Second Livelihood

In reaction to another thread, I'm in the mood to ask about something I've been pondering for a while...(@.@)

What is the best way to support a Second Livelihood? Or, what do you do?

For myself... I'm sure I've mentioned my $9 L$ startup enough that people are tired of hearing about it. I did a good job of spending those $L on things like a nice AO, outfits, hair, a Chimera, and stuff like that. Early on I had an emo-week where I was having a really tough time being around my friends due to the use of voice chat and donated off all the rest of my $L to different helper groups with plans on leaving SL and going back to my Anime addiction. A few good responses to my "Voice Awareness" thread here on the forum kept me around... Broke and still having a little anxiety hearing live voices, but I'm still around. (^_^)

Since then, I've been going to contests and competitions to make my monies. I haven't been creative enough to make anything worth selling, but with what I do, I'm "earning" up to $L200 per week. I'm spending it just as fast... But that's another story. (^_^)

I put earning in quotes... Because I'm starting to feel a bit guilty for accepting all this prize monies. It's like I'm leeching off of the generosity of the people around me and I have nothing to offer in return. What I do get is a fun, relaxing, and VERY low pressure existence here. (=_=)y

It's just... Am I having it easy at the expense of others? Am I living like a beggar? Am I a leech of the system or merely a catalyst of monies from here to there inworld? If you were me, would you be doing the same thing? Are you doing the same thing and I'm not alone? (o.o)

Even better... Am I just over-complicating things? (>_<

In my opinion, you are over-complicating things.

Keep on doing just what you are doing. Enjoy SL as long as you can. People offer prizes to get you into the club/event, etc. If you won, you earned it.

If you are having fun, keep it up.

Yes.

In my earliest SL days, I lived hand-to-mouth on my L$50-a-week basic account stipend. No land, no home, and I tended to wear freebies more often than not. The most expensive thing I owned were my glasses -- same ones I wear now. If I found myself hard-pressed for cash, I would even camp (!) from time to time. It's how I afforded my first necklace,

Nowadays, I own 1/6 of a mainland sim, and I am part of a couple other locations. I have two stores, and am pondering where on earth I'm going to sell some of my "not kid, not plants" stuff I've made over the recent months. I get a steady flow of Lindens from that, as well as from my writing. I also get a nice chunk of the real kinda money from doing professional building stuff. If things continue to go the way I want, there is a liklihood I'll fling prims as a full-time profession.

Either are perfectly acceptable ways to be in SL, as are any others. If you are winning contests for some coin, well, that to me says you're doing well at winning them, not that you're somehow scamming people who are simply giving out prizes.

Mari

Hey, they're offering the prizes, right?

Now if you're teleporting in right before voting starts for a "Best in ___" contest, tping in a bunch of friends who vote for you and blip back out, and leaving as soon as a winner is announced - you're probably a leech.

But if you're actively taking part in the event, contributing to the conversation and thus supporting the venue, I'd say you're fine. (Tipping hosts and/or the venue out of your earnings is a nice touch, but optional.)

Ditto for trivia contests, building contests, etc, as long as you're not misrepresenting yourself (like using an alt to enter a newbie building contest).

It's just one opinion, but I think contests are a fine way to support your SL. (Careful, though - if you show up a lot at a particular club, you're liable to become a regular, and you may be only a step away from hosting...)

There's a part of me that's hoping for that. They had an opening last week that I didn't respond to because of the same fear of leeching. (>_<

I don't see it this way at all. I am sure that the event hosts are thrilled to have people show up and participate at the event. Many people create interesting builds/clubs/community spaces with the hope that people will actually show up and make use of that space. They hold contests to encourage people to do that. Also, attending the event increases their traffic, and I would guess as the prize money is seen as an investment in that in the same way that paying for a classified is an investment that can increase the exposure of the venue.

The most rewarding part of SL is the cooperative, interactive aspect and by particiapting in events you are contributing to that. I say keep going and enjoy yourself, and if you win prize money all the better!

I charge my Visa card.

I am a trophy wife avatar who sometimes gets on a pole and holds her "Will Work for Stilletto Moody Shoes" sign when the Mister is away.

no actually, I steal lindens from babies.

*giggles* Me too!

A good attitude that will enable you to enjoy what you like within SL without any false expectations, and within your budget.

