I am a person looking for opportunities to earn. I have also tried some means, and these are what I have to say as a 26 year-old office worker who has tried crypto blogging, trading in local and global markets, and even betting on online casino games.
Crypto Blogging
Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash
Back in 2017, I was introduced to the world of crypto blogging. During this time, the value of Steem Dollar had rocketed to the moon. What a fine time to join, I thought. I monetized my earnings, and saying it helped me a lot is an understatement.
But I had to say goodbye to Steemit last year because off I went to Hive.
I'm not as active in posting as before tho. When the pandemic hit, I suddenly had the time to do things that I'm passionate about. Things that I've been longing to try but didn't have the time or the capability to do so. While I enjoy these moments instead of traveling in the metro, I also didn't have the energy to write about my adventures.
Risk: 1/10
Lessons: Earning through a hobby, skill, or knowledge is delightful. It's a lot less stressful, but rewards are quite small especially if you're competing against similarly great writers or artists. If in case you're lucky to blog at such a time when the cryptocurrency value is at an all time high and you're producing quality and/or enjoyable pieces, then congrats mate!
It'a also an additional wow factor when you know a thing or two about the crypto world
Trading
In 2020, months into the lockdown, I was encouraged by my sister to try trading in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). After familiarizing myself with PSE, I also tried eToro.
Risk: 9/10
Lessons: I lost majority of my initial capital in eToro and PSE. It's not much to some but it's still money for me. I stopped trading for 5 months in forex & commodities, and 4 mos in PSE. Come January 2021, I had a huge money crisis. I had no income for a month but my bills were not taking it. I had to start all over again. Where can I get another capital to invest in forex & commodity trading? I was panicking.
Fortunately, I have USDT savings in Abra bc the APR is high there compared if I just let it sleep in my bank. I had to withdraw it tho.
So yeah, another love and hate relationship with eToro but because I studied more, and lost actual money, I've learned valuable lessons like:
- stick to your trading game
- learn more about charting
- familiarize yourself with the currency/stock/commodity you are investing
This time around, I have high profitable weeks. I was actually earning. I also earned back the capital I lost in 2020.
But of course, there are good and bad days. It's always a part of trading. And you have to take the risk you put out there. No revenge trading. We learned that the hard way, didn't we?
Online Sabong (Cockfight)
Okay, for this one, I didn't really play online cockfight. lol. I played the color fun game - the one where a sexy girl drops a ball to a square board with red, blue, and yellow colors. A game lasts for 1-2 minutes. You can earn fast, and you can lose fast, too.
What did we say about revenge trading before? Oh man, I forgot about it and did revenge betting. I lost 5000 bucks in an afternoon.
Risk: 11/10
Lessons: As one of my colleagues said, in games like cockfights or color fun, you will lose your money in a matter of seconds. But in trading, you'll lose it slowly - there's the thrill.
Kidding aside, I think we better steer off this path and stick to trading. This is addicting and if you put all your emotions to it, you'll fall down real hard. I guess losing money in trading prepped me so I didn't really sulk about it. Not because I have so much money, but because it will not bring the money I lost. I'd rather forget I had 5000 bucks.
Where Am I Heading Now?
I think I'd be laying low in risks for now.
Currently, I'm looking for freelance gigs with 1/10 risk. So far, I think Remotasks looks good. I've tried it before but I only finished an easy task so the pay is quite small. I'll be trying the Lidar Annotation and to be honest, I had to retake the course 3 times to fully understand how to annotate. I'll let you know about it soon.
Plans
It's my lifelong dream to build a cafe where I brew coffee, cook food, and display my plants, artworks, and scented candles.
I've only been planning it for a little more than a month now so I'm still in the aggressive phase of looking for side income in time for our opening within the year. I'm scared to let go of my full-time job with no backups. I'd die fast without money but I'd die slow if I stay when I already dedicated my 5 years without really getting enough benefits aside from good bosses and teammates.
Takeaway
It's good to have plans and strategies.
Search the best way for you to earn.
Everything will be just words and dreams unless you try.
No matter how cliche, mistakes and time are our ultimate teachers.
Manifest your goals.
Don't stop trying. I know how demotivating it is when you fail especially when you fail a thousand times, but opportunities will be over once you stop.
Wow, it's been a super long post. I guess I welcome myself to Leo Finance. It's been nice talking about my learnings. Talpakan na.