this might sound dum but...

do i have to use rl money to buy in game money or is their a way to like make money like a job?

Unless you have skillz to make stuff and resell it, you're probably not gonna make any real money in SL.

You can do things like camping (sitting around for L$) or escorting or being a greeter at a club but when you look at what they pay, remember that you get about L$250 for every US$1. It's usually more worth peoples time to just spend a few US$ and get on with enjoying their SL..

There are ways to make money in SL. It will depend on your talents (can you program/script/design?). The low paying jobs are, in my opinion, not worth the time you lose out of your earthly existence. L$250 equals about $1 USD, so assuming you make a minimum $6 USD per hour in RL you'd have to make L$1500 per hour to justify your time.

If you're good at marketing, design, scripting etc. you could possibly come up with a good, unique product that would provide a steady stream of income.

There are also classifieds here in the forums and in the inworld search that may have job listings.

If you have strong creative skills, as an artist, or a programmer, or in some other area that people will pay good money for, you might make some money worth considering in SL. But except for some of the content creators that have learned the skills to make many of the highly in-demand items that many residents will pay for, the majority of "work" inside SL pays FAR less than the minimum wage in any civilized and technologically advanced country.

Unless you live in a real poverty pit in real life, and yet at the same time are somehow able to afford high speed internet access and a powerful enough computer to run SL, you'll likely find that there is nothing that an unskilled person can do inside SL that will pay even a fraction as much per hour of effort as just getting a part time job flipping burgers or bussing tables in the real world would pay. So, for most people, paying real money for some L$ to spend in-world is a lot better use of your time and financial resources than attempting to earn L$ in-world, in any sort of unskilled job.

As has been mentioned, you'll not make any significant money unless you invest a *lot* of time and effort, but conversely, prices for things inworld are fairly low, so you don't *need* all that much to get by inworld.
So if you find it fun to create something as hobby anyway, you can sell it from the XStreet webshop or a small shop inworld and make a little pocket money for use in SL.
It may not be "worth" the time you use, but it can be fun.

On the other hand, what a lot of people seem to forget about is that the SL economy does not scale well with the RL economy. True, you need to earn about $L1500 per hour to equate directly to US$6 per hour -- BUT -- if you are simply here to enjoy SL and not try to make a real-world living off of it, then you really don't need much. Consider this: A decent-sized plot of land on a private estate can cost you about L$1500 per week, or L$6000 per month. Unless you know of a place in the real world that lets you rent a decent parcel of land for less than 25 bucks a month, then you really can't directly compare SL with RL economies.

From personal experience: If you can be flirty and outspoken, a job as a dancer at a good, well-managed club can easily earn you enough to rent a nice plot of land, buy and house, furnish it, and still have money left over to buy other stuff. You won't get stinking rich from it, but you can still enjoy SL.

Very true, Katheryne.

Lots of people make enough money from SL jobs or small SL businesses to pay their game costs, or even make a little profit.

Very, very few manage to make a RL living from SL (though a few do manage it).

The key to deciding whether to get an SL job or just buy some $L with your entertainment budget is: Is the job or business something you love doing for its own sake?

The key is having fun. If you make some $L besides, that's great. But don't spend your time in SL *only* trying to earn a linden.

The OP could change her name to Desmond.

Stripping is probably the most lucrative SL job unless you can make good stuff.
The only thing is, you might have to act rather "Adult" and not laugh at people's gross fantasies...

Do a search on "Jobs" or look in the classified section of this website and SLUniverse. Sometimes people are willing to hire for various activities.

Some PG stuff - Helping with Estate management, Event organizing, Working at a non-adult Social Club as a greeter (or dancer or w/e)

There is also "Security" which has dubious value but there is a (small) paycheck in it.

------------------------------
If your interests turn to the "adult"

I recommend Golddigging.

Its maybe not as honest as the traditional adult industry, but it is more socially acceptable.

It is also Post Zindra safe!

The question I always ask someone is how much money do you NEED to make?

If your in world L$ needs are modest you might well be able to get by with one of the entry level jobs for a couple of hours a week. You can also build/script/design etc. You dont need a top dog business to happily support a modest second life.

VERY few people make enough to cash out a substantial sum. Supporting a modest in world lifestyle is much easier.

My top rule of SL is enjoy it. So do what you love to do. Who knows that gadetronics Superiffic Thingabobbie you just made might be the next big seller!

Welcome to Second Life, Brandy

Stripping was my first job in SL. I had a lot of fun and the money was great. You just would need to be sure to have a good looking skin and an assortment of clothes.

Welcome Brandy!

You've got lots of good advice here so far. If you decide to try a job as a dancer I can help you with the skin/shape/clothes issue. I've got plenty of extra goodies I can pass on to help you get started~! IM me in-world if you want.

The easiest thing to do is buy lindens through secondlife.com.

http://secondlife.com/currency/

.

Go to Groups and join the CLUB JOBS group (it is free). 30 club owners send messages daily to hire DJs, Hosts, Security, dancers and escorts.

You know, I always tell new girls that stripping or escorting are the most common jobs in SL, and they can pay well if you are good at it and work at the right place(s).

But there are alternatives. Little Marianne McCann (six going on seven) makes a heckuva good living by putting on fireworks shows. If you like music (and especially if you don't mind doing a voice gig), you can DJ. If you like music and have talent, you can perform live.

If you're imaginative, you may be able to create your own niche. I've met people in SL who charge for...

-counseling
-makeovers
-guided tours
-services like finding real estate
-hypnotherapy
-photography
-property management
-spying on your enemies or your soon-to-be-ex-partner

And that doesn't begin to touch the Big Two: Making and selling content (clothes, hair, houses, you name it) and dealing in land (buying, selling, renting).

Hi Brandy, welcome to Second Life

The simple answer to you question is that you can do either or both. Of course, if you have a premium account you get a weekly stipend of 300L$, but if you want to work in SL, the important thing is to spend a good bit of time in world, geting to know about SL and deciding what you really want to do. Whatever it is, you have to enjoy it - otherwise you will soon give up!

Spend some time looking round SL, think carefully about what you would like to do and then work out a plan to get you there. You may have real life skills that can be brought into SL, but don't be put off if you lack the skills to do what you want to do at first - go to classes in world and learn from the Knowledge Base and the forums here.

Good luck and enjoy your Second Life.