Our latest Twitter Tuesday Profile introduces you to Jackie Beck, also known as @MoneyCrush. She manages websites and does technical writing in Arizona where she lives with her husband and son. Her free time is spent hanging out with family, traveling, painting and, of course, writing about money at MoneyCrush.com.
OODC: How did you get started blogging and tweeting?
@MoneyCrush: I started blogging in the summer of 2006, a few months after reading Your Money or Your Life while on vacation. That book inspired me to really make a plan for my money. I’d also been wanting to make it a practice to write daily, so a personal finance blog seemed like the perfect way to blend things.
I finally decided to give Twitter a try in earnest after having heard about it for what seemed like ages. (Of course, ages in internet time isn’t very long.)
OODC: You’re open about the fact that you’re not a financial pro. So where do you come up with so much information to share?
@MoneyCrush: I am a voracious reader, so I’ve read a large number of books related to personal finance and personal development. I do additional research on specific topics as well. Plus there’s life experience — I have plenty of “don’ts” to write about along with some things that have worked for me..
OODC: You seem to focus quite a bit on the psychology of money and creating smart habits. What are some of the most difficult habits you’ve had to break in order to meet your financial goals?
@MoneyCrush: For me it’s been more about really making financial goals a regular focus. Previously, I had financial goals, but I wasn’t really actively working toward them on a daily basis like I do now. The act of writing about money-related topics has helped immensely with that, as has interacting with so many people with similar views.
OODC: How has eliminating debt impacted your life?
@MoneyCrush: Getting almost completely out of debt (we’re still working on the house) has made a huge difference in our lives, so I created a debt snowball app for the iPhone and Android called Pay Off Debt to help others stay motivated to do the same.
OODC: What do you hope people gain from reading your blog?
@MoneyCrush: I hope people come away feeling empowered and inspired.
OODC: Who are some of your favorite money tweeters?
@MoneyCrush: Some of my favorites are @Bucksome, @Elle_CM, @eventualmillion, and @enemyofdebt.
Thanks again to @MoneyCrush for being part of this week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile. Want to be considered for an upcoming post? Just tweet me!