Comments on: Six Ideas for Future Directions for The Simple Dollar – Your Thoughts?

By: M

Sun, 24 May 2009 20:11:29 +0000

We would like to see some posts for advice on what to do if you have no debt and are saving and investing. We save about 95% of our income (free housing situation for the past couple years and for at least one more year). The savings accounts are becoming rather large (even with full 401(k) and Roth contributions) and we have no idea what to do with it! We are incredibly fortunate; our only expense is food. We would enjoy reading posts that are more relevant to people in our situation: good incomes and almost no expenses.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:54:17 +0000

I was wondering how you used the information in the comments… looks like people are all over the place – as expected. You don’t have to respond here. You may shoot me an email when you get a minute. I enjoy pretty much everything. I am a bookie, so I love book reviews, but most of the posts are great and are up there with the book reviews.
Thanks.

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:01:46 +0000

I would like to see more DIY stuff.

By: angela

angela — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:04:15 +0000

all of the above! your articles are personal and thought provoking. i doesn’t matter to me which subject(s) you are writing about, i always find something of value that challenges my thoughts/ideas.

By: T

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:55:46 +0000

My favorites from the list:

Detailed visual how-tos
Do-it-yourself projects
Personal anecdotes
Tip lists

By: Christy

Christy — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:22:29 +0000

You could try putting things on a cycle. If something is really popular you could write on it weekly. If something has medium interest bi-weekly and so on.
I am not a huge fan of the book reviews. The only reason I read them is to get a Cliff’s notes version of a book I probably won’t take the time to read.
Money saving tips are helpful but keep the lists a manageable length and seasonal.
I like your anecdotes because they deal with the mind set behind frugality more than hands on issues.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:05:20 +0000

I know I’m pretty late with letting you know what I think, but I’m also finally all caught up on my blogs!

I would really look forward to some DIY projects and I always love when you have anecdotes since it really helps me to get to know you, as I’ve never met you in real life.

I also would like to see some tip lists. Perhaps not extremely lengthy ones, but 5 quick tips would be great.

I’m not jazzed about econ books or interviews (I usually skim over them, if I read them at all).

Keep up the great work and have a beautiful holiday with your family!

By: SteveJ

SteveJ — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:22:51 +0000

I’m catching up on posts so a bit late to the party.

Truthfully I’ll read just about anything you throw up here. You’ve earned my trust that I’m not wasting my time, plus I’m an OCD completionist that way.

The mailbags are by far my favorite. I’ll read all the articles when I have time, but I’ll drop everything monday morning.

I also enjoy the book reviews, it’s gotten me into looking for more kinds of books on my library trips, rather than reading the same 25 authors I’ve been reading for the last decade. I miss the consumer reports articles.

I’m kinda burned out on tip lists, I’ve got so much stuff to try that I’ll never do most of it. The internet is list heavy and I’m sure those pull in good traffic. I like the idea of the series of DIY posts.

Interviews could be interesting, often a new perspective on the same ideas can suddenly drive something home that you’ve just not quite attached to yet.

And definitely keep the anecdotes. Much like the interviews, adding a personal context to anything usually makes it easier to understand and adopt. You have an interesting perspective that keeps my attention.

By: sabrina

sabrina — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:25:08 +0000

I vote for the interviews. Thanks for asking!

By: Catherine in Miami

Catherine in Miami — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:01:13 +0000

Trent, As a fellow writer, I know everyone loves a story. As several posters have said, your personal anecdotes and day-to-day honest commentary really make this different from other sites.

I don’t care for the podcast or illustrated-by-video ideas. Your directions for the DIY projects are extremely clear. There’s enough “dumbing down” today…your readers are intelligent. They can figure out the DIY projects, and they also want to read.

Your site is valuable to me because it is one voice against the rampant and mindless consumerism that has been a cornerstone of the American pysche since the 1950s. When the economy was expanding and there were competent people at the helm of government, that was fine. But neither condition exists today and who knows how long it will take Barack Obama to right this sinking ship?

