As an anonymous blogger, I rarely get the chance to practice my financial dorkiness awesomeness. You just can’t sit down with friends and openly ask them about their Roth IRA or whether they’re finished with funding their Emergency Fund. I mean, sure you can, but I don’t. I pretty much keep that information to my closet life: to this blog and twitter.
Well, last night my worlds collided: I attended my first ever Personal Finance Blogging Happy Hour! I met real bloggers in the flesh!
There are many amazing bloggers in DC and I got the chance to meet up with five of them last night. Let me just say I was nervous as all get out. I got off the metro, walked up the street to the bar Recessions (appropriate meet-place, huh?), and realized that I had no idea what anyone looked like. I walked into the bar and saw a handfull of small groups across the place, cursing myself that I hadn’t emailed the group something like “I’ll be wearing a black jacket” (like everyone else in this city). Finally after deciding not to shout out “PF Blogging group?” to the entire place, I approached a table thankful to find my fellow friends.
In attendance:
Small Budget, Big Style To be honest, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her much! I was on the opposite side of the table, but I have recently started following her blog about two things I love: finances and style.
Debt Hater Like SBBS, she was also on the other side of the table from me. I’ve chatted with her some on Twitter and it was so nice to meet her in person. You should also know she has an adorable blue jacket I was lusting after.
Mrs. Micah This girl is as nice as her blog and twitter posts–seriously. In addition to her brilliant financial and website knowledge, I learned a few other things about her… like her profession, her comic book interest, and where she lives close enough to throw a rock at.
Brian Schuer @ My Next Buck What a genuninely nice guy! He certainly knows the ends and outs of the blogging world and put me to shame with his extensive knowledge of how to market your blog. After hearing about his crazy busy schedule, I was touched that he made time to come to the HH… and learned exactly where and when he makes time to write his posts.
Craig @ Budget Pulse Also an awesome guy! Craig works at Budget Pulse, a site that provides budget software for free. Not only is he a great guy to share blogging tips, but also to share a beer, a metro ride, and a similar opinion on the Twilight series.
I have received a few questions from readers about creating your own budgets. I recommend checking out
It was great to meet you! :) I was glad to find you’re as lovely a person in person as online. Hoping we’ll see more of you.
I’m so jealous!! I travel to WDC for work occassionally and would love to attend a PF HH!!!!! :) It’s just little old me in Kansas City. :(
It was great finally meeting you as well. Feel free to share your hatred for Twilight with me any time, ha. I look forward to next months.
Honestly, I’m totally jealous. I think Carrie is the closest to me and even then – it is still a 5 hour drive! Damn midwest!! =)
You should Direct Message me about what you ended up doing about your little ‘situation’ ;)
So it was fun? I couldn’t make this one, but I think I’m going to go to the next one… I’m a little nervous!
Yes! I was really really nervous (see above!) so next time we both go, I can give you my phone number and bring a red rose or wear yellow or something random so you can find me. ;) I’d love to meet you!
Haha, just DM’ed you. And “situation” sounds like I have a UTI or something. For the record, I DON’T. ;)
When J comes, we can find out how much he liked New Moon, lol! :) I missed Harry Potter (though it was fun to catch it after the last book & just blast through ’em), but I don’t feel like I’m missing Twilight. Skimmed, hated.
Very jealous! Glad you had a blast! This would be a great way to make some new friends… who you can actually discuss PF/blogging with. :)
MPP, it was great to meet you last night. Yeah, it is humorous to see the “lost” look on people’s faces until they know the group. Its sort of like a blind date with a group of people.
I think we should make Craig wear something obnoxious so we can see him. Of course, J stands out with the faux hawk when he is there.
Look for my recap tomorrow (overslept a bit today).
Hopefully we’ll get to talk at the next happy hour : )
It’s so fun to be able to attribute actual people to blogs I read.
That’s so weird, I just moved to DC!
I met one other blogger when I lived in LA – we worked less than a mile from each other!
Sounds awesome, and gives me ideas for new blogs to read!
Sounds like you had a great time! Just wondering, were you worried about who would be at the happy hour ( i.e. that a blogger you’ve never read / talked to will be there), because of anonymity concerns?.
I’ve met up with a few bloggers, but they were generally 1-on-1 after we’ve chatted with each other for a long time (so that we basically became friends on email first).
Yes, I was a little nervous, but I knew who all was invited (based on the email) and who was coming and trusted that they would not disclose who I was, etc. It was a little weird to meet people in real life since my blog is so open… they know every dime I spend!