main part of my working week.

In October last year, I cut my hours at my day job. I’m now working three days a week on the blog and my UK Money Blogger community.

I’m doing more freelance work too. I write regularly for Moneywise magazine and giffgaff money. And, I’m the new money columnist for Readers Digest!

I enjoyed my years working at the BBC and again at The Money Advice Service, but it’s not until now that it’s all clicked. Self-employment (even if just part-time) really suits me. I hadn’t ever considered it as an option, but I really wish I’d started earlier!

Going multi-media

This is the weirdest development. In all my years at the BBC behind the camera, I hated the idea of being on screen.

But in the last year I’ve been a money expert for BBC Right on the Money team last Summer, vox-popped punters in Manchester for Rip Off Britain and even appeared on BBC Breakfast on Black Friday. I’ve also become a semi-regular on the Share Radio morning show, reviewing the papers and fighting for consumer rights.

The more I do it, the less nervous I am and the more I enjoy it. In fact, I get a real buzz out of it.

So as a result, I’ve set up my own Cash Chats podcast every week and I’m increasing the video content for the blog too (you can subscribe to my YouTube channel here). I enjoy producing this extra content for you, so I hope you enjoy listening to and watching it as much.

What do you think?

The blog is still just me, deciding on a whim what to write. Obviously, some stuff is more popular than others, and I can’t write about everything – so I want to know what you want me to write about. If you’ve 5 minutes, I’d really appreciate you filling in the survey below.