Guess who's a premium member now? Experiment over.

Yes, folks, my experiement has concluded. I informed the husband unit yesterday that I planned to move to a premium account. When he objected, I pointed out that I had, after all, cancelled my second TSO account some time back, so he grumped but objected no further. My nefarious plan succeeded! And my approach to being a basic member - as an experiment to see what all I could accomplish at that level - is now over.

Here's what one player can accomplish on a basic member account in three months, without buying money, and playing mainly at night:

1. I have land that supports 509 prims, fully terraformable, with streaming video, fully under my control, with my right to resell it, on a private sim with a beachfront/boardwalk view. A basic member can "buy" parcels of various sizes and pay "weekly tier" (all in Lindens) on Azure Islands from Nexus Nash and Adam Zaius. And others have similar good arrangements for basic members, such as Prokofy Neva, and a number of others whose ads I have read under the "to rent" forum.

2. I have a fully furnished house - all of it, including the house itself, either freebies (the majority) or gifts, or items I made myself. I recolored the house itself and added a porch and a chimney. In my inventory are also literally thousands of other freebies.

3. Three free stores spaces, at which I display some of the items I have made so far.

4. A workplace, compliments of Prokofy Neva, where I am working on my line of houses for his use in the future, though that is my idea, not his, for him to have them if he likes them, at least to start out, so I can pay him back a bit for his generosity.

5. Enough money in my bank account to pay my "tier" for some weeks to come.

Here is how it's done, for any other basic members interested, or other new players, basic or not, who are having a hard time earning money without (a) scripting or building, (b) buying money, or (c) becoming an "escort" (cough):

A. I bought nothing, or close to nothing. I succumbed only to my wonderful seagull that screams "Mine" outside my fence when you click him, just like the seagulls in "Finding Nemo;" (2) my sheep backpack, similarly adorable and crafted by the same person who made the seagull (unfortunately, I can't remember who that was right now); (3) a sun for the outside of my house that didn't work; (4) a sun for the outside of my house that did work; and (5) a vase that poofed mysteriously. I also bought Shagz' Anubis's wonderful beach set, although he was so generous as to want me to take it for free.

B. I flitted from one money tree to another while I could. You can do this as long as you are under 30 days old, and in the case of some money tree hosts, for longer. This was tedious and time-consuming, but in the Basic Member game, every dollar counts. I probably made $300-$500 this way.

C. I entered every contest and game I could, barring the sexy AV's ones, or the build contests. For games such as Bingo and Slingo (I don't understand Tringo), I donated to the pot only when winning the game, and then only 10% rounded up to the nearest 10 or 15 Lindens, although I have tipped and/or rated the hosts as well. I entered trivia wherever possible, as well as some more difficult word and other games. I won $1200 from the Touchstone Fair - which I loved - by entering my picture one week. I won First Prize! Course that wasn't hard, since mine was the only entry that week (though I think I would have at least placed anyway), but it goes to show that it is worth participating in things and entering contests, even if you think you stand no chance of winning. Sometimes I won items such as gift certificates, which enabled me to pick out something I especially liked - such as my glasses.

D. I also participated in Treasure Hunts and Free Slots. Endlessly.

E. I sold some of the items I made.

F. I referred at least four other people to the game.

I did all this while playing mostly only at night, and while also managing to rate a few people and help others out a little financially here and there. So you can do quite a bit while still on Basic Member account if you play regularly. Including, I might add, having just as valid experiences and opinions about the game as anyone who pays for Premium, or pays more for extra land.

It helps that people like to help you! Reddish Tigereye, for instance, thought my freebie wardrobe was really kind of pitiful, and gave me several outfits that she thought were more expressive of me. I do so love those outfits! And others were also generous, with their time and help, as well as gifts, or offers of gifts. Too many to list, and I know I'm leaving people out - but they include folks such as Angelique LaFontaine, who gave me my first building lessons and a beautiful art work; Barnsworth Anubis, who helped me with my settings and is always ready to help with any questions; Eboni Kahn, who helped me position my freebie house and gave me a window-changing unit and taught me how to use it (along with giving me a beautiful futon she created); Urizenous Sklar, who offered me a writing assignment, and his friends, who helped me with animations; Prokofy Neva, who offered me free rent till I got on my feet (which I didn't feel right about taking), and allows me to use his land for building, and is so incredibly generous, caring, and kind; the departed J.R. Pierce, who, when he wasn't being naughty, helped me learn things and gave me a lovely bar; my friends Shagz Anubis and Branduff Kojima, who are always on call to critique my works and offer improvements; Ingrid Ingersoll, who offered me one of her custom houses; Travis Lambert, who offered me to do a game show at his place and Cristiano, who agreed to be one of the sponsors; Azukel, who gave me my adorable Fruit AV, and Nolan Nash, who gave me a cocoanut for it, lol; and Brace Coral, who gave me the adorable Grouch Pet she made. And I'm surely overlooking someone equally wonderful in my attempt to remember them all. All these and others - who offered help despite the fact that I'm kind of shy to ask for it - along with everyone who has offered so much fun and friendship on the game, which are priceless - these wonderful people help a basic member to not only survive, but to thrive, and happily.

I will still enjoy all those activities - Bingo, contests, etc., and the people I enjoy there - but it will be a relief not to have to be QUITE so desperate to earn almost my entire living from them. And I will still live where I do, because I love it there.

But I'm glad to have finally finessed my husband into acquiescing to my having a Premium Account (I paid for the year, to save more) without his saying a flat-out "no," and I can relax a bit and spend more time building now.

