Pinoys earning online: No more HYIP for jrb

Winning entry of jrb in the "How Pinoys earn money online contest":

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Been hounding the internet for money-making schemes since 2002. Lost thousands in HYIP (High Yield Investment Programs), actually hundreds of thousands. But a lot of hard lessons learned there. My advice for newbies: NEVER go there. Instead, spend your money studying internet/affiliate marketing rather than putting your money on ponzi schemes. They are never the "investments" that you perceive them to be.

I never gave up because I knew millions could be made compared to the thousands lost. Now I earn about $1K+  a week. From what? A combination of freelancing, outsourcing, adsense and affiliate income. There are a LOT of genuine opportunities out there. The problem is that it usually takes years to distinguish the diamonds from the ordinary rocks.

There is NO SUCH THING as easy money. Well, there actually is, but you have to study hard for months or years to learn how to make it. It then disqualifies it from being "easy", doesn't it? The point is, once you learn the tricks of the trade, it then becomes an "aha" moment. And then you tell yourself "It's soooo easy pala to make money online."

If one is serious about earning money online, better arm yourself with inspirational stories about perseverance (as well as 5 credit cards in case you max all others out. Harharhar). The good news is, you will always succeed IF you forge on. 

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Have your own stories to tell? Share them in the Share your online money-making adventures thread.