I used to think making money online was a scam. You know the type—YouTube ads with Lamborghinis, guys named “CryptoKev94” telling you how you can get rich in your sleep. None of it felt real to me, and for years, I rolled my eyes at anything that promised cash from the comfort of my couch.
But a few years ago, real life forced me to change my tune. My freelance writing work dried up. My “plan B” was a shrug and some wishful thinking. Rent was due. So, in the middle of an insomnia-fueled doomscroll, I decided to actually try.
And you know what? Making money online is real. It’s just nothing like the hype. Here’s how it really went down.
The (Painful) Beginning
At first, I did everything wrong. I signed up for survey sites, watched ads for pocket change, and even tried selling my old textbooks on Facebook Marketplace (spoiler: nobody wanted them).
It wasn’t until I stumbled onto Upwork—still wearing pyjamas and running on instant coffee—that I realised people were making real money solving real problems. My first job? Editing someone’s blog about tropical fish. Paid $30. But that first review? Gold.
From there, I hustled. I wrote, I edited, I learned how to pitch myself. After six months, I was working with clients in three countries, and the “online money” had gone from a myth to my rent check.
Selling Stuff You Don’t Have to Invent
I’m not the creative genius who invents the next Apple product. But I can spot a trending T-shirt or phone case. When lockdown hit, I tried print-on-demand—one simple Shopify store, no inventory, just designs I made in Canva and a crash course in Facebook ads. I lost money the first month. Then, I sold a T-shirt to someone in Florida at 2AM, and suddenly, it clicked. You don’t have to change the world. Sometimes you just have to sell the right thing to the right person, fast.
Getting Paid to Recommend Stuff
Here’s a wild secret: affiliate marketing is just getting paid to recommend things you already like. When I started a blog about old-school video games, I threw in a few Amazon links to gear I actually used. One post went semi-viral, and the affiliate payments kept coming in months later. Not millions, but enough to feel like, “Okay, this works.”
Where Gaming Crosses Over
Now, I never thought I’d make money from playing games. But a friend invited me to a weekend tournament at one of those Goldrush venues—think casino meets social club, but with real strategy, not just luck. What I learned there changed how I see “earning” online. The regulars treat gaming like a business: budgets, strategies, even spreadsheets to track wins and losses.
Later, I checked out Goldrush’s online casino. There’s more to it than spinning reels: loyalty points, tournaments, and real cash prizes if you know what you’re doing (and stay smart about it). I don’t play for a living, but I get why some people do.
The Moment It Clicked
Eventually, it all started to come together: the freelancing, the tiny blog, the T-shirts, and the odd tournament. Making money online isn’t about some secret formula. It’s about stacking small wins, learning what works, and ditching what doesn’t.
The internet is a goldmine, but not for the reasons you think. It rewards consistency, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to look stupid before you figure it out.
What I’d Tell Anyone Starting Out
Skip the “get rich quick” stuff. If you can write, code, design, or sell, there’s work. If you’re a teacher at heart, package a course and sell it. If you play games, play smart. And yes, keep an eye out for platforms (like Goldrush) that reward real strategy, not just luck.
But mostly? Show up every day. Try, fail, repeat. Your first online paycheck will feel tiny, but the second one? That’s when you realise you’re onto something.
I’m not “CryptoKev94,” and I’m not rolling in Lambos. But I do pay my rent online now. That’s real enough for me.