When you start writing in a new niche one of the first, most important steps you can take is to look around the blogosphere and get to know the community within your niche. When I started writing in the finance niche, I took this step, and one of the first things I noticed is that one name kept popping up, Miranda Marquit. It is because she as a writer is so prolific and is such an influencer throughout the entire financial blogging niche I thought she would be a great first author to feature on our new series, Knows Money. Fortunately for me she graciously agreed to be interviewed.
How did you start writing about finance and what motivates you to continue to write about finance?
Originally, I was writing for science publications. However, I was asked to write for a corporate blog, on money issues. It just sort of became my niche, and as I learned more, and began to put financial strategies into practice, I really came to love financial blogging.
What are the 3 most important tools you use for blogging?
- WordPress — So many helpful tools and plugins
- Wikimedia Commons — For images
- Skype — I chat with my mastermind group when I get stuck
What is the best and worst financial decision you ever made?
The best financial decision I ever made was to begin working from home as a freelancer. It’s really given me a way to control my income, and financial destiny.
The worst financial decision I ever made was racking up debt while in college. I could have completed my undergrad without student loans, but I took the max. And then, on top of that, I maxed out some credit cards. I had a scholarship and a part-time job. There was no reason for me to have so much debt.
What is the single best piece of financial advice you ever received?
A friend once told me not to focus so much on saving that you lose track of earning. There’s only so much you can cut; you can always earn more.
If you could write about something other than finance, what would it be?
I’d go back to writing about science.
What 3 bloggers do you read and why?
Phil Plait, Bad Astronomy Blog at Discover Magazine: It’s always interesting, and often amusing.
Luke Landes at Consumerism Commentary: Luke is one of the bloggers I have been reading the longest. His thoughts are always interesting, and the topics timely.
Kelly Philips Erb at Tax Girl: Kelly offers great (and interesting) information about taxes.
Miranda Marquit
Freelance Writer and Professional Blogger
Miranda focuses on general finance as well as making money with freelancing and home businesses.
Planting Money Seeds
Knows Money is a new series focusing on a variety of great writers in the financial blogging world. Be sure to check out each writer’s blog for more information about them and finance. If you know someone you would love to know more about, feel free to offer your suggestions in the comment section.
Miranda has written for our site for quite some time. She has gone as far as to write about Canadian Dividend Stocks for SPF. How many non-Canadian writers would venture into our resource/banking rich industries for a client? Not many, but Miranda did.
The reason I reached out to Miranda? Same as many of us – I had been reading her work across the PF blogs I enjoy. I was very glad she accepted the invitation to write @ SPF. I like to think we have a very good, professional / working relationship.
Loved this feature! Miranda is great!
As a newcomer to the financial blogging arena, this is a great feature and intro for me to get to know who’s who. Thanks!!