Imagine this. You start your career working in one of the most expensive cities (New York), working in one of the lowest-paid occupations for entry-level people (publishing). And you have student debt (yuck!) But wait. Now imagine that some (but not too much) time has passed. Now, not including the value of your home, you are worth six figures! And, you’re on track to retire early.

How did you get there? Did you start playing in the pros or become an assassin? How do sex workers factor factor into this future?

That’s what I wondered when I sat down with one of my favorite personal finance bloggers, Madame X. Here, in a three-part interview I’ll discover what she did to get her finances on track so that her money works just as hard as she does. Turns out the lady has some rules. Why don’t you find out what they are?

First, an introduction. What made you start a personal finance blog, and what’s been the greatest surprising result from that endeavor?

Before I started My Open Wallet, I wasn’t really tuned into the whole blogging world. I actually thought the idea of people putting their personal musings online for the world to read was sort of pointless! But I’ve always been aware of money and the fact that people have such trouble talking about it openly sometimes… although they love to know about other people’s money! Also, as I’ve gotten older, I have realized how many of my decisions were driven by money. One day I just decided that it might be an interesting thing to write about– to totally expose all the little financial aspects behind the scenes in one person’s life. I started out with the premise that writing about money would allow me to write about pretty much everything I hear, see, or do, and so far, that seems to be true!

As for my greatest surprise, I guess it’s just the amount of attention it’s ended up getting. I’ve had hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, and been mentioned in some national media. If you’d told me 3 years ago that I’d be written about in Business Week, I would have just laughed. If you told me I’d be written about in Business Week AND Marie Claire, I REALLY would have laughed! I’m not sure which one seems more absurd!

I think one of the best benefits of keeping a semi-public financial conversation is that it keeps you “accountable” (yes, pun intended!) as you develop in knowledge and approach. For you it seems to be a learning process, too. One of the first things I found as a reader were your “Rules”. Explain how your rules developed.

Although I have never intended my blog to come across as a financial advice column, one of the messages I wanted to convey was basically “If someone like me can do it, you can too!” I feel good about what I’ve achieved financially, but I don’t really know all that much about finance and investing. I don’t even find a lot of that knowledge very interesting! But I think the most important thing about managing one’s money is to have a set of guiding principles for yourself. I have written that I see my Rules as “philosophical cattleprods” more than actual instructions, as many of them are just guidelines for things to think about. Also I don’t think any of them are necessarily the right rules for everyone– the point is that they are MY Rules, for ME. They might work for other people too and that is why I’m putting them out there.

And I do see all of this as a learning experience– sharing stories, questioning assumptions and picking up new information from commenters and other bloggers. I love all the discussion certain posts can generate. Often I feel like my commenters are almost scolding me, mainly when I talk about how much I spend on eating out. Sometimes I shrug it off, thinking, “hey, you don’t live in New York, and if I’m having fun and want to eat out sometimes, I will, dammit!” But it can also be a motivating factor– I find myself wanting to control my spending so I won’t be embarrassed when I tell the world about it! As if just not posting it wasn’t an option…

What’s your favorite rule, and why?

I think my favorite rule is #11, “See No Evil”. It’s actually one of the favorite posts I’ve written overall, because it represents the overall flavor I’d like my blog to have. It takes a true and kind of funny story about a time I met a dominatrix at a party, and segues into practical (and somewhat tongue in cheek) suggestions about ways to avoid the temptation to spend money. I just keep hoping I’ll meet more sex workers so I can continue with this theme!

Are any rules changing as you grow/or your situation changes?

My “Now or Later” rule is probably the only one that might seem a little hypocritical now– I had basically said I would wait until I was older to spend money on a home and furniture, while doing things like travelling while I was young. But the reality is that I’ve spent the last couple of years spending a ton of money on a new home and furnishing it, while cutting back a bit on travel! But I think the general idea of the rule still holds– you have to save for a rainy day, but there are some things that it’s worth spending money on sooner rather than later.

To be continued tomorrow, when Madame X admits: “I didn’t track my expenses and I wasn’t especially frugal”

How could this be, you wonder? Find out tomorrow. I think it’s interesting to note that two things Madame X mentioned. One, that in order to achieve your financial goals it is helpful to develop you own set of “rules”. Where and how will you spend your money? To start you need to set goals. You probably already know that goals are a critical cornerstone at Geezeo and you can find others who share your goals.

The other bit of practical wisdom Madame X shares is that you don’t have to know a lot about saving or investing. You just have to get started. Aim your goals just slightly out of reach to begin. Then, keep challenging yourself and you’re bound to grow.

And oh yeah: take a moment to vote for Geezeo in the category “Best Online Financial Tool” at the Motley Fool. Who else mentions finances and dominatrixes in the same breath (aside from maybe dominatrixes)?