Name: Tina Haupert
Age: 29
Location: Boston, MA
Occupation: Health and fitness blogger, carrotsncake.com

I started a healthy living blog in early 2008, before my wedding — I wanted to tone up for the big day, I'd always been into fitness and photography, and compared to my day job, as executive assistant to the dean at Harvard, blogging was a creative outlet. I had no idea how popular the site would become. By this summer, between advertising on the blog and freelance health writing gigs, the things I did "on the side" brought in almost $20,000 a year. After talking with my husband, Mal, I decided to quit my job to focus on health, fitness and social media. Goodbye, $55,000 salary and amazing benefits!

I didn't want to give notice until I had a cushion and a plan, I started saving immediately. I'd heard you're supposed to have three months' earnings for emergencies; I put four in the bank. We cut back on shopping, socializing and travel. Before, if we wanted wine, we'd buy some without checking the price. That ended. Luckily, neither of us have credit card debt, and I don't have too many student loans.

This fall I landed a part-time contract doing social media outreach for a nutrition company, so with that and the savings in place, I left Harvard in late October. My part-time contract covers my major bills, plus I make money from the blog and freelancing. Still, I worry about job security. My husband's a teacher and his salary is less than what I used to make. We'd talked about buying a house; that won't happen any time soon. I haven't purchased anything I don't need in the past month, and I second-guess everything I do buy. But, you know, I grew up poor. I know how to stretch a dollar.

Do you have a money quandary? A success story? A cautionary tale? We'd love to hear from you. Send an email to editors@bundle.com and include a photo.

Correction: The original version of this article, published Monday, June 14, misstated Tina Haupert's Harvard salary as $65,000 and misstated Tina's husband's income as "half" what Tina earns. We regret the errors.


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