Feb
2013
#Tag: Getting to Know the “Person” Behind the Personal Finance Blog
I love reading and writing #tag blog posts as you can see in my #Tag: I Love Drugstore Makeup and #Tag: How Much is Your Face Worth?. It just makes life a little bit easier because as a blogger who tries to post 2-3 times a week, I always sometimes have writer’s block. With a #tag, you are given a topic and set of questions to answer, all you have to do is change the replies to your liking. Easy peasy. Plus they are fun!!!
Unfortunately, there aren’t any #tag blog posts in the PF community. Or are they just hidden really well and I have yet to come across one? Please tell me in the comments below if there are any specific personal finance #tags floating out there in the world wide web that I don’t know about.
Regardless, as I like to think, if you can’t find one, then make one up! Except you might not want to apply this rule to imaginary boyfriends or girlfriends 
Just saying…
Anyhow, I’ve always found it somewhat ironic that so many PF/Lifestyle bloggers like myself can blog about something so honest and personal as debt but we do it anonymously behind a cartoon image. Although my cartoon image is based on a current picture I sent the cartoon creator of myself, it is still not the “person”, so until I find the courage to show my real face someday (which I will 
), I will create a short and sweet #Tag so you can all get to know the Girl a little bit better behind Girl Meets Debt 
The Questions:
1) How did you come up with your blog name?
To be honest, Girl Meets Debt was not my first choice. It wasn’t even my 17th choice. All the good ones were already taken! My boyfriend, the blogging whiz did suggest that I pick a name that was 14 characters or less so it could all fit nicely on twitter so I just played around with ideas from there. One day while I was reading one of my favorite fashion style blog Gal Meets Glam, I had a light-bulb moment that I could be Gal Meets Debt, but then decided that Girl Meets Debt sounds slightly less dorky and the name was born 
2) Which bloggers inspired you when you first started writing?
Cassie from Tales from the Trenches still inspires me. She was one of the first PF/Lifestyle blogs I started reading and her support for new and old bloggers alike is admirable.
3) Why write about finance?
Truthfully, my blog is more lifestyle than personal finance, but because paying off debt is such a huge priority in my life right now, this blog is like a diary of my full journey to becoming debt-free.
4a) What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I like the interaction with people. Personal finance is so personal, that it’s wonderful to read and learn other people’s opinions on money and finance. Commenting and tweeting is also rather addicting lol.
4b) What do you enjoy least about blogging?
Writer’s block. Thank goodness for #tags
At first, I was also nervous about starting this blog because truthfully I don’t know much about finance. Let’s be real, if I did, my finances wouldn’t be such a mess! I have come to terms with the fact that it’s good enough for me to just write about my personal experience with money without intending to give out any informative advice.
5) What’s the most helpful piece of advice you have learned from reading other PF blogs?
Tracking my spending has really helped me not waste my money on the “little” purchases that used to eat up my paychecks.
6) In terms of finance, what is your main focus at the moment?
I wish I could say my main focus is saving half of my income towards retirement, but at the moment, it is paying of my personal loan.
7) If you could give your younger self financial advice, what would it be?
I wish I could have told my younger self that it’s only a good idea to use credit cards if you already have the money in the bank to pay off the balance. I would have also begged my younger self to start paying off the student loans as soon as possible.
8) Who in your “real-life” knows about your blog?
At the moment, only my boyfriend J…and his mom lol. She inadvertently found out on our trip in Mexico last month. It was my first blog “outing” and it actually wasn’t that big of a deal. I’m just not sure if I’m ready for my mom to find out the details and balance of my debt quite yet!
9) Does your real-life job have anything to do with finance or money?
Nope, not my current job, but I was a bank teller for 2 years.
10) What’s the first thing you would do if you won a million dollars?
Pay off all my debt!!! Then maybe buy that black Chanel bag I’ve been lusting over for ages!