Thanks for showing that consuming less can have infinite benefits for one’s bank account, one’s peace of mind and family unity, and the Earth itself. I enjoy your story so much…keep it coming!

By: Nienke

Nienke — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:49:10 +0000

The main reason why I read your blog is to remind myself how rich you can be living a simple and frugal life. I therefor hope your future articles will reflect this, no matter in which way they get ‘poured’. I like any of your suggestions (but the economics books reviews), as long as they reflect the philosophy rather than the economy.

By: Swaroop

Swaroop — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:27:14 +0000

+1 for economics books, personal anecdotes and tip lists.

By: Gary Hardin

Gary Hardin — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:35:03 +0000

You have a “thoughtful” perspective in your writing that is missing from most PF blogs. I like that about you. Don’t lose that quality!

Book reviews are my least favorite part of the blog. Like others who have expresses comments, I wouldn’t have the time nor money to read all those books.

I’d be interested in interviews, too.

By: Jason from Money Theory

Jason from Money Theory — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:45:36 +0000

I’d love to see more of everything on your above list, but especially detailed visual how tos, interviews, and tip lists.

Thanks so much!

Jason

By: Terese

Terese — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:47:07 +0000

I like how-to’s and frugal tips, especially when you break down the cost-per-use of the expensive v. frugal options.

It is especially nice when you show pictures, like for your bread/laundry entries. It would be good to have more pictures of things like your garden/falling apart truck, etc. so that those of us who are visual learners can take the message home.

It would be helpful if book reviews were formulated a little differently, such as at least tabbing the beginning of each chapter, since it’s hard to read such long entries.

And finally: I would love it if you would interview your wife or have her do an entry now and then. For those of us in relationships, it would be nice to see what she thinks/where you differ. Obviously she’s your partner in all this.

By: jana

jana — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:17:11 +0000

hi trent. my take on these:
Economics books – very interested!
Detailed visual how-tos – not very interested
Do-it-yourself projects — not very interested
Tip lists – no opinion, depends on the topic

By: Misa

Misa — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:51:42 +0000

I read a lot of books every year, but the detailed book reviews here don’t really do it for me. I would prefer a “lighter” review – maybe doing a monthly book review post, with only a couple of sentences about each, whether you recommend reading it (and if so, by who), as well as maybe ordering it from favorite to least favorite or something. I’m not sure why the book reviews don’t do it for me, but they really don’t.

I LOVE the detailed visuals. I read the interviews, but wouldn’t miss them if they went away. I like the DIY idea, but maybe in a series rather than one big post. I LOVE the personal anecdotes. Tip lists are nice, too, even if I have seen a lot of them before.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:58:38 +0000

The detailed visual how-to’s, do-it-yourself projects, and the tip lists are of the most interest to me.
I’ve enjoyed your book reviews, but only of the non-economic books -reading about economics in book form hasn’t been an interest yet.
Interviews and personal anecdotes are a toss-up for me -some I enjoy, others don’t quite click for me.

Keep up the good work, I’ve checked your blog on a daily-weekly basis for a few years now!

By: Billy

Billy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:23:14 +0000

I’d be most interested in Interviews, followed by economics books, anecdotes and tip lists.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:59:16 +0000

I like all of the ideas you mentioned. Economics generally bores me to tears unless you can make it relevant…but then I had an Econ professor in college that had a handlebar mustache. I spent more time in his class thinking about cutting his mustache than I did about supply and demand. Needless to say when the word “economics” comes up that’s where my mind goes even twenty years later. LOL

I enjoy the tips and the how-to visuals and do-it-yourself stuff. I also enjoy your personal anecdotes and reflections.

As a longtime lurker, I think what you have done so far is excellent so I say go with what makes you happy to write! If you mix it up I will always find something I enjoy reading. :)