Hi there! I’m Crystal Paine, wife to Jesse, mom of three kids (Kathrynne, Kaitlynn, and Silas), New York Times bestselling author, speaker, business consultant, and founder of MoneySavingMom.com and YourBloggingMentor.com.
My Blogging Journey
I never set out to be a blogger. In fact, this whole blogging journey has been quite a surprise — and a wild and unexpected adventure!
Let me tell you a little about it for those of you who are new here and wondering what qualifies me to be a “blogging mentor” (I certainly wouldn’t have ever guessed I’d someday hold that title! Life has a way of surprising us all, doesn’t it?)
Back in 2005, when my husband and I first married and were living on a beans-and-rice budget in order to stay out of debt while he went through law school, I started a small mommy blog as a way to chronicle life as a new mom, share things I was learning and thinking about, and just have an outlet for my writing (I’ve always been someone who processes best through writing!).
I never really expected that many people would show up and read that blog… after all, I hadn’t gone to college, I didn’t have any credentials as a writer, I was only 23 at the time, and blogging was this very new thing.
But pretty soon, people outside of my mom and my sister started showing up and reading there. And then many of them kept coming back!
One day, on that first little blog of mine, I shared about our grocery budget — namely that we rarely spent more than $30 per week for groceries for our little family of 3. People were astounded at this and begged for more ideas and information.
Over the course of the next year, I started sharing my tips and tricks for keeping our grocery and household products budget to $35 a week, taking couponing to a whole new level, and playing the “Drug Store Game.”
As hundreds of people continued to express interest in finding out how I was keeping our grocery budget so low, I decided to start a blog dedicated to helping people save money and find great deals. So in 2007, MoneySavingMom.com was born!
I started MoneySavingMom.com expecting that it would just be a little side thing that I did. But it quickly took off and then mushroomed far beyond my wildest imaginations thanks to the many wonderful readers who spread the word about it and shared the link with friends.
By 2009, we were making a full-time income from blogging — something I would have never dreamed would be possible! During the next few years, the business expanded even more and we added on contractors and then a few full-time employees. In 2014, my husband came home full-time so that we could have a lot more flexibility as a family and spend more time with our three kids.
In all honesty, I feel like I have the best job in the world (well, most days! On the days when there’s a huge technical issue that requires me to stay up too late, I might envy those who are working an 8 to 5 job!)
But on most days, blogging is an incredible gig! I love that I have the flexibility to go on field trips with my kids, have a lunch date with my husband, take the afternoon off to hang out with a friend, go for a run mid-morning, or take my computer outside to blog from the patio on days when the weather is beautiful.
I love that I get to set my own hours, can blog from anywhere in the world where I can get an internet connection, choose which opportunities I’ll pursue, blog about topics I’m intensely passionate about, meet so many amazing readers, and get to use my talents and gifts to impact and inspire other people.
Why I Started YourBloggingMentor.com
Over the past 12+ years since I’ve been blogging, I’ve loved getting to help friends, family members, blog readers, companies, and ministries start blogs, learn more about social media, and learn how to make money blogging.
More and more, as I’ve seen the opportunities that blogging has allowed our family and many other families, I’ve come to believe that blogging is such an amazing way to not only be able to make an income online, but also a fantastic way to be able to use your passions and gifts to impact and bless others.
It’s my hope that through YourBloggingMentor.com, I will help thousands of beginning and intermediate bloggers learn how to make a part-time to full-time income from blogging. I want to empower you and equip you with tips, tricks, and techniques I’ve discovered to help you be more successful as a blogger and a business owner.
More than making an income, though, my heart’s desire with this site is to challenge you to use your gifts, your talents, your story, and your own unique perspective to bless, inspire, and impact others in a profound way. Because the world needs your gifts, your talents, your story… the world needs YOU!
Subscribe to YourBloggingMentor.com
Want to keep up with the latest posts? Be sure to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Interested in behind-the-scenes and life updates from me? You can follow my personal Instagram here. I’d also love for you to follow my other blogs, MoneySavingMom.com and CrystalPaine.com.
there are lots of us who have been blessed by watching your journey <3 thanks for sharing!
