What kind of blogs do you read?
If you’re like me, you may find that the blogs you read span a seemingly random range of topics. I read on travel, politics, personal finance, philosophy, homesteading, gardening, minimalism, art . . . In fact, I’m pretty certain that the subject of the blog is not nearly as important as the writer’s perspective, philosophy and humanity.
If you think about it, choosing to read someone’s blog is like choosing to spend time with that person (albeit on a virtual level), which is why finding a blog in a search engine doesn’t cut it for me. Finding blogs in a search engine is a little like finding new friends in the phone book . . .
Which brings me to another question: How do you find great blogs? I find mine much the way I find friends in real life. I grow contacts over time through communities. It’s a slow, laborious process, but one that pays off. Although, I’m always curious to hear about other techniques. . .
. . .
And for those on the quest for some good reads,
Here are some posts from this week that you may enjoy (I did!)
Racing Rats and Empty Achievements : A little number from Consciously Frugal who never stops railing against the mistake of identifying human beings with their jobs.
Frugality on a Whole New Level: A little something from Budgets are Sexy that made me laugh at someone else who had a ‘frugal gone to far’ moment for a change.
What is Almost Frugal? Here’s a little quiz that will teach you about yourself and a blog that just happens to be written by a few writers with a French connection–one of whom lives only about an hour and a half from me in South East France.
What’s it like to live in one of America’s 25 richest counties? Stay at Home Mom CFO asks us to examine whether living in affluent areas affects your spending habits. I’ll resist the urge to rant at length on that topic right now . . . although it’s very tempting.
The End of Simplifying Jacob at Early Retirement Extreme remains one of my favorite bloggers to read–and his take on the limits of simplifying have certainly been on my mind this week.
Is it More Frugal to be a Minimalist or a Hoarder? If you liked my post on whether or not to fight clutter this week, you’re bound to like this post from Mrs. Money.
Travel to Japan with Elminate the Muda where the simple search for an authentic restaurant brings you head first into some fascinating and humbling cultural perspectives in The best customer service I ever received.
J. Money–Great point about finding blogs through people that post to your blog! I have found a number of interesting reads that way myself. I suppose it’s kind of like hosting a discussion . . .some interesting people show up! And I’m actually really enjoying ‘meeting’ people from all over the world, places I’ve never been. The perspectives people offer are fascinating. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks so much for the link love!
I find blogs to read through other blogs normally. I love that! I can’t remember how I found your blog, but I am so glad I did!
Mrs. Money–no problem, I get a lot out of your blog so passing it on is only natural. And it’s funny, I don’t remember how I found your blog either! But I probably found you on some other blog I like.
how fun! I will enjoy checking out the links when I find more time. I find blogs through links on blogs I already like. I don’t regularly read the blogs of people I know – I guess I like and know them in real life more than in blog-world.
I found you, SIF, through your first comment on my blog which makes me wonder how you found me!
“Consciously Frugal who never stops railing” could pretty much sum me up. bwhahahahahahah Anyhoo, thanks for the shout out!
I find blogs by suggestions from folks I read, like with the links you provided. I also find new blogs when folks are kind enough to comment on mine or on other folks’ blogs I like. I am amazed at the number of intelligent, witty, informative blogs out there. I love the internet so!
I usually find other blogs from the blogs I read. I like watching Gail Vaz-Oxlade on CNBC and checked out her website. There, I discovered that she writes a blog, which I began following. Later on, I clicked on names of those who made comments to look at their blogs… that’s how I got into blogging actually =)
The first blog I ever started reading religiously (and have been reading that blog since April 2008!) I did in fact reach through an internet search. However, I wasn’t searching for a blog, but a recipe which that blogger posted. From that blog I found “Life in a Shoe”, where I found Emily back in the very beginning of her Under 1000 journey, and from there I found you. I believe I’ve been reading your blog since the second or third post!
I also have a blog a livejournal, which through communities I have other friends. That is a little different from this, the reasons and ways in which I participate in the LJ world are confusing and I feel my time there is slowly coming to an end.
I’ve been wanting to start a blog for myself, but I haven’t found anything that I want to write about daily yet.
But that’s my blog journey!
It usually depends on the season of my life. Right now I’m fighting to back into good health, live more natural,simple and pure. So I’m reading blogs that fit that criteria. I enjoy your blog because you live in France and I love reading folks who live abroad.
