Can you really make a living online, when you live in Ireland?
By Wendy789
@Drosophila (16573)
Ireland
December 16, 2016 12:14pm CST
After more than one year of "working virtually"...
I can say, YES you can.
However, making a living online is pretty tough. As you're always competing with the world to get paid.
Some of the most highly skilled workers live in countries with lower living cost. That means they can always charge less...
However, if you're determined to try, I'd recommend the following:
1) If you want to receive steady payment monthly, try to get a "work from home" job from a reputable company.
2) It's important to develop a skill. What's your niche? What can you do that people will pay good money for? Then hit freelancer market with this skill.
3) Align your expectation with capabilities. How much realistically can you make? Set a target and explore your options. Any get-rich-quick schemes are likely to be scams.
4) Have more than one source of income. If this means work for more than one company, job, person.. then be it.
5) If all else fails.. try to get an offline job.
I hope this is useful. Do you have any similar tips to share?
13 people like this
10 responses
@moffittjc (118481)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 16
If all those suggestions fail, just go rob a bank! lol
4 people like this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
the funny thing is, banks often don't have much cash reserve these days.. everything is in credit
3 people like this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
20 Dec 16
@pgntwo hahaha.. well that's all they can offer. credits
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
19 Dec 16
@Drosophila So when a bank offers to extend you a line of credit, do they mean it?:)
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
@pgntwo Indeed, some never quite recover from it aye
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
19 Dec 16
@Drosophila What a shame. The dot com bubble inflicted much collateral damage when it burst...
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
I think you just gotta plan it well that's all, something about never have all eggs in 1 bascket
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
19 Dec 16
@Drosophila and won't want to, would drive me crazy. Outsourcing is the ticket but how is the big money questions I guess.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12957)
• Italy
16 Dec 16
What about taxes? 
I'm waiting for my country to get a decent tax system. Something simple I can do it myself.
I don't have thousands to spend for a consultant. At least I don't the first months. 
And consultants can be wrong as well.
However your tips make sense. It's very important to find out the sector you want to work in and invest time in education, skill development. I still have a hard time understanding my passions and interests. 
I'm waiting for my country to get a decent tax system. Something simple I can do it myself.
I don't have thousands to spend for a consultant. At least I don't the first months.
And consultants can be wrong as well.
However your tips make sense. It's very important to find out the sector you want to work in and invest time in education, skill development. I still have a hard time understanding my passions and interests. 2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12957)
• Italy
16 Dec 16
@AbbyGreenhill If you work on your own you have to do it yourself.
At least here it's like that, if you are given a salary all the taxes were already counted.
Of course, you can also work as employee in an online business. I don't know how taxes would work if you worked for a foreign business, I guess it depends on both countries.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
16 Dec 16
@sabtraversa If you work at home you are an independent contractor and you pay income taxes on your own.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
16 Dec 16
Any money made is taxable...no matter if from a regular job or an online 'job'.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
17 Dec 16
sure, wed ya somebody with money :) jest kiddin', hon. i've nary a clue, lack the capabilities to make funds 'nline.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
that's always a good tip, now I just need to find a nice southern boy with a few thousands of acres
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
27 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx hahahah sure thing, I am definitely a sucker for the accent
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 Dec 16
@Drosophila if'n ya find one, see if'n he's gotta a dad lookin', too, lol. i could sure use a few thousand acres...
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246972)
• United States
19 Dec 16
@Drosophila I'm enjoying every moment!!!!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
16 Dec 16
I stopped working many years ago but if I wanted to earn a living I would have a regular out the door type job.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
19 Dec 16
@Drosophila First, you know what you will make compared to wishful thinking online.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
19 Dec 16
@AbbyGreenhill yet, I still don't understand my paycheck with all the deductions
@shey816 (234)
•
16 Dec 16
Thanks for the tip!
I've been wanting to do online job as well but one of their requirements is to have a high-end PC which I don't have at the moment.
Apart from that, I'm thinking of pros vs cons of offline vs online job. What I like in having an offline job is that the company had their fraction in mandatory government contribution that I'd be paying 100% if I'm to do online job.
We'll see how it goes :)
1 person likes this
