How Tracie Fobes Turned Penny Pinchin’ Mom Into a Six-Figure Blog

Starting Penny Pinchin’ Mom—with No Business Plan

Tracie Fobes’s story begins without grand ambitions. In 2005, Tracie left her job as a 401(k) administrator to focus on her new family. Run-of-the-mill groceries became a shock expense once she and her husband started budgeting seriously. The hunt for frugal answers led her to mastering the art of couponing—then to sharing what she learned on online forums. That’s where other users prodded her: why not launch a blog and help even more people?

Here’s the thing—Tracie didn’t even know what a blog was. She had to Google it. That bit’s not unusual, but what followed is rare: she dived into sharing practical budget tips in plain language. No business angle, no exit plan, not even a hint that it might become a money-maker someday. Penny Pinchin’ Mom officially launched in 2009, quietly at first. Her biggest goal? Helping families the same way she’d helped her own.

Making Money for the First Time—and Fast Growth

A few months in, Tracie ran across an article on affiliate marketing. She pasted some banners onto her blog and, in August of 2009, got her first $65. It wasn’t much on paper, but to her it felt like winning the lottery—proof that sharing knowledge could be more than a hobby. Suddenly, the possibilities changed. By the end of her first year, she struck her first $1,000 month.

Tracie never paid for expensive courses or flashy programs. Her ‘education’ was reading everything she could find on blogging and online marketing. Facebook and Pinterest turned into her best traffic sources. Emails, group chats, and community forums? That’s where her early network took shape.

The Power of Online Networking

Serious networking changed everything. In her first year, a fellow blogger invited her to join a tight-knit Skype mastermind group. They shared ideas, swapped feedback, and helped each other troubleshoot. For Tracie, these connections weren’t just business contacts—they “became her dearest friends.” The group’s open, honest support allowed her to grow her blog quickly to 100,000+ pageviews a month. The community aspect upped her game and fast-tracked her learning, and blogs rose together.

Diverse Revenue Streams: Not Relying on Just One Thing

Monetization for Penny Pinchin’ Mom was split up in smart ways. Sure, some income came from display ads, but affiliate programs and digital products offered reliable extra streams. Over time, Tracie’s blog achieved a consistent five-figure monthly income. Many digital entrepreneurs get swept up in SEO from day one, but not Tracie. She waited almost eight years before digging into SEO—and once she did, organic traffic added a stable baseline for years.

Branching Out: Starting a Second Site and Avoiding Burnout

Once Penny Pinchin’ Mom was rolling, a new kind of opportunity appeared. Readers—and other bloggers—kept asking Tracie how she grew her blog and made money online. Answering those questions led her to launchTracieFobes.comin 2014, focused on blog coaching, strategy, and helpful playbooks. But by now, Tracie was running two blogs and raising three children. Burnout set in, making her think hard about her next steps.

A Strategic and Quiet Exit

Selling the site wasn’t a rushed or highly public process. Tracie didn’t list on marketplaces or hire a broker. She simply mentioned to friends that she might be open to selling. It wasn’t until 2019—a full ten years after her blog began—that a fellow blogger brokered a connection between Tracie and a finance company looking for an established site. Negotiations were short: the buyer recognized the value, made a six-figure offer, and the deal was sealed. Just like that, Tracie transitioned from the day-to-day grind of running a huge blog, to focusing exclusively on helping other bloggers thrive.

Building a Coaching Business (and a More Flexible Life)

Today, Tracie leans into her coaching role. She offers blog audits, courses, and direct mentoring for new and up-and-coming site owners, all from her experience. She finds most clients through Facebook Groups and her own community—showing up to answer questions, building relationships, and letting her expertise speak for itself. "Freebie swaps"—where she and other coaches promote each other’s resources to their email lists—helped expose her skills to wider audiences. Life changed. Without the daily demands of a massive blog, Tracie has more free time, yet remains deeply committed to helping others replicate her path.

Lessons Learned: Passion, Community, and Sustainability

• Starting a business doesn’t need a perfect plan—Tracie had none, just a desire to help.
• Genuine experience and personal history resonate with audiences. Her advice wasn’t theoretical, it was real-life tested.
• Networking powered her biggest leaps. Connections matter just as much as content or technical skill.
• Diversifying income streams is key—ads, affiliate links, and digital products cushion downturns.
• Burnout is real. It’s smart to build a business you can eventually sell—or at least step back from.
• Giving away advice for free can open doors you never imagined—clients follow if you solve their problems well.

The Bottom Line

Tracie didn’t follow a step-by-step blueprint. She built from the ground up, using her own struggles, family story, and hands-on learning to fuel a seven-figure financial success. The result? A decade-long revenue engine, a clean exit, and a second act helping others achieve their own freedom. Her journey proves that anyone can create real income—and the life they want—by teaching what they already know.