If you are a personal finance blogger, you may have heard about this little get together called FinCon. It’s a financial blogger conference that seems pretty rad, and it’s happening in New Orleans this year. Tickets went on sale today, and I found this out by all the tweets about people being excited and buying their tickets.
If you remember, attending this year’s FinCon is one of my goals for this year. But at $200, plus flight, hotel, food, etc, I’m feeling a little uneasy. After all, I am a debt blogger. And I hate to say it (feel free to throw stones at me), but I’m really trying to make another trip to Iceland for my 30th birthday. Everything seems so up in the air though. I’m waiting to see how much of a tax refund I will get; Wondering where’s my tax refund, waiting to see what other hustles I can conjure up, and let the year shake out. I don’t seem mentally ready to lower my debt payments, which have been abysmally low lately considering my minimum is $900.
I have a travel savings account (affiliate link) with a measly $125 in it. That won’t get me to Iceland or New Orleans. I’m wondering, do you think debt bloggers should go to FinCon? I can’t say if, or how much it might derail my debt repayment progress and of course, I cannot measure the networking opportunities that will arise at the conference.
All this to say, I am not judging debt bloggers who are going — I’m trying to get there myself! And go to Iceland. I guess I’m just feeling uneasy about the money, and the commitment. I’d love to hear from you if you went to FinCon last year. Were you in debt? Was it “worth it”? What were your big takeaways?
At this point, I haven’t even broke even with the money I’ve put into creating this site. I’m trying to change all that this year, but it feels like if I haven’t even done that, am I ready? Will going to FinCon make me ready and change that dynamic?
Let me know your thoughts! I want to go New Orleans and meet all of you! It’s on my bucket list of places, and seems so awesome. I think I’ll have a serious case of FOMO (did I really just use that term?) if I don’t go.
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67 comments
I was actually thinking about this yesterday. So much so that I emailed GMD to ask a question about how you could stay anonymous at FinCon. I would love to go, but my site is too new for one thing I think. Secondly, I think that I am personally too far in debt at the moment (and too early in my debt-repayment journey) to go to New Orleans. Perhaps next year when I am in four-digits of debt and have a more manageable end in sight. Plus, it would be soooo expensive from Eastern Canada to NOLA.
All that being said, I guess I sort of expect the bloggers that do go that are in debt to have a big enough blog to cover the travel expenses through site income. That might be a naive approach, but that is how I would try to go. I’ll probably eat my words though. 🙂
Yes, it would be hard to be totally anonymous there. I still have a ton of debt and see its merits. I think it would be totally worth it — but when you have debt you second guess everything. I’ll have to see how I feel and how my money sitch turns out.
Quite a few anonymous bloggers do go to FinCon. You don’t have to use your real name if you don’t want to 🙂
Can’t you write off the conference and part of your airfare? It is a business expense, right? I would try to go because it would be a great networking experience. If I could take off time from work, I would go in a heartbeat! Especially if it’s in NoLa!!
I guess I could, but I’m not making any money (yet). Time off of work is another thing I need to consider!
That is so true. If not this year, maybe next year!
I’d love to go, but I know that it’s not in the cards for me this year. I think you should look at it as more of an investment than a vacation – you want to go to learn, grow, network and have fun – not to just sip cocktails poolside all day (although you could argue that’s an investment in personal well-being, too!).
Hopefully you can swing both – but if not, ICELAND!!! OMG!!
It definitely would not be a vacation. That’s what Iceland is for! RT tickets to Iceland from Seattle + passes for music festival are $700! I know it’s an investment and I would see it as such, I just still need to wrap my brain around it.
Debt bloggers can do whatever they damn well please and own that decision. Each one of us has to decide based on our own financial state and desire to network and learn. I’m in debt and I’m going because I want to and I can. I am so glad I went last year and I value the experience 🙂
Yes, we can! I think it would be awesome, I’m just still thinking it through. I have so many goals and can’t afford all of them!
I hear that. I was evaluating all the trips I wanted to take in 2014 at the beginning of the year. Eliminating FInCon wasn’t even a thought because I’ve known since the last one I wouldn’t miss it as long as I’m blogging 🙂
Not gonna lie, if it was a choice between FinCon or Iceland, I’d pick the latter hands down. 🙂 But I think it’s really up to you and your motivations for going. It looked like from last year’s FinCon that all walks of PF life went, so I think debt and financial independence bloggers (and everything in between) can take a lot away from it. If you’re unsure, maybe just use the sit back and wait tactic?
