When I first started blogging, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know if anyone would ever read my posts, let alone if it could make me any money. Honestly – when I first started blogging I was posting my math notes from studying for my degree! I was just a mum with a busy life, sharing what I knew, hoping it might help someone else.
And then, life happened. For the last four months, I haven’t even touched my blog. Not once. No new posts, no Pinterest pins, no logging into my dashboard. Nothing.
Why? Because I’ve been busy — raising kids, keeping up with uni, juggling everyday family life. Blogging fell right to the bottom of my list, and if I’m honest, I didn’t feel guilty about it, I kinda just forgot it was there. Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy to do one more thing.
But here’s the beautiful part about blogging: even when you step away, your blog keeps working in the background.
What Happened While I Was Away
Even though I didn’t touch my site for four months, it still earned money. Not a fortune, but enough to make me sit up and think: wow, this actually works.
Here’s what rolled in while I was “gone”:
- $53 from ads
- £1.22 from Amazon Associates (yes, I actually laughed when I saw this 😂)
That’s a total of just over $54.22 (£43ish). Small numbers, sure. But those small numbers feel HUGE when you realise they came in passively. I wasn’t writing, posting, or promoting — my blog was doing its thing all on its own.
A Quick Backstory
I only started blogging in January 2025. So when I say I’ve earned $53 and £1.22, that’s not after years of experience — that’s in my very first months of blogging.
Like most beginners, I was figuring things out as I went: how to set up a site, how to write posts people actually want to read, and how to promote them (hello, Pinterest 🙋♀️). I definitely didn’t expect to see money coming in this soon, especially with a four-month break in the middle.
Why That First Dollar Feels So Big
When people think about blogging income, they often imagine the “big numbers” — hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of pounds per month. And sure, some bloggers get there. But what nobody really tells you is how powerful that first dollar feels.
Because the first dollar is proof of concept.
It’s the moment you realise:
- Your blog isn’t just a hobby — it’s an asset.
- The work you’ve put in before still pays you after.
- If it can make £1, it can make £100. If it can make £100, it can make £1,000.
That £1.22 from Amazon might look tiny, but it’s proof that a complete stranger trusted my recommendation enough to click and buy. That $53 from ads came from people simply reading my words.
And honestly? It’s addictive. Once you see that your blog can earn money, it changes how you look at it forever.
My Traffic So Far
Since I only started blogging in January 2025, I’ve been amazed at how quickly my little site has grown. In total, I’ve had 7.9K users visit my blog (with 7.8K of them being completely new visitors).
Here’s a peek at my Google Analytics:
- In February, I was excited just to see a handful of readers trickle in each day.
- By March and early April, my traffic started climbing, hitting a big peak that felt incredible to watch.
- Over the summer, things dipped slightly, but then began to rise again — and by August/September I was regularly seeing over 60 people a day landing on my site. It doesn’t sound a lot, but to me it’s crazy!
The point is: you don’t need massive traffic to start seeing results. Even a modest audience can start to bring in clicks, ad revenue, and the occasional affiliate sale.
Lessons I’ve Learned
Looking back at the past few months, here are the biggest things I’ve realised:
- Blogging is patient.
You don’t have to be perfect. The posts you wrote months ago can still bring in traffic today. Your blog will quietly wait for you to come back. - Passive income is real.
Even a few pounds here and there add up. If my blog can earn while I ignore it, I know it can earn more when I nurture it. - Progress doesn’t have to be fast.
It’s easy to feel like you’re “behind” when you see other people’s success stories. But even small, messy progress is still progress. - Consistency matters — but so does grace.
Yes, you’ll grow faster if you keep showing up. But it’s also okay to step away when life gets busy. Your blog will still be there when you’re ready.
My Plans Moving Forward
Seeing those numbers gave me such a boost. It reminded me why I started blogging in the first place: to build something of my own that fits around mum life, rather than working against it.
Now, I feel excited to:
- Write new posts that help other mums with budgeting, routines, and family life.
- Keep growing my traffic (mainly through Pinterest and Google).
- Focus on building my email list so I can connect more directly with my readers.
- Experiment with more ways of earning — not just ads, but also affiliate links, digital products, and maybe even printables down the line.
I don’t expect overnight success. But I do know that the little trickle of income I’ve seen so far is just the beginning.
A Word of Encouragement
If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog — or if you already have one but feel discouraged — let me be the reminder you need:
- Your first pound/dollar is closer than you think.
- You don’t need to be perfect, or publish every day, to see results.
- The work you put in today can keep paying off for months (or years) to come.
Blogging isn’t magic. It takes time, patience, and effort. But the fact that I earned money while taking four months off proves something important: blogging is one of the most forgiving, flexible, and mum-friendly ways to earn online.
Final Thoughts
Making my first dollar wasn’t about the number. It was about the possibility.
The possibility that this little blog could grow into something bigger. That one day, those dollars might turn into hundreds or thousands. And most of all, the possibility that I can create something that fits around my family, rather than the other way around.
So here I am, back at it — writing, creating, and sharing again. Because if my blog can make money while I ignore it, I can’t wait to see what happens when I give it my attention.
And if you’ve been sitting on the idea of starting your own blog? Consider this your sign to go for it. If a busy mum like me can make her first £1.22 and $53 while juggling kids, studying, and taking an unplanned four-month break… you can too.
💬 A Little Note
But this was such a big milestone for me that I wanted to share it.
If you enjoy this kind of behind-the-scenes blogging content, please let me know in the comments (or send me a quick email to jordan@jorlou.com ). If it’s something you’d like to see more of, I’d be happy to share updates on my journey as I grow.
