For the past four years, I have provided advice for free to many readers who have contacted me by email. This is in addition to providing advice in comments and also writing blog posts as well, plus ebooks, plus baby and bump.
Over time, the sheer volume of requests and replies to my responses has become unmanageable and coupled with a number of incidences which I would regard as a bit distasteful in light of the fact that this is a free service, and that there are also people who pay for this, it’s with regret that I have decided to stop providing the free advice service in its current format.
Much like relationships, it is important to know your value and ensure that expectations are managed, but also to set boundaries – this is an example of me practising what I preach.
In the interests of content for the blog, this means I will no longer reply to every email but what I will do is, of the emails that come through 1-2 emails will be selected each week for me to answer and highlight on the blog.
If you sent an email prior to today, you will still get a reply.
I will continue to read every email and if there is a post(s) that I have already written, I will of course point you in the direction of these. I am just not going to be analysing, providing advice, and giving action points on an individual basis for free any longer!
Do not email me looking for ‘free’ advice if you are going to attempt to impose any form of restriction upon me as it is a condition of seeking free advice that I reserve the right to publish it, with anything obviously identifiable removed and same for unsual names. If you have restrictions, you should be paying for it…
As always, I’m sure there will be instances where I will make exceptions when I understand that someone has a serious problem as there are people with very real problems out there that aren’t always able to pay for help, but do keep in mind that with 879 posts and counting, plus ebooks, there is plenty to read if you don’t want to pay!
After much thought, I have also decided to keep the commenting facility open but I want to remind readers to keep in mind being respectful to one another, especially to those who are very frequent commenters of the site and who provide a lot of support to new readers – Brad K, Lisa Q, and Astelle to name a few.
I would advise that if your ego can’t cope with honesty, you shouldn’t be posting a comment on the site because the site is about accountability, responsibility, and getting real so you can empower yourself. That said, be careful of sounding judgemental or over familiar and do ask yourself ‘Is this something that I would think was appropriate if I were in their shoes?’ – Remember that written words leave tone open to interpretation!
Please stay on topic and don’t post strings of comments literally one after the other – post into one comment – otherwise when the comment string becomes too long, the comments have to be closed.
Thank you to all of those who support the site and I hope that you continue to visit and enjoy. If you have any queries/concerns regarding the change, please email contact at baggagereclaim dot co.uk. You can also check out the contact page.
Natalie/NML x
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Personally, I’d like to thank you for all the help you have given to so many!
Cheers!
here here!! it’s about time sista!! i was wondering when you would start regulating a bit.
love love love your blog…..i hope you become a millionaire off this cuz sista, you are brilliant!!
I am new to this site and have wondered how you do it all. Setting boundaries in relationships is such a major theme here, so cudos to you for doing so for yourself! Thanks for all you do!
Natalie, good for you, I have always wondered how you keep up with everything that you do. I will always be very grateful to you for your advice and I so hope to meet you one day when you come to the States – I don’t care which city you will pick, I want to meet you!
You’ve helped so many, but you must take care of you
After all, that’s what empowerment is all about!
Thanks and best wishes!
Natalie, I’m happy to see you are making some very positive changes to your blog, and that you are setting appropriate limits (something all of us fallback girls need to do, also!). I have, and will continue to value your wonderful service to all of us!