Definitely 🙂 Iceland is up in the air too, because I have no savings at the moment. I really need the side hustle income to start coming in (will hit in a few weeks), and see if I get a refund. I would love to make both happen, but don’t know if I can mentally do it. I say mentally because I know if I slow down my payments I could do it, but it seems antithetical to my blog. I’m going to wait and see what transpires.
I’ve been giving this some thought as well. I have a hard enough time spending on things with my student loans looming over me as it is, I feel really uneasy about it. I know it’s a great investment and it seems like a fun time, but I’m not making any money off my blog right now either. I’d also like to go with my boyfriend, but he only gets one week of vacation and he’s not really getting anything out of the conference. Decisions decisions!
Same boat, girl! I want my bf to go, but he def cannot afford it and I can hardly, but it would be worth it. I just feel uneasy about it and need to think about it.
FinCon is an amazing experience, and there are more takeaways than you would ever think of if you have never gone before.
For starters, it has nothing to do with how new or big your site may or may not be. There are different presentation for various levels of experience and there are success story sessions where people will discuss how they reached the point they are at so you can take it as a learning point. In fact, the newer you are, the better because you will be able to start in a better position than most of us who had been doing this via trial, before all of the conferences and groups existed.
The conference isn’t anything like a traditional “professional conference”. It’s very loose and laid back, there are several mixers and events, and even the networking/learning portions are fun, so you can actually think of it as a vacation and not be very far off.
In terms of cost, most people split the room so it becomes even more manageable for people to attend. Most of the food is included (and provided by the sponsors) and the mixers even offer apps and free drink tickets, so you can possibly get by without spending much money outside of the travel/attendance cost.
The one thing that is hard is to keep an anonymous identity in an environment like this, although if you wore a hat, glasses and scarf the entire time it is possible.
If you read the testimonials on the FinCon site, and all of the tweets about the event, you’ll get a much better idea about the event as a whole.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I could definitely get a lot out of it now that I’m thinking of taking the blog to the next level. I wouldn’t be anonymous. I was anonymous for a long time, then just up. Hardly anyone has noticed, and I feel much more comfortable with myself, my writing and putting myself out there. I can “be me”. I want to meet everyone in person, be who I am, grow my blog and my potential business.
I think it’s a hard choice. What do you expect to get from FinCon? Many go just to meet other bloggers, and many go because the sessions are great. I definitely had FOMO when I didn’t go the first year that I was blogging but it goes away 🙂
I want to learn about the business side of blogging, writing, meet pf bloggers and have fun! I also wouldn’t be anonymous. I’ve been “out” for a few months and I don’t think anyone has noticed, lol. I don’t know why I was so worried before. I feel much more like myself being “out”
I would love to go, but with no savings and $27,000 in debt, I feel I like I shouldn’t even think about going. Perhaps next year once I’ve built up a savings and *hopefullly* paid off all my debt!
I almost have double that and I’m doing a lot of thinking on it! I’m trying to hustle to make it work, so we will see.
I wish we could go but we just don’t have any disposable money at the moment to go.
Please keep us updated on your experiences at FinCon if you do go.
That’s how I feel. I throw all extra $ toward debt. I need to adjust my priorities and really think about this. I will keep you posted.
I had FinCon on this year’s bucket list. And while I was pondering over the same questions I see here, I got my answer when my brother let me know he’ll be visiting me, arriving in NY on September 19th.
I do regret not meeting a lot of fellow-bloggers, though – but I’m not sure I would have get the money together either.
Family is important, too though! There’s always next year. Part of me really wants to go because it’s in NOLA and I’ve been dying to go there.
I’m debating this right now myself. I would love to go to Fincon — and New Orleans is only a 6 hour drive from us. But between registration and lodging and meals, that’s a hefty chunk of change I could sink into our debt.
I know, right? There are no affordable flights from Portland to NOLA. I would definitely share a hotel. But with registration and everything, it would be a 1-2 month debt repayment setback. Maybe it would be worth it and then some? But I don’t know.
Being a close drive away as well, this is swaying my decision to go. 😉
I live in Houston, TX, so I am planning to drive the 6 hours. BUT, I have to find somewhere with cheaper parking than the conference hotel – it’s $35 a day at that Marriot! For $210, I should get a $150 round trip plane ticket instead…
That’s awesome you live pretty close, Crystal. I say fly instead! I hope I can make it happen and meet all of you!