Aw, thank you so much — and so fun to see a familiar face from way back when here! 🙂
I am SO excited for this blog and cannot wait to learn more!!
I just quit my job to blog full-time! My income is about $2,500/month but I’m looking to double it by the end of the year. Can’t wait to follow this blog along!! Thanks!! 🙂
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
That’s so fantastic! Would you be interested/willing for me to interview you for a post here? I think your story would be so encouraging to others!
If you’re interested, email me: moneysavingmom @ gmail.com
Crystal,
I am SO excited about this. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this blog. I NEED this blog so much and I love that it provides help as we grow (beginning, intermediate, and advanced). Thank you!!!
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Sophie!
I am so excited that you started this website. I know you have so much to share and you have been helpful in the past in so many ways already. I’m going to devour every single post as I move along in my own blogging journey. Thank you.
Aw, thank you so much!!
I need this or should I say YOU! My blog is not yet live because I’m scared I’m not sure how to do the next step! I’m paying for it every month through word press and blue host so I just need to get writing !
Thank you for being here for us and sharing all of your tips and knowledgeable information !
Jodi
Yes! Just start! Set a small goal and go after that small goal. And then set another small goal and go after that goal. And so on and so forth.
You can do it! I’m cheering for you!
It’s starting! So excited for you, me and so many others!
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled it’s finally here!!
Love the new site! I can’t wait to read everything and learn more about blogging. I’ve dabbled, but would love to get refocused on blogging and updating my site.
Thank you for all the information!
You’re so welcome! Thank you for your kind encouragement!
Hi Crystal!
So excited to learn from you! Not sure if blogging is really for me, but have always had an interest in it. By the way, who won the laptop?:-)
Thanks for your encouragement! The winner was Alicia B and her laptop was shipped to her at the beginning of this month:
http://moneysavingmom.com/2017/03/im-giving-away-free-laptop-enter-win.html
Just getting started and wondering how this all works. I’m a health and wellness coach. I love talking about all aspects of our beings.
This shares my story and walks you through how to set up a blog: http://yourbloggingmentor.com/make-full-time-income-blogging-story/
Crystal, I’ve followed you for quite awhile, and I am always refreshed by your fresh approach, your honesty, and your kindness. I’ve been blogging for quite awhile myself, but I can certainly use a “blogging mentor,” and I am grateful that you are willing to share your hard-won expertise and wisdom. I admire your generosity of spirit!
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
How do I subscribe to the newsletter?
If you got an email about this launch from us today, you’re already on the list. If not, you can subscribe here:
https://moneysavingmom.lpages.co/ybm-10-ways-to-make-100-with-your-blog/
I am thrilled that you are doing this! I started blogging almost 11 years ago just for fun and then decided to take it seriously in September of 2015. Growth has been slow but I’m hopeful. Thank you for sharing what you have learned.
You are so welcome! Thank you for your encouragement!
Congratulations on the new site Crystal! I’ve been eagerly waiting for it and am so excited for it to be live!
This post is super inspiring to me. I’m struggling big time in conquering the fear of really putting myself out there and giving blogging a real try and if I really have anything to share. But I feel so passionate about what I do want to share but just this fear! I’m working through that with the Lord and I think soon I’m going to look back and see that this site and what you’re sharing here is going to have had a big impact on me really going for it!
I’m super excited to read along here (and implement as a result!) Thank you so much for taking the time to do this new site and share your experience.
I’m excited to see what comes as a result of it, in my life and I’m sure many many others as well! Thank you Crystal and congrats again! The site looks great too ? I’m sure I’ll be back frequently lol.
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Jody! You have SO much to offer the world!! I’m cheering for you!
Thank you Crystal. I have been wanting to start a blog for quite awhile, but like you, my first thought is, who would read it!! I am looking forward to starting this journey, and am excited to have you as my mentor. And I am definitely a total newbie!
I’m cheering for you, Debbie!
Yay! The long-awaited blog! I can’t wait to soak up the wisdom. My blog is starting to take off. In the last month, my traffic has quadrupled and I had a post go viral. I’ve been so thankful for mentors like you!
That is FANTASTIC that your traffic quadrupled!! Was it because of the viral post or something else? I’d love to know!
