If I Were Broke and Starting Over, Here’s What l’d Do

Hey there…..

Listen… Imagine, I’m broke, starting over with nothing — no big team, no multiple streams of income, just me and a dream to rebuild my online earnings. That’s the situation I’m picturing today.

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Back in the early 2015s, I kicked off my online money-making journey with zero cash, no college degree, and no fancy training. I learned everything myself, 100% free, using the internet.

If I had to restart now, I’d follow the same path that worked then. These steps need little or no money to begin, and they bring in cash fast. Let’s dive into how I’d do it — and how you can too!

⚠️ Please note: This content is manually written by a human for educational use and might contain affiliate links. AI is used solely for research and formatting.

Image is generated by AI and edited by Author under Meduim rules.

Turn Your Skills into Dollars

You’ve got skills, even if you don’t realize it yet! Think about any job you’ve held, even for a year or two. Maybe you worked at a store, mowed lawns, or helped kids with homework.

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

You know way more than tons of people out there who’ve never done those things. Even if that stuff feels normal to you, others will pay to learn it.

Jobs aren’t the only goldmine — hobbies count too! Do you rock at video games, bake awesome cookies, or fix old bikes? People shell out cash for that knowledge.

Take a landscaper, for example. Someone might pay $3,000 to design a yard. A math teacher could grab $500 tutoring a student.

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Another person might earn $400 sharing landscaping tricks. Your brain holds valuable info, and I’ll show you how to cash in on it.

Step #1: List What You Know

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Grab a notebook and a pen.

Write down every skill you’ve picked up from jobs — past or present. Did you stock shelves? Write it down. Serve food? Add it.

Don’t stop there — include hobbies too. Maybe you draw cool pictures, grow plants, or play guitar.

List anything you’ve spent time on, even if it seems small. A landscaper might not think their yard tips matter, but someone’s willing to pay big for them.

Once you finish that list, you’ve got a treasure map to money-making ideas.

Jump on Online Platforms

Now that you know your skills, let’s get them out into the world. Online platforms make it super easy to connect with people who’ll pay you.

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You might know sites like Monster or Indeed for full-time jobs, but we’re aiming for quick side cash — or even a way to ditch your day job completely.

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Two killer options? LinkedIn and freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Here’s how they work.

Shine on LinkedIn

LinkedIn acts like your online brag book, and it’s free to join! Here’s what to do:

Sign up and build a profile. Fill it with your skills, past jobs, and anything you’re great at.

Start posting. Share tips about your expertise or show off projects you’ve done.

Not ready to charge money yet? Offer free help first. Happy people leave reviews, and those reviews convince others to hire you.

Take Sarah, a graphic designer. She posted her designs on LinkedIn, and clients noticed. Soon, she had enough work to quit her job and freelance full-time.

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Graphic designers might earn $30 to $75 per project — or even $700 to $6,000 for huge ones! You don’t need to design stuff — any skill fits. A cook could share recipes, a gamer could offer tips. It works for everyone.

Engage too! Comment on posts tied to your skills. Give helpful advice. Send messages to people with quick pointers to show what you know.

Want faster gigs? Search LinkedIn jobs, type in your skill, and filter for “contract” or “temporary” work. Check “Easy Apply” to send applications fast.

Pro tip: Make sure your profile looks sharp first — people peek at it before hiring you.

Cash In with Fiverr and Upwork

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Fiverr and Upwork rock for quick jobs. Check these out:

Fiverr: List what you’ll do — like “I’ll write a story for $20” — and people come to you. No chasing clients!

Upwork: Charge by the hour or land longer gigs, but you’ll pitch ideas and compete with others a bit.

Thomas started on Upwork with no experience and made $40,000 in a few months. Vasy claims $1.9 million on Fiverr! How do you start?

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Take small, cheap jobs to earn five-star reviews. Those stars build trust, and soon bigger clients seek you out.

I look for those stars myself when I hire people — it’s a big deal. Pick Fiverr for fast, fixed-price tasks or Upwork for hourly or long-term work. Both turn your skills into cash fast.

Send Cold Emails to Win Clients

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Don’t want platforms? Cold emails work with just an email address — and they’re free! My friend, a graphic designer, sent 5–10 emails a week to businesses.

She upped it to 15–20, scored seven clients, and left her job. In three months, she made over $17,000 — about $5,000 a month. I even hired her after one of those emails landed in my inbox!

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How to Nail Cold Emails

Find businesses that need your skills. Look online at their websites or social media. Spot a terrible logo? Offer design help. See a shop with no ads? Pitch your marketing know-how.

Tap your network. Ask friends, old coworkers, or anyone you know for leads. They might not need help, but they could point you to someone who does.

Set a goal: Send 5–20 emails each week. Keep them short and sweet. Try this: “Hi, I’m [Your Name]. I help with [your skill]. Could you use support? Let’s talk!”

Follow up. If they don’t reply, send this in a few days: “Just checking — did you see my email? [Your Name].” Most people reply after a second or third nudge.

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My friend bugged me twice before I hired her, and I’m glad she did — she’s awesome! She landed a big client through a friend who knew a medical tech company needing a video editor. Persistence pays off. Keep emailing businesses and contacts until you get bites.

Why These Methods Work

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These tricks — listing skills, using platforms, sending emails — worked for me in the 2000s when I had nothing. They cost zero or close to it, and they start fast. No degree, no techy training, just effort.

LinkedIn and freelance sites connect you to clients worldwide. Emails cut out the middleman, landing you jobs directly. Pick one, stick with it, and cash flows in.

Mix and Match for More Money

Try combos! Post on LinkedIn while listing gigs on Fiverr. Send emails between Upwork pitches.

Real wins: Sarah mixed posting and messaging to go full-time. Thomas stacked reviews to boost his Upwork game. My friend emailed her way to freedom. Combine these, and you’ll build income faster.

Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

Bottom line

Here’s the plan: Grab that notebook, list your skills, and pick a method. Post on LinkedIn, list a gig on Fiverr, or email five businesses this week.

Back when I started, I had no money, no team — just me and the internet. I taught myself, took action, and made it work. You can too. Don’t wait — turn what you know into cash now