Trapped in "beer money" sites, what to do to fill that void

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So this is kinda difficult for me because I'm not sure there's anything you can say that would help me stop. When I tell people that I'm addicted many don't take me seriously. One person did but they said that I could treat it just like any other addiction...slowly wean myself off but that doesn't seem to work. Plus the problem is I don't know what else to do.

I'm scared I'm going to do these sites forever as I don't see how I'll ever get a job. I know I could volunteer but that's not an adequate replacement as you don't get paid anything. I only feel right when I'm making money but at the same time I don't know how to do the sites like I used to anymore because I'm so burnt out with them. So I didn't do them today and I feel so sleepy...kinda have a headache too. I really REALLY don't want to do them anymore. I often wonder if they only make me more depressed esp on the days that I don't do them. But I feel guilty and useless when I don't. Plus I wanna go on vacation more often as well as concerts. I wish I could tell my WHOLE self that it's okay I'm not doing them because they're not worth it anymore if I have to feel like I should do them literally every day.



I've been looking for gigs to replace this with but having a difficult time finding much in my area. It's hard to tell what's real on Craigslist. I would love to do dog walking but I don't drive.

What are "beer money" sites??

idk where you are but at least where I live there are plenty of "landscaping" type jobs available. agricultural to house painting and general carpentry to cleaning to whatever the f**k some oldie is tired of doing. I'm payed an average of 12$ per hr for agricultural and general house work which i can also do on the side of my other part time jobs. it's not stressful and I think it's a good way to make money under the table (which def helps come tax time unless you're into that thing...)

Surveys, GPT, crowdflower etc.




I forgot to mention I can't lift. If it's housework that doesn't require heavy lifting, I guess I could try my hand at it...sounds like good money. I was just looking to get minimum wage so paying more than retail would be highly satisfying. I have limited abilities but would be willing to try. I just don't know where to find this. Also again not driving is going to make my prospects very limited.

The only job that I've found is abundant is call center jobs and I HATE talking on the phone. I know I would have to do that at a store but at least it wouldn't be primarily phone communication and I would do it at a store I feel familiar with. I tried looking for chat support jobs once but the one I saw wanted 50 dollars for background check.

You're not going to like my answer.

I would get rid of your computer and get a traditional job. Fill your time reading books, taking walks, watching TV. Get rid of cable too and watch regular channels. A lot of the stuff that most of us fill our time with is actually pretty stressful. You'd probably feel a lot better if you lived more simply.

That's my problem. I can't get a real job so I don't see how getting rid of my computer would really accomplish anything. It will be hard to quit the sites completely regardless but what helps fuel my addiction is the fact no one is letting me work. I have thought about actually breaking it because it's almost like it is a device used to mock me but I know it would be irrational just to get rid of my computer..even if I sold it to someone else. Also I know some people live like that but that's not me. Actually having a computer is how I realized what I wanted to do with my life...though I guess it's pointless because no one will let me do it but I feel like computer related work is one of the few things I am actually good at.
I would never get rid of my computer because I have abundance of memories on my external HD but I am starting to think though that the internet (at least regular use of it) is not doing me much good anymore. It costs too much money for how much my mom and I make. Every time I get on the internet to look for jobs I get burnt out from that too.

Regardless, I actually do want to live more simply. It sounds contradicting but though I'm a bit materialistic I am also a minimalist (or want to be, just don't know how) I have junk I want to sell but don't know who to sell to. I did not get anyone to buy some of my stuff at the yard sale this year. I have thought about Facebook yard sales but no good at pricing. There's also stuff I wonder about throwing away like random cords but I don't know if it would be a good idea to. I just have too much stuff and it definitely does stress me out. My mom...bless her she has even more but I can't tell her to get rid of what she has and I'm no good at organizing/figuring out what's necessary to keep. This sounds really irrational but I wouldn't put it past myself to throw my birth certificate away if you let me. I hate keeping papers most of all.
As for TV, I don't even watch that much TV. I've spent more time on the internet in my life than watching TV. I just don't know because some shows you can't stream online like award shows. Plus mom pays the bill and she watches it more than I do so even if I wanted to, it would be bad to.
I used to read more...have tried reading a few self help type books but in my experience they are useless. I don't know if employment books would be any different. I have bookmarked some ebooks on Amazon but don't know about spending the money on them as I don't know how they would be any more helpful than my job coach. I still read on occasion in the bathroom but it's almost like the movie character Matilda because the books I have enjoyed reading can sometimes make me wish my life was like the story.


I do take a walk with my dogs everyday but it doesn't help me feel better about my situation. I guess that's another reason I feel best making money. I couldn't imagine my life without my dogs and I know that someday they may need the money for a vet bill.