{And if you’d be interested in me interviewing you for a post here about how you did that, can you email me? I know your story would encourage others. My email is: moneysavingmom @ gmail.com}
Hey Crystal, I am a new blogger, encouraged by your posts and the Lord’s leading to start a blog. I am lately discouraged and it is probably Satan but I feel like no one reads my blog. I want o be an encouragement to others! Looking forward to advice from a pro!
The world needs to hear what God has put on your heart to share! Don’t give up! And I hope the posts here can be an encouragement to you!
Don’t give up! I just went to your blog and spent a very enjoyable 1/2 hour. I plan to go back soon. God wants your words to be heard and it comes across in your posts. Don’t let the little lies you hear inside your head discourage you from doing what you feel led to do. May God bless you and your endeavors.
Thanks ladies! I needed your encouragement!
Hi!
I sat down to work on my blog today and received your email about Your Blogging Mentor. I ran downstairs to tell my husband about it and how excited I was.
Back in December, we started praying about the idea of me starting a blog. I pitched my vision to him, made pages of notes and together we started to pray, dream and plan. It’s been so exciting to have him cheerlead me on and want to be involved.
So far, I have 40+ full and partial blog posts written but I want to do this right so I am waiting to “launch” until I feel ready. Thus, the reason I am so excited about YBM. I know I can trust you fully and I love your heart.
All that being said, I love how this site and crystalpaine.com have the email opt-in landing page/lead page (not exactly certain what it’s called). Are you willing to share how to do this? Is it a feature in WordPress? Or is it something entirely different? And what would you suggest for a beginner when it comes to email subscribers? MailChimp? ConvertKit? There is SO much to learn! 🙂
Thank you so much for your heart, your testimony, not compromising the truth and caring enough to mentor others!
Yay! I’m so excited that you are going to start a blog!!
And what great questions! I’m going to try to have a post up on them sometime in the next two months — because they deserve more space than I can cover in just a blog comment!
Yay! I’m so excited that YBM is finally live! To avoid running in circles and continually chasing after “the next big idea”, I intentionally follow only a few blogging gurus. And you’re at the top of my very short list! 🙂 I’m one of your raving fans, and I can’t wait to continue learning from you!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement! I love your blog and am so proud of what you’re doing there!
Crystal the timing on this is such a God thing for me. I’ve been following you since my oldest son was born in 2008 and just over the last few months I’ve been feeling this crazy pull to start blogging again (I used to blog here and there) which is totally nuts because I feel like my life is already so crazy. But I just can’t shake it. The last couple days have been very intense with this whole idea and then Bam, there was your launch email in my inbox today 🙂
I’m so exited for this!
WOW! You’ve been following me for a long time. Thank you! I’m honored!
And how exciting that you are being pulled to start blogging again!! Yay!
I have enjoyed following your story on Money Saving Mom and am really excited to be able to learn from you to help build my blogging skills.
Aw, thank you so much, Stephanie!
So excited about this!!! You have been so inspirational and motivating for me! First with couponing/saving, and now with blogging! Just started my blog about a month ago and I am having so much fun with it and know this will be a great resource! Thank you thank you thank you!
Congratulations on starting your blog!!
I love your blog, where do you subscibe to mentor.com or your new site. I just launched my new website, I’m hoping to moneteize and make extra income at home we live in a rurul area in Ky. a very small town, hardly any jobs so I started blogging a few years ago beehumblewithme.wordpress.com and no I have a whole new website, beehumblewithme.com so I need to learn the tricks to monetize and bring in a little extra income to help my husband, he works so hard and I want to contribute, I am also in school full time for a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, I hope to do this at home, writing and creativity is my passion, though this is what I love to do please email me at [email protected] or [email protected] Thank you Crystal you inspire me so much in all you do. I ant to succeed and I need a mentor as I choose you. Please check out my website, I could use the support. beehumblewithme.com
You can go here to subscribe: https://moneysavingmom.lpages.co/ybm-10-ways-to-make-100-with-your-blog/
And welcome!
