Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Winging It Edition

By: Brip Blap

Brip Blap — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:44:43 +0000

Thanks for the mention, Trent. Personally, I’m not pulled at all – I’m exceptionally family-oriented – but I wonder about whether I’m TOO family oriented, so maybe I’m pulled after all. A balance does need to be achieved. I have two kids at home and my combined family hours-at-work is about 35 per week, so I wonder if I shouldn’t be working harder. Tough questions, if nothing else.

By: gillgirlk

gillgirlk — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:33:07 +0000

I vote for the cooking blog! Like SP says, 2 entries a week can add up over time to many cheap, delicious, easy meals!

By: SP

SP — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:20:24 +0000

Many cooking blogs don’t update daily, which if you do start one, I think you should not. Even if you write one or two quality entries a week, you could be successful. I do not think many cooking blogs out there focus on average ingrediants for the frugal family. Truffle oil? no thanks.

By: BonzoGal

BonzoGal — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:25:33 +0000

I’m with Anjanette- I can’t believe you not only do this blog, but you update posts several times a day! One post a day would be great, but you do two or three. Bonus for your readers, but it must be tough on you.

I vote with the folks who say write a book.

By: Alexia

Alexia — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:13:57 +0000

ok, yeah I know you didn’t email THE SAME THING 20 million times, so NO I’m not unsubscribing… I mean that would mean punishing you for something being wrong… Just letting you know (in case you didn’t already) that I also got the repeats this morning. No it hasn’t happened before!

By: Mia

Mia — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:47:54 +0000

So, what’s happening with the email? It’s flooding my in box. I know you’re trying to get the word out, but sheesh! ;)

By: Andy @ bloginyourface.com

Andy @ bloginyourface.com — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:29:44 +0000

Trent, I think you should advertise yourself to producers about a reality show. I am ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS. Can you imagine the ratings that your show would get in this day and age in America? Everyone is trying to save money and cut corners. A reality show on network TV about one of the most frugal families in the nation!

In order to get you started, you should start a daily video blog!!

By: Andre Kibbe

Andre Kibbe — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:12:44 +0000

It sounds like your upcoming book will make a great launchpad for public speaking. You’ve mentioned the value of “learning to present” a few times, so it seems like building the “Trent Hamm brand,” as Suzanne put it, would be a step in the right direction.

By: Anjanette

Anjanette — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:28:43 +0000

I can hardly believe you have energy to think about *another* project. My husband and I were just talking last night about how amazing it is that you have so much content on here and yet you still think of more to write about!!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:40:11 +0000

Please don’t start another blog!!! The market is saturated and though you have valuable material to present don’t choose a blog as the outlet.

If you are tempted to start another blog, like the cooking blog, consider creating a set of ebooks instead. You can produce greater quality material worth committing to print and give your audience the option to obtain a hard copy through on demand printing.

If you run two blogs one will surely suffer. I know you wouldn’t be happy with that and could possibly get a bit obsessed about it. That’s not good business, and you are your own business.

All that said, anything that further develops the “Trent Hamm” brand will be worthwhile. Ask yourself, “Is this activity going to add value to me and my family?” If your answer starts with the word “well” then it’s not a good choice because you’re about to justify it.

You should take my advice because I’m an MBA student and that makes me smart. *laughs with herself*

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:59:09 +0000

A food blog would be great, but I also kind of agree with writer dad to try something completely different and just see how it goes. Also, for everyone looking to learn how to cook, take a look at Start Cooking. It has some great tutorials on the basics. Or (shameless plug) check out mine - I am always open to suggestions if there is anything that you'd like to see.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:10:24 +0000

Good luck winging it! I second the motions for a cooking/food blog. I’m a pretty decent cook, but I know I have plenty of room for improvement too.

Thanks, too, for mentioning the paycheck to paycheck post. Before it got straightened out, I was feeling very grateful for our savings.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:03:16 +0000

I’d love to see a great food blog for those of us on a budget. I don’t keep white truffles in my kitchen.

By: PT

PT — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:52:55 +0000

Best of luck with your decision…or indecision. Sometimes, allowing yourself to casually fall into your next passion is best.

By: Joseph Lyons

Joseph Lyons — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:39:41 +0000

Crazy idea! I vote for crazy idea!
Trent, your blog has been a wonderful addition to my morning reading for months now. You provide the kind of financial advice that I don’t get anywhere else and people need you as a resource. Not just each of us as individuals, but as a society – we need your simple, honest, and sometimes brutal steps to take care of our money.
And as nice as all of that is, I say do something crazy – that no one’s done before – that will rock the world – that will send a shockwave through you or through us…

By: silver

silver — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:25:42 +0000

Do the cooking blog that you’ve been taunting us with!

By: Janna

Janna — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:17:36 +0000

I second the food blog! I am pretty clueless in the kitchen, but I want to learn how to cook (and how to do it cheaply!) I have been following the cooking section of thepioneerwoman.com, and her instructions make it easy for beginners like me. If you did something like that (could have fewer pictures, and more emphasis on frugality), I would be hooked!

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:15:29 +0000

I had always been looking forward to the food blog. I need to learn how to cook, and I was hoping the blog could help me towards this end.

But whatever you do, I’m sure you will be successful.

By: Eden

Eden — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:48:30 +0000

There are a lot of blogs out there already. I think writing more books or e-books would be great (I’d vote for e-books). There is a big need for collecting valuable information into an easy to find format. You’ve written so much great stuff on this site, but how many readers have the time to dig through it all (or even know they need to be digging)?

By: writer dad

writer dad — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:20:37 +0000

Write a book! Throw yourself into something totally different than what you’re used to. Make people up and have them say funny or interesting things to one another. For me, the hardest thing about getting my first novel finished was the daily rhythm. You’re already comfortable with that because of the blog. Whatever you decide to do, I’m sure you’ll do it well.