Aloha to Kimberly Palmer and THE ECONOMY OF YOU

On this day in 1813, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE was first published in the United Kingdom.  It was Jane Austen's second novel.  She wrote from experience as a woman dependent upon male relatives in Regency England.  Yet Austen - and her family - believed in her writing.  Today, she is regarded as a must read for literary study and romantic escapism.

Kimberly Palmer writes about the one thing that defined families from the Regency Era - money.   From Kimberly's bio, 

I write about money as the senior money editor and Alpha Consumer blogger at US News & World Report. I love helping people make smarter money choices, especially when it comes to navigating big life milestones, from college graduation to parenthood to homeownership. 

I live in the Washington, D.C. area with my husband and our two children. When I’m not out hiking or hosting pretend tea parties with them, I frequently talk about money to large groups as well as on television and the radio. I also grew up in the area, but took a few detours to attend Amherst College, work forAsahi Shimbun/International Herald Tribune in Tokyo as a Henry Luce Scholar, and earn a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago.

A scene from P&P
Public Domain (link)

I am currently reading Kimberly's second book, THE ECONOMY OF YOU:  Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life:

The biggest trend in business is the microbusiness! Handcrafted jewelry, artisanal eats, life coaching, app development, you name it - entrepreneurial side ventures are everywhere. Weary of pink-slip anxiety and the endless money squeeze, millions of people are taking the leap. They're adding to their incomes and creating safety nets in case the ax falls at work. In the process, they're unlocking their creativity and finding a sense of fulfillment they never dreamed possible. Financial columnist Kimberly Palmer illuminates the everyday faces behind this growing movement, starting with her own journey. Recognizing that journalism offers little job security these days - and with a baby to provide for-she decided to develop a series of financial planners. This supplemental business was soon providing a reliable income stream. 

The Economy of You recounts story after story of people who - like Kimberly - are liberating themselves from financial strain. A deli employee who makes custom cakes at night. An instrument repairman who sells voice-overs on his website. A videographer who started a profitable publishing house on the side. Interwoven in the profiles are concrete guidelines for readers looking to launch rewarding businesses of their own, including: tips for figuring out the ideal side gig; ideas for keeping start up costs low; advice on juggling a fledgling enterprise and a full-time job; strategies for finding your "tribe" and building a social network; branding and marketing basics that bring results; when and what to offer for free; and much more. Companies guarantee nothing but today's wages. It's up to you to build stability by becoming a money-making engine. It's empowering, gratifying, and easy to do with The Economy of You.

I'd love to be a travel writer ....

If you could turn a hobby into a money making operation, even a new career, what would it be?  One randomly selected commenter wins a print copy of THE ECONOMY OF YOU.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Kimberly and her books, check out her website at bykimberlypalmer.com.