Conclusion of report: Having a basic membership means it may be difficult, but it's not impossible, to have a lot of what you want, including land that is, for all practical purposes, your own.

Experiment over.

coco

hahah cocoa. thanks for the report, i enjoyed reading that. And you've met some great folks along the way.

and it's nice of you to help other new members by sharing your ideas and experiences.

one question though -- was spending all that time going from money tree to money tree REALLY better than spending $4 on GOM? (well, actually, given the amount you raised, closer to $1.75) LOL!

Well, yes - I gave those people dwell, and more importantly, learned about a lot of places a new player wouldn't necessarily learn of. It is a great way to get new players to know about your place, and the player then has a favorable impression of it, too, for a long time to come.

coco

Sigh... well I'm glad to hear that you convinced him to "let" you spend 10 bucks a month. If he gives you trouble, just remind him that 10 bucks is 2 beers. Well maybe imported beer.

Ingrid, I have been married many years. I do what I want. I just do it in a way so as not to upset him.

coco

I'll probably also move up to premium when they allow us to pay by paypal. This was due in 2/3 weeks time - ooh about 4/5 weeks ago!

I am always somewhat surprised when I hear someone say "My husband won't let me buy ___;" I'm the one who manages the money in our household, and my husband comes to me to ask if we can afford some major purchase he wants to make. He's really good at earning money but he's pretty lousy at managing it, and in fact prefers that I handle that task. Granted, I am also a fairly frugal person and not much of a shopper IRL. To each their own, though, every couple has a different way of negotiating their relationship duties.

Coco, thanks for posting this nice accounting of how you've conducted yourself and your Second Life as a basic account holder thus far. I think that those of us who have been around for a while possibly overlook how hard it can be to get a toe-hold in SL unless you spend a chunk of money to get started. This is also a good primer for new players just starting out on a basic membership.

Nice experiment Coco and alot of thought.. I belive the seagull and sheep are those of Pepplar Skylar.

Coco, I think you should notecard it and hand it out. Also there was no slight intended to you in my earlier post. Just wanted to point out that 10 bucks is really not all that much for the entertainment you seem to get out of SL, and comparing it to the cost of 2 beers is something most men could wrap their heads around.

Yes, that's who they were, Drift!

For the record, I am also the one who manages the money in my family, as well as managing my mother's money, who is in an assisted living home. I do what I want, and I get what I want. (Otherwise I would not be married.) But we do discuss things, particularly more frivolous things, such as how much money to spend in online gaming, to arrive at a consensus (of sorts) on it. I would not WANT something that caused him too much unhappiness.

I don't believe I ever once used the word "let". I think I said things like "finesse." I don't need any lessons in women's liberation. However, I would be willing to give lessons in long-lasting, happy marriages, if anyone needs them.

coco

P.S. Okay, Ingrid! I'll shut up then, lol.

I think this was a great read .. and a very well thought out approach. Sounds like you did some research, did some planning ... and then (I hesitate to use the word) worked at executing your plan.

You really accomplished quite a lot in that three months. And set a great example for others that might want to have some guidance.

Just for the record, I didn't have the patience to work thru such a plan (even if I had had one) ... I headed str8 to GOM as soon as I found out about it. LOL

Anyway, thanks for the very well-done report.

I'm doing just fine in that department myself, thanks, but any tasty crockpot recipes are always welcome.

Cocoanut, that was a super cool report from a newbies perspective that we don't often see, especially so well written. You should keep us updated as your adventure progresses!

P.S. Beryl - Its too bad everyone isn't just like you, huh? Maybe she will fix her ways now that you have revealed your insecurities to her in a sudden burst of feminism. It's a great perspective of the hell your husband lives in. To each their own, though, every couple has a different way.

I gotcha covered.

/120/45/44248/1.html

Thanks for the link, Enabran.

Golly, Deklax, you must think the person who just said that was smart, if you repeated it... you flatter me, thanks for the compliment!

Very nice Coco, I hope you submit this story of your time in SL to robin or the community team, they love stories like this in the office

I still remember you getting your first plot of land in menis

Yes! That was an exciting day.

Which reminds me, I forgot someone in my list - Ajuk is his name, and he rented me this place and told me I could put in as many prims as I wanted as long as I was "reasonable" about it. I really appreciated that, and he also gave me a welcome mat and a doorbell, which I still use, and helped me put up wallpaper and carpet back then when I didn't know how to do a dang thing. I moved out of there when I got the opportunity in Meins (which later became Azure Islands). Thanks, Ajuk!

coco

wow, I had no idea my wife plays this game. HEY HONEY!!

Cocoanut,

That's a great story. I'm just not sure you should put in on a notecard. Maybe you should submit it as an educational concept to the Lindens and charge 'em 500 clams apiece for occasional instructional events. You've got a lot to teach folks who are in trying to see how far they can push a basic membership. Leverage it into a little more net worth

Whatever you decide to do, congratulations on a well-executed strategy

-- jj

Teach a class on how to be a basic member newbie? That's a thought, I guess.

coco

Whew, few people would put the verve and the energy you have into this enterprise, Coco! I'll have to notecard this for the Slingo tips alone!

Hmmm...too much free stuff IMHO including from that ebil Prokofy Neva.

Hmmm...I may make you start paying by the prim LOL.

Where were you when I was married?

On a serious note, great observations and great notes, Coco. Thanks for sharing.