Margo, I hope you find some more blogs you like from my list. And now, come to think of it, where DID I find you? Maybe through something on the Simple, Green and Frugal Coop? Or the Dark Days Eating Challenge (on which I’ve been very remiss since I’ve moved!–I see you’re still doing it, though. Congratulations).
Consciously Frugal–You know, I almost commented on your raucous writing style, which I also love. You could get a little plaque that says “Constantly railing since . . .” Something to be proud of. And YES on the surprising number of intelligent, witty and informative blogs (and bloggers). I started reading blogs about a year ago. Before that I just assumed I’d have to sift through a lot of nonsense to find a few interesting things. . .
Jersey Mom–You know, the same is true for me. I got into writing my own blog after reading some other blogs I enjoyed. Specifically, I so enjoyed the anti-consumer philosophy on Early Retirement Extreme that I found myself blabbing away in the comments section–we’re talking post length comments on a regular basis. I decided to stop being such a loud mouth on Jacob’s blog and just write my own. Some might argue I’m still a loud mouth over there. . . 
Jennifer–wow, you’ve been here since the early posts! I don’t think many people that I don’t know personally have been here that long–except maybe Emily. . .And don’t I remember you saying you were going to become a midwife someday? When that happens, I bet you’ll have some fascinating things to write about!
Anita–I read the ‘natural, simple, pure’ sights too, which is probably how I found yours.
I do want to become a midwife someday! I think that would be an excellent thing to blog about! But that will be a few years in the future.
SIF – Until 3 months ago I didn’t read many blogs, except for Frugal Dad, Get Rich Slowly and a few other “big wigs”. I have found blogs like yours, and so many others who are on a similar journey to myself through the Yakezie group and commenters on my own blog. While the “big wigs” are great – I love the personal stories and new perspectives all the “little guys” bring.
It’s the same for me. It all started with one blog: Consciously Frugal and then from there I found Simple Life and, more recently, Paranoid Asteroid, which I love: it’s so up my alley. Am I right in thinking that people write what they cannot say? Mostly because there’s nobody around who’s interested, in my case! Ha! We are attracted to the philosophy definitely. I am.
Stay at Home Mom CFO–I tend to get more out of the smaller blogs too actually. I don’t read the ‘big wigs’ very often . . . maybe I just enjoy the feel of community and discussion on the smaller blogs. And yes, the Yakezi challenge has certainly helped me get to know more blogs, which is a lot of fun.
JN Ubrnanski–”We write what we cannot say . . .” Yep, I would say that’s fair at least in my case. Partly because I’m the black sheep of my family in terms of philosophical beliefs and partly because my husband is just not as excited as I am at some of this stuff! And Paranoid Asteroid, eh? Hmmm, I don’t know that one yet. I may have to check that out.
SIF, I think it’s the Dark Days Challenge that connected us, yes.
The only “big” blog that I check sometimes is Celebrity Baby Scoop (blush). I adore people’s stories, so I read small personal blogs.
oh, the other big blog that I really love, actually, is The Sartorialist.
Margo–I’d never seen that one before . . . but I kind of like it!
I read blogs on different subjects. Right now, my topics are: feminism, atheism, simplifying, frugality, knitting (and spinning and crocheting) and animal rights/vegan/vegetarian. I tend to blog about those things as well, and except for the knitting/spinning/crocheting, for which I have a separate blog, all those other topics are covered in my blog, as well as random silly stuff.
I come across new blogs by clicking on links in blog rolls, or by clicking on a name in the comments, or if the blogger has mentioned a blog in a post.
What usually happens is that my bookmarks get built up over time, and then I realize that I don’t read certain blogs much anymore, and then I start the pruning process, just to build them up again and then prune them again.
Simple, frugal farming:
http://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/
Adventures in Voluntary Simplicity
http://adventuresinvoluntarysimplicity.blogspot.com/
and about 100 more that are moderately/very interesting but not all on “simple” topic.
Veganprimate, Your blog has inspired me to try living without a fridge at some point. (but not yet, no more change right now). And I hear you on the bookmarks. My husband wanted to find something in my bookmarks section the other day and just said, “Uh. . .Whoa!” That’s right. I don’t hoard stuff in real life, but bookmarks. . .I have a problem.
ET–thanks for the links. By the way, you always provide great ones. I still think about that mass homeopathic ‘overdose’ and laugh.
I find blogs from networking around our community as well
Half the time from the comments left on my blog, and the rest from snippets of Twitter. I’m beginning to have more real friends online than in my normal life, it’s strange. Cool, but strange.