We should carpool if you go then. 😀 Jessica from the FinCon staff told me about a $21 a day lot to park in 2 blocks away…we could half it. 😉
Great post! Matlock and I have this conversation often. She thinks I probably shouldn’t go to FinCon, whereas I am a huge proponent. The first year I attended (2011 in Chicago) was the first year the conference lifted off. It was a great morale booster for me, as far as becoming more financially aware. I drove because of the proximity so it wasn’t too expensive then. Now three years later, I don’t hesitate in buying my tickets, because the people I have met, knowledge I have gained and the experience overall has been worth it for me. Yes, I know I could have taken the hundreds of dollars in travel and put it towards my debt, but I don’t know if I really would have. For me it is my annual vacation that’s already mapped out for me. I get to spend time with people I want to get to know better and explore a new city I might not have otherwise traveled to (Denver & St. Louis). I hope I get to see you in New Orleans but don’t feel bad at all if it can’t happen this year. If I am traveling to Seattle I will definitely get in touch and maybe we can hang out then!
You really do make it sound nice! Part of me just wants to bite the bullet, but I can’t yet. Time will tell, but I need to act fast.
I’m a debt blogger, and I’m absolutely going to Fincon. Although I’m also debt free (including the house). I would say there’s two different questions to answer: “Will going to Fincon benefit me?” and “Can I afford to go?”.
As a debt blogger, I’d suggest answering the 2nd one first. To me that means “do I have the money in my hot little hands?” Or “Will someone else pay me to go?”. The first time I went to Fincon (and another blogging conference) my work paid for the conference and I got airfare ridiculously cheap by redeeming air miles — some of which I’d won in a conference. I also redeemed air miles for my second trip to Fincon, and found a roommate to split part of the hotel costs. Those kinds of things are options if you’re trying to figure out how to get the money.
If you do have the money (which is the only way I do anything) then you need to determine if Fincon is something you want to spend that on vs paying down debt faster. I’d say if you’re serious about making your blog a business, it absolutely is. It’s the best blogging (or otherwise) conference I’ve ever been to. Phil does an awesome job. But if you go, please don’t try to be anonymous. A huge benefit is the networking, and that means letting people get to know you.
I’m right in that transition where I want to consider it more a business and make some money. Why not? It would help me pay off debt sooner! I don’t have the money now, but could easily if I chose to lower my payments on my student loans. That’s where I’m feeling uneasy– I don’t know if ready to do that. I need to see if I’m getting a tax refund and how much and really think this through. There is no doubt in my mind it would be beneficial. I really want to go, but I need to prioritize.
Oops, “won in a conference” should say “won in a contest”.
Hey! Email me!
I am going to FinCon, but I’m doing this side hustle thing with a couple other PF bloggers. We are using side hustle challenges to save up a total of $1500 in 7 months.
Personally, I am using credit card rewards to pay for my travel. To buy my entry, I used the money I made off of the blog last year.
I wish I had some rewards or something to help, but I don’t. It’s going to be a hard decision, but I really want to go.
I personally wouldn’t go to FinCon while in debt, unless, like Alicia said, you can take it out of the income of the blog. If you’re running the blog like a business and can use the expenses as deductions to your blog income, then it seems wise since its an investment in your blog. But going just to have fun and network doesn’t really make sense if you’re still in debt to me, anyways. But, I do hear that most bloggers who do go then see a spike in their blogs and income so maybe it then becomes a way to pay down debt quicker? Its a gamble, for sure.
The thing is I’m in between considering it a hobby and a business. I never intended it to make money, but now that I know it’s possible, it would be nice. I wish I could take it out of the blog income (which doesn’t exist, yet) — that would be great. I think it would be totally worth it, I just need to wrap my head around it and prioritize.
I know about the FOMO feeling (I had it the first year I was a blogger and missed the conference), but you can’t let that affect the progress you made with your debt and your desire to pay it off that much quicker. I’m not saying not to go, but you don’t need to worry about the FOMO part of it. You are connected to a lot of great bloggers in the Portland area, and me because we’ve met in person. 🙂 Don’t feel pressured!