I’m ready. Scared but ready. I was on medical leave and I don’t want to go back . Long story short I need to take care of my health. THANK you for sharing and giving. I pray our journey is long. Blessing and hugs
You can do this! I’m cheering for you!
You have been such an inspiration to me in so many ways. I love that you will be helping bloggers. You are a great teacher and mentor to so many. Congrats on the new website!
Aw, thank you so much, Christia!
I’m looking forward from learning for a veteran blogger!
Welcome! I’m so glad to have you here, June!
Thank you for doing this Crystal! I just recently started my second blog, and really need the how-to advice to get beyond the basics.
You’re so welcome! Thank you for your encouragement, Barbara!
Your ambition in sharing your wealth of knowledge on saving money, setting goals, improving lifestyle, and now – blogging – is so inspiring! I always appreciate your great tips. I’m very new to blogging, so I look forward to reading the helpful information on this new site! Thanks, Crystal!
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement, Carol!
Hey Crystal! Looking forward to learning even more from your mentoring blog! I am a small inconsistent blogger and this year I’ve started making a small amount of money from my blog(more than I realized was possible). I would love to turn that into full time income to be able to stay home with my kiddo and focus on being a foster Mom (home study is in process). Thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
You are so welcome! And way to go on making a small income from your blog!
Thank you Crystal for starting this. My husband and I are full-time humanitarian aid missionaries in our home community in Canada. We are in our 18th year. Although not drawing a wage from it, and living below the poverty level, God is good. Last year, one of our clients suggested I start a blog–at the time, I didn’t even know what a blog was. So, here I am, live 10 months, less than 2,000 pageviews a month, and guess what, NO INTERNET AT HOME. Not being able to afford the internet–but God is good, we have FREE Wifi at McD’s and people give us stickers for the coffee loyalty program to enjoy free coffee at the same time. So, we deal with poverty related issues and try to EMPOWER people. Thank you Crystal for starting this blog so people like myself can learn more. The mission field is alive in each of our communities and certainly here on the internet. Thank you for being words of wisdom to us wanting to obey God’s calling on our own individual lives. We all are a part of the body of Christ, and our stories are so important. Looking forward to learning more about everyone who is wanting to join you here.
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing your story!!
So, SO excited for this blog! Like others, I’m a total newb and scared silly. I have a name, a domain, a structure, all of that – I just need to do it! I’ve got a little content and LOTS of ideas. I struggle with time – not so much that I don’t HAVE time, but HOW to use the time. I work 24 hours a week outside the home and have a five year old. It feels almost impossible to block out big enough chunks of time that I can actually have peace and quiet to THINK and WRITE. And, honestly, it’s a lot of fear. I know it just needs one small step then another, and this is God’s not mine, and I must let go of fear and trust Him. But gosh, that is so hard… So thank you for this blog, for the help and the direction I know it will give!
Thanks so much for your encouragement — and for being here! I’m excited to have you joining this community!
Crystal, I’ve been a big fan of yours since I first discovered you a few years ago, though I feel like I’ve been following you forever, haha. 🙂 Your professional blogging has encouraged me throughout the past 3 to 4 years as I’ve transitioned from blog contributor to blog owner. I’m so excited to continue following you at this website. Thank you!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement!! Welcome!
Crystal, I just want to let you know that you (along with Abby Lawson and a few others who shared their income statements) were the reason I started my blog. I was a sahm for 12 years, which I loved of course – but I needed a creative outlet and wanted to make some $$. It took a LOT of hard work, but I went from $0 to $6k/month in one year and am hoping to hit $100k this year. I never in a million years thought I could make this kind of money blogging, but it’s completely possible. The biggest advice for others: just start! I wish I had started 10 years ago when I first wanted to, but kept putting it off. I feel so blessed to live in a world with such endless opportunities. With an internet connection and $100 anyone can start a legitimate money making business! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, expertise, and passion with the rest of us – God bless!
ps. I loved hearing you speak in Nashville and got the privilege of chatting with your hubby about rental properties 🙂
That’s SO exciting! Thank you for sharing! Would you be interested in being interviewed for this blog on how you’re successful at earning $$ from blogging and how you got started? If so, email me: moneysavingmom @ gmail. com
I would love to be interviewed! I feel there are so many myths surrounding blogging (it’s a hobby, only the “pros” make money, it takes years before you make any money, etc…) I will email you today – thanks!