That’s all of the questions I can think of for now. Thank you for reading. I now #tag everyone to do this post as well. *Please link back to this post if you do * It would be so interesting to read all your answers!
debtperception
February 4, 2013 at 7:11 am (106 days ago)I hope you find the courage one day to show yourself! I started my blog openly resolved to no longer hide from or be ashamed of my debt. No hiding behind cartoon characters for me!
debtperception recently posted..Done Done and on to the Next One
Girl Meets Debt
February 4, 2013 at 1:17 pm (106 days ago)Another random Girl fact. Maybe it’s from all my years of watching Disney movies, but I have always wanted to be a “cartoon”. Now I get to cross that off my bucket list
debtperception
February 4, 2013 at 4:49 pm (106 days ago)I grew up wanting to be an animator for Disney. I even went to art school and I never once made a cartoon version of me…I should do that once I start drawing again, just for fun!
debtperception recently posted..#Tag: Getting to Know the Person Behind the Personal Finance Blog
Manda
February 4, 2013 at 12:05 pm (106 days ago)Haha, I actually have a post I’m working on that examines niche bloggers having less of a “platform” than personal bloggers to get… er, personal. Hopefully by the time I’m done drafting that post it will sound a lot more articulate than that
I’ve noticed how in the PF world it seems as though all the possible plays on PF-related names are taken! It must be hard trying to come up with a new one. I have a hard enough time coming up with usernames in general, let alone about a particular topic.
Manda recently posted..Link Love, Vol. 4
Girl Meets Debt
February 4, 2013 at 1:19 pm (106 days ago)I am looking forward to reading that blog post!
And yes, coming up with an original blog name was THE hardest part of starting this thing so far haha
KK @ Student Debt Survivor
February 4, 2013 at 7:58 pm (105 days ago)My bf is the only person that knows about my blog. Because I write really openly about my family and friends I’m a little nervous about what they’d say (I don’t write anything bad, but you never know if someone will be offended). Maybe someday I’ll come “out”, but for now I’m happy just connecting with other bloggers.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..Flood Your Car to Save Money
Girl Meets Debt
February 4, 2013 at 8:26 pm (105 days ago)I think you do a wonderful job of connecting with other bloggers KK
Cassie
February 5, 2013 at 3:52 am (105 days ago)Awww, Thank you
I’m amused by your story about how you picked your name. It never seems as easy as it sounds! I’ve done up one of these #tag posts as well for next week 
Cassie recently posted..The Biggest Stupid Tax I Almost Paid…
Girl Meets Debt
February 5, 2013 at 6:54 am (105 days ago)It seriously took me over a week to pick out “Girl Meets Debt” lol. You would have thought that in a week’s time I would have picked out a super duper original name but alas…
I can’t wait to read your replies to the tag lady
Morgaine
February 5, 2013 at 5:56 am (105 days ago)I decided to “play along” here’s a link for my #tag … http://morgaineandmoney.blogspot.ca/2013/02/tag-getting-to-know-person-behind-pf.html
Morgaine recently posted..#Tag – Getting to know the "Person" behind the PF blog
Girl Meets Debt
February 5, 2013 at 7:02 am (105 days ago)I enjoyed reading your replies to the #tag Morgaine. I think it would be super cute to name your first daughter Morgaine
I’m also glad you didn’t give up blogging. Keep up the awesome work over there and I will keep on reading
Todd @ Fearless Men
February 5, 2013 at 10:18 am (105 days ago)Ah it’s funny you mention your cartoon image! I was on Modest Money’s blog and saw your cartoon and was curious who did it for you and just hopped right over here! Um, so yes, who did it for you?
Anyhow, great posts, thoughts and questions. My co-blogger and I have been thinking recently how to make ourselves more apparent or accessible on the site without trying to seem like we want to become stars or create our own personal brand.
Todd @ Fearless Men recently posted..Swanson Says: The Best Ron Swanson Quotes
Girl Meets Debt
February 5, 2013 at 10:32 am (105 days ago)I will email you the contact info of the young lady who did my cartoon. She’s actually very good. I was suprised how much the cartoon looked like me haha.
And as for making the 2 men behind Fearless Men more apparent, what about an about me page for both of you?
Todd @ Fearless Men
February 8, 2013 at 12:23 am (102 days ago)That’s not a bad idea!! I actually haven’t even filled in my own little author bio on the site (that populates at the very bottom of posts). I probably should start there!!
Todd @ Fearless Men recently posted..My 5 Shopping Strategies for Online Savings | $500 Cash Giveaway
Budget and the Beach
February 13, 2013 at 9:30 pm (96 days ago)Thanks for sharing a little insight to you life. I love the blog name by the way!
Budget and the Beach recently posted..Frugal Habits of the Rich
Girl Meets Debt
February 13, 2013 at 9:52 pm (96 days ago)Awww thank you
You should do the #tag too!
Christine@TheChickvestor
March 16, 2013 at 4:50 am (66 days ago)I love this getting to know you page. Very creative and a great way to let your readers know who you are!
Christine@TheChickvestor recently posted..The Cost of Getting Sick