Currently my own view is that I am prepared to spend a small amount of money within SL equal to a average night out in a UK Pub (outside London) per month. Say £10 to £15.

I wax and wane within SL depending on my mood and other commitments, for example I currently have not yet downloaded the latest viewer update.

The way to SL (and real life) financial ruin is to either start spending megabucks within SL without a tried and tested business plan, or to have an attitude I will never spend any real life money at all as you will find yourself spending unbelievable amounts of real life time for Linden pennies via camping etc.

Just a personal view folks

I used to stump up my Visa card until I realised I was into SL to the tune of $600 US...

I decided to see if I could get some cash back by building a few things and selling them... with the initial aim of breaking even. This has gone reasonably well so far. I'm back my initial investment, paid for this year's premie for both myself and my housemate; and also pulled a little bit of money out into meatspace to cover some basic living expenses... I've not had to charge my card in a year now...

Overall I'm not gonna complain.

Dancing in a club is a cool way to make Lindens, and you meet lots of folks too. I dont work now, but it was a way to get started and afford a small apartment at Cristalle Karami's and meet people. Eventually became a job tho, and I'd rather put a few bucks in and have fun than work with a schedule and all. Its really up to the person. Some love to work in SL, or have their own business. You put into SL what you want...and remember to have fun. Dont sweat the small stuff.

what she said

Over-complicating things

People who offer prize money, don't do that for no reason: they want you there. So if you are there, and win the cash, it's yours. Nothing to do with leeching in my opinion.

But I would advise any member to put in a bit of cash once in a while, simply because its just pennies and makes your SL a lot easier. 10 RL dollars can take you quite far if you are not a big spender.

For myself, I started out camping, got pretty soon bored with that so my mastercard came in handy. At the moment I am at the max of what I want to spend per month, but I do have a nice 7488 m2 parcel, rent a sattelite shop at a nice club, and occasionally buy some building stuff (poses, sculpts, textures etc). And run my classiefieds of course.
The max amount I want to spend equals the rent of my parcel, the rest has to come from sales.

Greetings Marcel

/me checks her coin purse

......for everything else there's mastercard....or visa...or whatever....

SL fits into the 'everything else' catagory for me.....If I want L's...I charge my account and pass it off as entertainment/luxury money. I have zero expectation of my SL ventures actually paying for themselves. It's a ridiculous concept to me. I have a shop....I make a few L's but not much....I win contests sometimes and that's cool.......but on the whole, I pay for my experience in SL because I choose to.

When and if I can no longer justify or budget for the expense of SL....I wont do it. I see it as the same kind of expense as say.....collecting movies or CD's or games for your xbox....you do it because you enjoy it. Some folks I know have 100s invested in movies and CD's that just sit on shelves and gather dust. At least SL is a fluid experience that constantly changes, surprises and entertains. It's worth it to me. I hate watching movies I've already seen... so everyone has their own priorities and justifications for where they spend their money. I enjoy SL, it's worth more than other things gathering dust on shelves.

yup...

The best way? Whatever works for you.

I like making things. People seem happy to give me lindens for copies of those things. Some of the lindens I get go to LL. Most of the rest go to uploads, rent, tips, and my insanely growing wardrobe. And wings. My inventory is so bloated.

I'm glad you asked. I've tried several different businesses and all have been wonderful learning experiences, but not exactly what you would call successful.

First, there was "Recreant's Biplane Cropdusting Service" Damn environmental laws killed that one - who knew DDT was harmful to Lindens?

Then there was the "P.T. Trout's Circus and Freak Show" My 950 pound bearded woman ate the two headed cow and the whole thing went downhill from there.

I also had a divorce service, a V.D. Clinic, a Chinese restaurant, a dog-walking service, an underwater welding company, and a termite removal service.

I don't know why these businesses failed. Well, the last one failed because Orkin (tm) sued me, but the others are a mystery.

With a bit of scripting, I bet the VD clinic idea could work...

There is no cure for me, forget it.

Actually, VD, what a fabulous feature for Xcite! I can see Doms buying Xcite parts for their subs that have VD ... then, when those parts are touched by someone who is not the Dom, not only does that 3rd person's part contract "VD", but the Dom is notified!

ROFL!!
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