If you read about the blogiversary bonanza giveaway a few posts back, you’ll know that today is cause for celebration! Today officially marks “one year” that youngandthrifty.ca has existed in this internet realm.
I just want to say that I honestly cannot believe that my blog has survived for one year. I remember when I was starting out, I would be excited if 10 people visited my site…in a week. Now there is an average of 350+ people who stumble by my site in a single day! Most importantly, through this blog, I have learned so so so much, about blogging, wordpress, html, coding (er.. maybe), personal finance, friendship, networking, social media etc. etc. the list goes on.
I have learned a lot about personal finance from reading what other PF bloggers have written. I am so grateful to have met so many other PF bloggers out there, all across Canada, into the United States, and even into New Zealand! It’s been great getting to know everyone a little better through twitter, reading, and commenting. It has also been great developing some friendships and dialogue with other PF bloggers (albeit online and not in person 
).
Youngandthrifty.ca has come a l-o-n-g way, baby. I remember when I first started, my boyfriend and family would laugh at me as I would excitedly tell them how I had a new comment on my site. They thought I was crazy to start a blog. I even remember how I almost wanted to quit at the six month mark. Now BF doesn’t tease me anymore about my blog. What a milestone! lol!
I am so thankful for you readers and fellow PF bloggers (“shout outs” to my fellow Canadian PF blogger peeps and the Yakezie). Without your comments and encouragement I honestly don’t know if I would have lasted this long. I also highly doubt I would be where I am today. I learn so much from you all and am happy to have this medium (the blog) as a way to share ideas and communicate them to learn from each other in this quaint little online community.
If you want a bit more “juice” about how I got started with blogging, check out my member post on Yakezie.
I hope youngandthrifty.ca has many more years of blogging ahead and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading. I hope that you continue to follow along my personal finance journey.
Thank you to the members of the Yakezie for donating some great prizes for my one year blogiversary. The Yakezie members never cease to amaze me- and the Yakezie is growing!
Thank you for entering the contest and subscribing. There were well over 85 entries for 13 prizes, the largest amount of entries EVER on youngandthrifty.ca. The winners were picked via random.org after all the entries were submitted on November 28.
So, without further delay, the winners of the giveaway according to random.org are…..*drum roll please* :
- $100 Visa Gift Card courtesy of youngandthrifty.ca: Heather (congrats Healther on the big prize!)
- Subscription to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine courtesy of Couple Money: Money Reasons!
- The Simple Dollar by Trent Hamm courtesy of Budgeting the Fun Stuff: The Amateur Financier
- Your Money: The Missing Manual by J.D. Roth courtesy of Wealth Informatics: Frugal Zeitgeist
- The Elements of Investing by Burton G. Makiel courtesy of Invest It Wisely: Clay
- I Will Teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi courtesy of PF Firewall: Sandy @Yes I am Cheap
- “The Skinny On..” series book courtesy of My Journey to Millions: Financially Poor
- How Rich People Think by Steve Siebold courtesy of Mr. Yakezie himself, Financial Samurai: Free From Broke
- $25 via paypal courtesy of Maximizing Money: James
- $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon courtesy of Frugal Zeitgeist: Mike Gogola
- $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon courtesy of Bucksome Boomer: Michael
- $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon courtesy of Squirrelers: DJ Clement
- $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon courtesy of KNS Financial: Invest it Wisely
I have emailed all the generous contributors and the winners of the prizes. Thanks for participating and subscribing and tweeting (and reading)!
Congratulations,
You have done a great job in just
@Steve Zussino- Thanks Steve
You have been around from day 1 and I’m so grateful 
Aww snap … I didn’t win anything
Oh well … congratulations on 1 year just the same 
@SavingMentor- I know! I was hoping you would win something too. Random.org didn’t see it the same way, unfortunately. Thanks for the congrats. Looking forward to your celebration of 1 year in a few months too!!
Pretty impressive! It’s clear to me you’re passionate and that is the BIGGEST quality in the blogosphere. Be proud of yourself and what you’ve accomplished, you have tons of reasons to be! I also share this anniversary excitement today as I am celebrating the 4th anniversary of TFB. Still, one year is a huuuge step that clearly has to be mentionned over and over again!
@The Financial Blogger- If it weren’t for the wonderful blogs of TFB and MDJ, I wouldn’t be here. You guys were what inspired me to join you
I feel like I’m being congratulated by Michael Jordan himself, if I was a huge basketball fan 
(if ya know what I mean). Congrats on 4 years!
congratulations on your blogiversary!! thanks for sharing your financial journey with us and wish you the best for all the great things ahead!
@jill- Thanks Jill! And thank YOU for reading
Congratulations youngandthrifty, this is a great milestone and you should be very proud of all that you have accomplished.
The 1 year mark still seems so far away (I’m barely approaching 4 months), so it’s good to hear how you persevered.
@Echo- You are seriously doing amazing for only being around for four months! I”m looking forward to your 1 year mark too. Don’t worry- before you know it you’ll be there. They say it’s the 6 month mark where one might feel like giving up, but you’re doing so well, please don’t ever do that to yourself!
Congrats on year 1! Another year from now you’ll be the zen master of all things blogging. I would also like to thank random.org for choosing me as the winner of the book! I need to learn how to be rich, or at least just make enough to pay off the student loans. Either way, I’m good.
@Sandy- maybe if you found a tenant who actually pays her rent, you’ll be rich!
Hope that ordeal is blowing over soon for you 
Thanks- I still think in one year I’ll still feel like I have a lot to learn about blogging- but it’s been a great first year so far. Random.org is so random- it was choosing all the higher numbers at first, then chose the earlier numbers later. Very random indeed!
Congratulations on your one year of blogging, looking forward to another year filled with tips and resources.
@Financial Tips- Thanks! I haven’t seen you around- will be sure to check out your site!
Happy Blogiversary!
@bunnyb- Thanks bunnyb! Thanks for reading
Happy 1 year anniversary!
Keep it going, I enjoy your blog
@Beating The Index- Thanks! I love your blog too!
Congratulations on your milestone! It’s funny you mention how the teasing stopped; my husband had to stop teasing me as well when I started making a little money – it then wasn’t such a joke when he saw a few dollars rolling my way.
@Little House- yeah, we put them in their places lol
(kidding!!)
Congratulations!!!!!
Congrats! A year is a huge milestone I am happy to be part of the giveaway
@Evan- Thank you Evan for contributing
Just getting back from vacation and reading your posts.
A VERY happy anniversary!
I hope you keep blogging for many years to come as well
Cheers,
My Own Advisor
@Financial Cents- Awe thanks for reading!! And commenting!
Congratulations! That’s awesome!
Happy (belated) Anniversary!
I got back this week and now catching up on all the stuff I missed. I have emailed Forest for his address (and to check if he prefered ebook or hard copy).
Now on to read all the posts I missed…
@Suba- Thank you! We missed you!