Thanks, Tonya! I have a great network of blogger friends here and online, but it would be so nice to meet everyone in person. I’m extroverted and enjoy it! There’s still a chance I’ll go, I just need to see what happens with the finances and keep working my booty off.
I’m actually wavering on it this year, too. I’ll probably end up going, but for some reason, I’m waffling too. Let me say this, though: you’ll meet all kinds of people and make friends with people who will want to pay you money. So there’s that angle. And you can write things off when you’re not making money.
I’m not too smart when it comes to writing things off — I’ve never done it! I would love to meet everyone AND make some money. I know it’s worth it, I just got to see if the cash is there, if I have the time off, and really prioritize my goals.
GO TO ICELAND! GO TO ICELAND! And take lots and lots of photos to show us! I’m so jealous- I’d love to go there!
I went to Iceland a year ago, which is when I devised this plan to go back for my 30th to the Iceland Airwaves music festival. The flight and pass is actually fairly cheap ($700 rt), but Iceland itself is not. Check out my posts with some pics from last year: https://deardebt.com/unexpected-expenses-travel-edition/
Totally get where you are coming from, Melanie. I didn’t go to FinCon last year and was totally planning on going this year, but that was before deciding on our big Oregon move. There’s just not enough money to do both 🙁
Life changes are rough, especially when they alter plans. I have too many goals and not enough money and I feel like all the side hustles in the world won’t get me there. They COULD but I’m not ready to lower my student loan payments so much. I’ll be glad you are moving to OR though. We have an awesome PF blogger meetup here.
This is a great post and I’m going to answer it from the perspective of a newbie blogger just starting out. And, going to a conference after blogging for a year. So, the first FinCon I went to was the one held in Denver. I had been trying to figure out what the hell is this blogging thing? Then, I randomly heard about FinCon12. Literally, 2 or 3 weeks before it was being held-the universe wanted me to go-it was in Denver! So, I paid $100 for my ticket and my world expanded. I met a lot of the bloggers that I read. I went to break out sessions, I learned about SEO, affiliate marketing, and networked. I discovered that I was not alone and I finally understood why conferences are soooo popular. The energy, focus, and excitement that I gained from that conference changed my frame of mind and I became focused and driven.
A year later I went to FinCon13 in St. Louis. It was my second trip to St. Louis in 2013 (the 1st trip was also for a conference). This time FinCon13 was different. I had met more people in “real life” and solidified those connections. I became a lot more sure of myself (though still a little reserved) and had more of an idea of why I was blogging. I wanted to help myself, help other people through sharing my story, and yes, I wanted to make money blogging or make money through leveraging connections/ideas/etc.
At FinCon13 I learned about how to do all of the things that I was dreaming of, while using blogging as the key to those dreams. I learned about affiliate marketing, online courses, free offers with a back end offer that you charge a client for. I learned about creating a subscriber list-and how powerful it is…and the list goes on. Yes, I was and still am in debt. But, the goal of going to a conference is to learn more, expand your circle, and learn to make money. Trust your gut. If it is not the time for you to go-don’t. If you’re able to side hustle your way to it-than GO! Share a room, rock some Groupon Deals. Figure it out. You would be with 500 people who are really into saving and growing their money while paying off debt. You would be in good company. Let us know what you decide. Just do what is best for you in your current situation!
Thanks for your thoughtful reply, Michelle. I really appreciate your perspective and kindness. There is no doubt about it; I want to go. I just feel like I have a lot of goals and interests and not the money to do them, so I’m forced to choose. I hope I can figure it out, but I’m not there. I’m ready to take my blog to the next level and start making SOME money.
Dear Debt (or should that be DearDebt?):
I didn’t quite understand your post because of its title. You asked if “Debt Bloggers go to FinCon” when you were asking “Should bloggers who are in debt go to FinCon?”
It does come down to a personal choice and what your goals are. If you were 110% committed to getting out of debt then you wouldn’t go to FinCon (or Iceland for that matter) unless it could help you generate an income.
Of course, going into debt to do any of this is absolutely out of the question.
If you are 100% committed to getting out of debt while pausing your plan to take a trip then go to Iceland. However, I can tell you that FinCon is TOTALLY WORTH IT and I’d work extra or create some passive income in order to make that goal a reality.
Tug my shoulder when you get there, I’ll give you a big bear hug like I did @Slofia last year.