Thanks so much!
Hi Crystal,
I am so excited about this!!! I have wanted to start a blog, since reading your book Money Making Mom, but did not how to do it. This is a blessing for me!!!
I have already an idea on what to blog, just fine tuning it at the moment!!
I can’t wait to start!!!
Thank you for supporting so many of us!!!
Sabrina
Oh yay! I’m SO glad! And thank you for your encouragement!
This is fantastic, Crystal! Way to go!!
Aw, thank you so much!
I am so excited to start learning from you! I blogged years ago but didn’t know all the ways to make money blogging and getting readers to come to my site. These classes will be so helpful! Thank you for doing this!
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Crystal, you are such an inspiration to me! I got to meet you at MOMcon 2015 in Indy and so amazed at your humble and generous spirit. I just started my blog a couple months ago, so I am so looking forward to learning from you. Thanks for using your gifts to better all those around you. 🙂
Aw, you are so sweet! Thank you for your kind encouragement!
I’m curious about what you have to share having followed Money Saving Mom for a long time. A year ago, I wondered what would happen if I tried to grow a five dollar bill 5% at a time. I thought, if I really tried, I could grow it to maybe $2,000. I made it a game, started playing and blogged every deposit. A year and 2 weeks later, we have over $17,500!! (but not from blogging – I haven’t monetized my blog and honestly, it doesn’t get much traffic.) Basically, I had NO idea how much money we were wasting and how important putting the money we save into an actual savings account was. I’m proof ha ha!!
That is such a COOL idea! Thank you for sharing!
I have been following you on MoneySavingMom for now and I’m sooo excited to read about this new site- what an awesome resource! I just started my blog a few months ago (after putting the idea on the back-burner for years) and I love the way the information is broken down here and so easy to understand. I can’t wait to read more! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
You’re so welcome! It’s great to have you here!
Hi Crystal,
So many wonderful women bloggers, yourself included of course, and bloggers-to-be here, but not many guy bloggers. I feel like I’m blazing a trail. Considering I always got lost as a Boy Scout, blazing a trail clearly isn’t my Gift. Even my saintly wife of 34 years says I am “directionally challenged.” Thank God for GPSs – I still don’t have to ask directions!
At 66 years-young I am looking for something to retire TO rather than retire FROM. Read somewhere that those who retire FROM something without going TO something end up kicking the proverbial bucket within a few years. Since I have no intention of kicking anything anytime soon, I’m looking for an outlet to share on a number of exciting and fun topics I get serious kicks out of. Wanting to help others look at new things or see thru another set of eyes. It’s how I also learn from others. We all grow. A Win-Win.
Found the hard and expensive way that Internet Sales wasn’t the answer. That’s a story – talk about understatement! Also found Foreign Exchange trading wasn’t the answer. After about 3 years I met some great people, spent serious money on courses and tools, but in the end just didn’t enjoy the financial risks.
I love computers and the latest in Electronics and new products. An Electrical Design Engineer now for 44 years and counting. Just picked up a new Full-Time job! Yea! An answer to Prayers (plural). Interesting lesson in Trust.
Being an “open minded” Engineer, don’t ask my wife or our kids by the way, and being 94-96% Irish I can teach courses in humility? I doubt that would fly. I’m in my 8th year studying Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jujitsu, proving to myself I’m not 20 anymore. And doing an excellent job of proving it, too. But teaching how to enjoy being beat-up on a regular basis probably wouldn’t be well accepted. Some interesting stories there, though, with new ones still coming. Like walking into the house one night with a BIG black eye. My wife a nurse takes one look and says “I don’t want to know,” turns and walks on. I got more sympathy at the gym! Along with some chuckles. Have to admit she’s seen seen far worse.
All of this is my long-winded way of saying I’m excited and looking forward to learning how to blog from you and the others in the group. Real-world lessons mean immeasurably more than just book lessons. True in Engineering, too.
Thank you for all your hard work, Crystal, and your generous willingness to share your many Gifts with others. God Bless you, your beautiful family, and your businesses.