Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#1

Post by sygeek » Fri, May 11, 2012, 12:13 PM UTC

I'm 16, and at this place, there's no way I can earn myself enough bucks by doing odd jobs. So, how do I go about earning enough money ($300?) just to buy myself a gaming computer, from where I can continue on myself. I tried youtube partner, but I don't have any original content to submit (neither I can make one because I don't have a camera). I tried to find some freelance work but couldn't find anything relevant for myself.

I need some assistance/advice at this point.

Edit: Currently, I'm on a Pentium4 with 384mb ram which literally makes any modern app impossible (even browsing).

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#2

Post by jameswyse » Fri, May 11, 2012, 12:57 PM UTC

Create something cool and fund it using kickstarter? Though it's hard to offer advice without knowing your skillset, what are you good at? :)

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#3

Post by sygeek » Fri, May 11, 2012, 1:03 PM UTC

jameswyse wrote: post #2

Create something cool and fund it using kickstarter? Though it's hard to offer advice without knowing your skillset, what are you good at? :)

I'm good with computers, in general. I know very basic stuff about programming which doesn't really count.

I see fake/scam kickstarters all the time and I don't think I can create something good enough so people don't see it like that.

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#4

Post by mpeg » Fri, May 11, 2012, 1:10 PM UTC

sygeek wrote: post #3

jameswyse wrote: post #2

Create something cool and fund it using kickstarter? Though it's hard to offer advice without knowing your skillset, what are you good at? :)

I'm good with computers, in general. I know very basic stuff about programming which doesn't really count. I see fake/scam kickstarters all the time and I don't think I can create something good enough so people don't see it like that.

You should learn to code, it's free and you can code with any computer.

Do you really really need a new gaming computer?

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#5

Post by Sodaware » Fri, May 11, 2012, 1:17 PM UTC

fiverr (http://fiverr.com) might be a good place to start. There are plenty of people who want small jobs doing, particularly things like researching or writing small articles for blogs.

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#6

Post by sygeek » Fri, May 11, 2012, 1:37 PM UTC

mpeg wrote: post #4

sygeek wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm good with computers, in general. I know very basic stuff about programming which doesn't really count. I see fake/scam kickstarters all the time and I don't think I can create something good enough so people don't see it like that.

You should learn to code, it's free and you can code with any computer. Do you really really need a new gaming computer?

well for gaming and running modern apps without any trouble, yes. I'm learning java but this is probably going to take more than 2 years to have enough skills to earn with it.

I honestly can not even browse properly with this system. Heck, it only knows multitasking in theory. I'm a big-time gamer and knowing to have missed all of those great games I wanted to play over the years hurts.

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#7

Post by Sword_Monkey » Fri, May 11, 2012, 2:29 PM UTC

You seem to know your way round words so I'd advise freelance writing. Submit a few articles to a few places that are relevant to your interests and fairly current. Naturally taking time to get a feel for the style on the site. Make sure the editors are aware that you're giving them free stuff as a good will gesture and are available for more content if they need it. You should be able to get to $300 this way fairly easily, but it may take some time for responses, and a few rejections if people don't like your writing, but eventually you'll get a few gigs, maybe some steady ones, for monthly, weekly articles.

If you think you can write something good enough (and it's not that hard to be better than 90% of the target audience) then it'd be a nice quick way of getting the cash.

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#8

Post by aggarwalachal » Fri, May 11, 2012, 3:09 PM UTC

sygeek wrote: post #6

mpeg wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should learn to code, it's free and you can code with any computer. Do you really really need a new gaming computer?

well for gaming and running modern apps without any trouble, yes. I'm learning java but this is probably going to take more than 2 years to have enough skills to earn with it. I honestly can not even browse properly with this system. Heck, it only knows multitasking in theory. I'm a big-time gamer and knowing to have missed all of those great games I wanted to play over the years hurts.

Where are you based ?

Re: Ask HN: How do I earn money online just to buy myself a gaming computer?

#9

Post by sygeek » Fri, May 11, 2012, 5:00 PM UTC

aggarwalachal wrote: post #8

sygeek wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

well for gaming and running modern apps without any trouble, yes. I'm learning java but this is probably going to take more than 2 years to have enough skills to earn with it. I honestly can not even browse properly with this system. Heck, it only knows multitasking in theory. I'm a big-time gamer and knowing to have missed all of those great games I wanted to play over the years hurts.

Where are you based ?

India