The question, “Should Debt bloggers go to FinCon” was mostly just an inviting question to incite a discussion — I clearly want to go! In this case, I refer to debt bloggers more generally as people in debt who write about it on their blogs. I definitely would not go into debt for either situation. Iceland has been in the plans for awhile, but I feel FinCon would help take my blog to the next level. It’s nice to hear from so many people that it is worth it. I have some side hustles in the next few months and will see what extra money I come up with, and how comfortable I feel moving forward.
Without a doubt, do what makes you happy! If the cost means Iceland and no FinCon, do what makes you happy! Why? Because happiness helps so much when trying to defeat debt 🙂
I’m not even a blogger and want to go to FinCon. It just seems like there are so many great people to meet and so much that someone can learn. I do think, for me at least, it would be awkward being that guy who comments on blogs and doesn’t write one.
Also as far as Iceland goes, you only turn thirty once and in the grand scheme $700 isn’t that much. I would probably bite the bullet if it really was something that was on my to do list.
With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, the southeast is the only part of the country I haven’t been to (except Florida). Quite frankly, I don’t really care to go there, but I always thought New Orleans would be neat so I’m pretty psyched about fincon. The only thing is, I can’t risk getting a ticket then booking a job that would conflict, so I’m holding off until plans firm up. My plan is to either make it a vacation or couch surf once I get there.
I know! I wish I could just book it, but I don’t feel financially comfortable doing so yet. I hope I can move forward and make a decision soon. I’d love to go to NOLA and meet you there!
Personally I didn’t attend FinCon the last few years because I was trying to get out of debt. I just couldn’t justify the expense. I paid it all off last year finally and now I’m planning to attend for the first time ever, if everything works out that is! I’d love to be able to experience the conference and meet so many people that have great blogs.
That’s how I am feeling….Also, I think my Iceland trip would be close to the same cost, which is crazy to think about. So I need to make a decision soon and hope the money comes.
I didn’t go to the last FinCon since it was my first year blogging…though I still feel like a complete newbie. I’m sure I’d learn a lot there. It being in NOLA seems interesting…can make that a vacation. But with a little baby, I’m not sure how easy traveling will be. Plus, unlike you…I’m a bit of an introvert. It would be a waste for me to go down there and be a wall flower. Anyway…not sure if you’re interested in travel rewards/bonuses…but that’s one way to help out with the costs.
I’m thinking about getting a better travel credit card, but I have mixed feelings about it. I really want to go to FinCon, but money is mostly going toward debt these days. Congrats on having a little one, and maybe, just maybe I’ll see you there?
I would love to go but there are too many variables this year. One, coming from Halifax it would cost me a small fortune to get there then ticket costs, hotel etc, it would cost me a minimum of $2000 i suspect. When I’m trying to pay off the debtload I am I don’t think I can justify it and…..my husband is a blogger too. He has been dying for like six years to go to Columbus for SBNations big blogging conference (which is an invite thing) and we’ve never been able to make it happen. I feel like it would almost be wrong of me to get to go one before him even though I 1) blog more 2) make significantly more money than him in blog/freelance 3) simply put, love it more than him. we’re very different bloggers but the fact is that he was there first and has made many friends he’d love to meet in real life. He trumps me in my eyes for ”blog trips”
I hear that. I am still on the fence about everything. As of right now, I don’t feel comfortable going to Iceland or FinCon, but I really want to make one or both happen. My trip to FinCon would cost at least 1k, but if I could manage to get miles and get a free flight that would help significantly. That’s cool that your husband is a blogger too! But I understand why you’d want him to go to an event first. Hopefully one day we can all go and meet up 🙂
It was on my list last year, but we had our son and family always takes priority in my book. Hopefully I will be able to make it this year, it would be great to put a face to a lot of these great blogs out there.
Family is definitely a priority! I hope to make it, but still assessing my financial situation and plans. Thanks for stopping by Marvin!
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I would love to go to FinCon someday! With a 9-month-old at home, though, definitely not this year.
As much as I would love to go, I would not make the trip if it would interfere with an important goal like getting out of debt. If I could save up the extra money then I would absolutely go for it. When I was digging out of debt, I paid for extras with a little blog revenue, a garage sale and eBaying some things. It wasn’t easy, but it felt so good sticking to our repayment schedule even when things got crazy.
This just in: I am going to Fincon! I’m going to travel hack a card to fly there and use some side hustle income for spending. If you decide to go, I would love to meet you. Thanks for stopping by, Jen.