My point is that you need to break your habits and fill up your time doing completely different things.

I used to be good friends with a guy who was an alcoholic and I went to his AA meetings with him for a couple of months. Unfortunately, he wasn't paying attention, but I'm a sociologist, so I was of course fascinated. They said you had to completely change your environment and replace the addiction with an okay addiction, such as jogging or going to church. That's often why people get into those things.

I'm not asking you to choose something else that you like, just fill up time doing things you wouldn't ordinarily do. You will end up liking some of those things and ease up on your addiction, or completely stop it.

I can kind of relate. I don't feel addicted to something like in the same way, but I feel a strong affinity for computer technology and keep thinking there must be some way I can use my computer skills to make money. I knew someone else in a similar situation who was hooked on Ebay and sold things he bought at a second hand store where he worked while leveraging his employee discount.

The problem for him or yourself, is you probably feel like your putting in a lot of time and not getting ahead.

As far as alternatives, is there a main reason you don't drive? Do you just not have a car? Do you have access to other public transportation?

Without transportation and without a computer, I'm not sure what there is for you to do to feel like you're getting ahead. Unless there are any businesses with jobs in a reasonable walking distance.

I think you could consider making a partial move toward developing another more profitable skill while still doing a few surveys for side money if you really need it. Maybe you could take some online classes in college if there is a direction you feel comfortable going in. The financial might take some money pressure off so you don't feel the need to do surveys. Instead, you could invest your computer time possibly learning IT skills like programming or web design.

Indeed.com is a much better place to look for jobs.

Considering SOA & I are both experienced technologists, I feel I should point out that there's really no expanding your influence on the world via your TV. Computers are much better for that, and I'm not referring to Facebook. For one thing, Craigslist pertains to reality. I don't really care to know what's going on with Facebook right now. If there are any parties I should know about they will happen in the real world. That's why I focus my efforts on being able to at the minimum trade in technology rather than letting it suck cash from my pocket. How many opportunities do your FB contacts have to waste all the cash they might spend on something they need from you before they even scroll to that post?

You will NEED your computer to get a job. Almost every employer now expects candidates to apply online, and they will not even accept paper resume's/applications in person or via mail. I was successful in getting a job with the USPS. Have you checked their listings?

I don't know very much about you Nickchick, so maybe this advice won't be useful, but maybe it will. Try to sign up with your area's vocational rehabilitation agency (this is assuming you have a diagnosis), and at the same time, use the local job centers or government agency for matching jobs and employees. I think you sound like someone who needs some help getting employment, but I don't know the scope of it.

If you share more information (not too specific) here, people can give you more targeted information.

Good luck to you.

Yeah I have been putting too much time and not getting enough out of it. Lately when I still try to do it I try to cut back at times (at least if I get up late). I try to find the biggest tasks to get to the daily goal on the one site and not try to get any more than the daily goal. Even then though it can still take a while because the surveys may drag on and on.
I don't drive because I've been afraid to learn. I tried originally to get the permit when I was in high school but every time I had one it would expire without me putting in enough time to pass the test.
I already tried going to college and my degree is apparently not taken seriously. I am still in debt. I'd be uncomfortable trying to borrow more.
I know it shouldn't be that difficult because I've been working with computers all my life but I've always heard that programming is probably the most difficult thing to do on computer wise. I'm not sure if I'd be able to self teach it. I did have to design a web page for class so I think I'm pretty good for the technical aspect. There are always things I can improve on but I think on the job I could pick up things pretty fast because I know when you get into a job they don't just typically throw you in there. They train you for a while.
Anyway I know my ultimate dream in my field, I would be more than comfortable with since it is my hobby that I have done some with.




Yeah I know and it's unfortunate because applying online shouldn't be a requirement. I'm never able to pass those stupid personality tests..on my own. I don't believe I've seen anything lately on the USPS but I guess I haven't really thought about it because I know I might have to do some lifting at some point. I did check the UPS and that's what it said I had to do: be able to lift at least 20 pounds. There probably is not as much lifting at the USPS since you're delivering letters more often but that would also require a driver's license which I didn't obtain.



Yeah I'm in DORS. That's who diagnosed me but I feel like I'm not getting progress. It's so difficult when we only meet once a week and the only place we check is Indeed so so far we have mostly only applied to jobs I would have applied for myself. She did pass the tests for me but we haven't got to even talk to the hiring manager yet
I am also subscribed to the workforce but nothing I can really apply to lately has come up.
We are supposed to go into the pet store this week. I just know not to get my hopes up. I know this time will be different because I have a coach and I didn't last time I went in there but I also know that I am still prone to coming off wrong because employers judge.