How much money have you invested in your blog in the past 12 months? $50 for a new theme? Maybe a few hundred? More? In this post, we’ll talk about how to spend money on your blog. Also, how to spend it the right way.
Time is the most valuable currency you can use to grow your blog. The time you invest can be used to create quality content and grow your readership. The time you invest can be used to market and promote your content.
That being said, time is not the only currency you can rely on. Yes, time is the most important currency, but it certainly shouldn’t be the only currency.
I'm a firm believer in the saying " money makes money ". You need to spend money to make money.
Whether we’re talking about a blog or any other business, when you spend money to enhance your business in any way, you are investing in that business.
We all agree that blogging can be a lucrative business. But if you don't do anything to promote your blog, then you haven't made a case for blogging as a business.
In order to start a blog , only a small initial investment is required.
However, if you want to take your blog to the next level, you’ll need to invest more time, more energy, and even more money.
Dare I say it? What on earth am I saying?
I'm talking about money:
Money is also necessary for you to grow your blog and be successful. You don't seem to know this yet.
Ok let’s not beat around the bush. I get it, you don’t want to spend too much money , especially when you’re just starting out and trying to really grow your blog to make money.
I used to be really scared of spending money on my blog and online business. Until recently, I was still reluctant to spend money on new tools, services, marketing, books, and everything else.
I just want to do this as independently and for free as I can.
I'm not saying 'no money or go it alone' won't work, but progress will probably be very slow.
Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of free stuff out there for you to use. Free tools, themes, plugins, apps.
For articles, tutorials, guides, etc., Google and YouTube have you covered. Again, much of this content is free.
You have to spend money to grow
The simple truth is, sometimes, you need to spend a little money to grow. You don’t need to go crazy and buy everything you see. The trick is knowing when and where to spend money on your blog.
In this modern world, we are inundated with all the latest tech gadgets. There are software, apps, and thousands of gadgets to choose from. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming. I mean, you don’t even know where to start?
When and where to spend money wisely
Do you want to know how much I spend every month to run Magnet4Blogging?
That’s about $130 per month . This includes hosting and a domain name, a bunch of annual premium plugin subscriptions, advanced security, and social media scheduling tools. So that’s at least $1,560 per year .
Yet, over the past decade, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on additional stuff. Most of which I can never physically touch. I’m talking about software, more themes, plugins, apps, services. Stuff that I’ll never be able to physically touch, but that cost a fortune.
Some of the things I've bought have been great, but many have been a waste of time and money. That's why I think I'm qualified to write this article.
So, here are some quick tips on when and where to spend money wisely on your blog. I’ve also listed some things to avoid and some things to consider.
Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Please take my advice with caution as I am simply sharing my opinions based on my own experience as a blogger and entrepreneur. Please excuse the pun.
Let’s get started.
#1. Money-making and get-rich-quick schemes (avoid)
Let’s get this out of the way first.
Of course, there aren't as many scams out there as there were six or seven years ago. Or, I may not have seen them recently. But I know they still exist.
If you can help it, try not to get sucked into any money-making business scheme that asks you to pay money upfront. Especially large sums of money.
Of course, things like reputable online courses, books, or premium content are fine. As long as they come from a reliable source.
I'm talking about pyramid schemes, or "get rich quick" scams that are often perpetrated by people you've never heard of. You sometimes see them on social media and in YouTube ads.
I mean, sometimes they're just fun to watch, right? You see a guy standing in front of a Lamborghini, babbling on about how he's making $400,000 a month selling novelty balloons on his website. Now he wants to show you how to do the same thing, but first, you have to hand over $1,000!
Oh, please.
Look, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. The old saying still applies, that's all I can say.
#2. Overpriced tools and services (avoid them until…)
When you’re just starting out, you don’t need to spend a ton of money to sign up for every premium tool or service membership you’ve set your sights on.
Sometimes it’s tough. I know how it feels when you come across a tool or service that you think you really need. But you wonder, is it really worth spending $700 or $1,000 a year on?
If you’re just starting out blogging, then web hosting, a premium theme, and some premium plugins are all you’ll need. At least for the first six months or so.
#3. Expensive advertising (spend wisely…)
Well, before you put me in the line of fire and shoot me, hear me out on online advertising.
I’m not saying that all advertising is bad or a waste of money for your blog, because that’s not the case.
Sure, you could invest in some targeted ads on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to promote your latest blog post, as long as you do your homework beforehand for the best results. And, as long as you don’t blow through your entire marketing budget.
If you do need to use ads, start small.
#4. Blogging Assets and Services (Spend Wisely)
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to loosen up the purse strings and invest in a new premium theme or some additional plugins for your blog. However, spend your hard-earned money wisely.
Or if you need a new blog design, a logo, or some custom icons to help your blog stand out, that’s a wise expense, too.
As I mentioned at the beginning, there are also a lot of free stuff online. Things like stock images , background videos, some social icons , and vector graphics.
**Recommended article: **15+ Affiliate Marketing Tools Every Marketer Needs (2025)
#5. Productivity Tools (Spend Smart…)
When it comes to spending money to be more productive, I’m all for it. However, I recommend that you choose the right tools that you actually need. Tools that can actually help you grow your blog because some productivity tools are very expensive.
For example, maybe buy a new blog planning workbook. Or sign up for a few months of CoSchedule to help you reach your blogging goals. Or, invest in some apps to help you write faster, or better organize and manage your blog posts, etc.
Check out this article I wrote that covers lots of pro productivity tools to help you grow your blog.
This also applies to any hardware, such as spending money on a new laptop, or upgrading your home office kit.
#6 Marketing Tools (Spend Smart…)
Investing time and money in some marketing tools is not a bad thing. As long as you don’t spend money on something that is of no use to the level of your blog.
Of all the marketing tool kits I’ve used, the one I 100% recommend to all bloggers is Thrive Theme Membership.
Thrive Theme Membership offers a suite of conversion and growth tools that are perfect for bloggers and small businesses.
Your goal may be to grow your email list or create a landing page for your latest products and offers. Or maybe you want to create an online course or even design an entire blog from scratch. As a Thrive Themes member, you get everything you need to grow your blog.
I myself have been a member since 2015.
Start small and think big
This is my new motto lately. Because sometimes I think back to when and where I started blogging, where I am now, and where I want to be in the future.
When I first started blogging I didn’t even have my own laptop. I would usually borrow my girlfriend’s.
Ten years later, I now have my own home office space equipped with all the technology and software needed to run an online business.
I'm not saying this to brag, okay?
If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you’ll know that I’ve never been one to brag about anything here. But, like I said, sometimes I like to think back to my humble beginnings so that I can put things into perspective.
So start small, but aim big.
Please let me know where you will invest your money to take your blog to the next level.
If you find this information useful, feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
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