How do you earn a living?
@jewelenterprises (1996)
Australia
May 3, 2008 9:05pm CST
I have to say that I am impressed with the size of the mylot community. I guarantee that there are people from all walks of life including lawyers, doctors, business owners, computer programmers and unskilled factory workers. Not forgetting the many who do not work outside the home like stay-at-home mums and dads (who in my mind do the most important job of all.. raising happy, healthy children to contribute to the next generation of society).
Personally, I am gradually bringing myself to a point of financial independance through working online in various areas. At the moment I am only earning about $200 per month online so I am still in the position of working outside the home aswell. I work as a check out operator in a major grocery store (called a supermarket here in Australia). I love my work because I get to meet lots of interesting people (and get to see lots of cute babies and toddlers that I cluck over like an old mother hen)
I'm looking forward to the day when I can tell my boss that 'I QUIT!' I don't plan to do that before the end of november this year though because that is when I reach my seven year milestone with this employer which qualifies me for 'long service leave' which is 5.6 weeks of extra holiday leave.
So what do you do to earn a living? I'm curious what types of careers other mylotters have. Are you a doctor or lawyer? Are you a factory worker? Are you a 'home executive' (stay at home parent)? How long have you been working in that capacity?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@miller23231 (873)
• United States
4 May 08
I used to do telemarketing for a company that was about 30 minutes from my home. It got old calling all those people who just didn't want to hear from you! Not that I don't understand, believe me, I do! Anyway, now I'm working from home doing business to business sales calls. Much, much better! I save gas, the customers on the other end of the phone understand why I called and it's just all around a better job! So, to everybody who dreams of working from home... it can be done! And it can be done without spending a dime!
1 person likes this
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
5 May 08
How did you manage to find that particular job? Does it pay well?
And yes, we all know how annoying those telemarketers are. Guaranteed you'll be eating dinner when some phone company rings and offers you a deal to save on phone calls.
I also know what it's like to work in telemarketing... I actually hated it, especially when it was cold calling.
1 person likes this
@miller23231 (873)
• United States
5 May 08
I found my job online at, believe it or not, shadowshopper.com. I paid for one month and just thought I'd get a couple mystery shopping jobs, make my money back, you know, but it was posted on there, I applied, went through the interview process and got the job. That took about 3 weeks, but I'm really happy with it.
@rovermadman (80)
• New Zealand
5 May 08
The thing that interests me about this site, like most forums is that all prejudices seem to disappear. The rich talk to the poor, different races, religions, sexes, all communicate well and seem to better understand each others views. Perhaps it's because we have to "take turns" and can give our views uninterupted.
Maybe it would be better if, instead of actually meeting each other face to face, people in disputes could discuss things this way.
1 person likes this
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
6 May 08
yes, the prejudices do seem to disappear. The one thing I have noticed though is that 'poor' people seem to think that rich people are snobs... whether they are or not and that in itself creates a barrier between them.
In places like this you just post. You have no control over who is going to respond. I find it very educational.
Heh, I've always said that to avoid wars the leaders of fighting communities should be forced to fight it out in a boxing ring. 
Let them be the ones who get hurt instead of their innocent people.
Let them be the ones who get hurt instead of their innocent people.
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
6 May 08
Iam a partialy handicapped widow. I get about $1,800 a month from socail security.Some people say that's alot,but I have the lowest rent available around here.My rent is $1,200,plus right now I have to pay $1,600 a month thru July.To make payment's on the security deposit I did not have when I moved in.I have to pay my electric bill,plus deposit as well as my phone,tv and internet.I need to pay for food for myself,my daughter plus my grandaughter that I babysit for $100 a week.I do not have a car which makes it too difficult with my handicapps to take a bus to the store.Plus the bus only runs for very limited hours and not on weekends.Therefore I have to have most of the stuff delivered to me and that cost's extra.I wish I could find a way to make money online.
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
6 May 08
That's bad,Iam sorry that things are so tight for you.Here we are not allowed to get welfare and own a home or even a grave plot.They tell us that if we sell it and rent a home then we will have money.In this country the price of gas has gone up so high that people cannot afford to pay their rents and mortgage and there are millions of foreclosures here.Because the gas prices are so high that it has made the prices of food and other items that are delivered to the stores to be higher.So,I spend $400 - $500 a month on food and then I still have to buy personal and household products.You said that you make about $200 a month online.How?
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
6 May 08
I relate entirely dfollin. I am a low income person who receives a partial welfare payment. My total monthly income would be about $2,200.
Thankfully I own my own house but still have a mortgage. In the last 12 months my monthly mortgage cost has increased by $200 per month, and groceries cost on average an extra $129 per month. Consequently I am really struggling financially. I am in the process of selling my car in order to pay off credit card debt but then will be without transport. I was thinking I may purchase an electric or gas scooter to get around on once I sell the car. At least then I still have a form of transport.
I am endeavouring to start an online business and my income on that is slowly increasing.
1 person likes this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I write, do public speaking, and teach dance for a living (the last not nearly a much as I'd like). Ultimately, I would like to get a job making social change. I've applied for several, but no luck yet.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I write for 3 websites. Two dealing with disability issues. I also self-publish a poetry zine that I sell.
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
Sounds really interesting. I think I remember you saying somewhere else that you're a published writer. What exactly do you write? Something to do with activism perhaps? 
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
8 May 08
nice question my friend. i don't have work this time because i decided to quit my job after 6 years of service. i am a student now doing and managing my small business which is a video rental, when i started this business it's only little number of movies but now i have a huge file of different genre of movies local and international. this help me on my daily needs, my tuition fees and part of it i give to my parents because they are dependent on me. my income online is for my personal gadget that i am going to buy maybe next year.
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
9 May 08
Good for you helping look after your parents while you are also studying and running a small business.
I see my work as a means to an end also... I'm only doing it while I build my online income.
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
I am graduated in Engineering, but due to the economic condition of our country I hardly find a good jobs to stay. Now, I am doing online jobs as a sort of making a living. I'm not shy to tell about it because making money online is good enough and it's a decent kind of income
@chentunacao (309)
• Philippines
11 Sep 12
I was working in the hospital. I graduated with my nursing course but still doesn't have my license. But now I am working online at Odesk.
