How To Make Money Without Spending Any

"You have to spend money to make money" is a common phrase in freelance writing and many other business spheres. But, what do you do when you have no money to spend? Should you just give up on your financial goals and accept that you'll be stuck in poverty? The answer is an obvious no, but then, what are you supposed to do?

When I started my freelance writing business, I was completely broke. As in, "relating to Will Smith's character in The Pursuit of Happyness" broke. Things were scary, and I knew I needed an income as soon as possible. But, I also couldn't just go out and get any job. Having multiple chronic health conditions disqualified me from a lot of work. Unless I could find a job that doesn't mind their employees needing a two-hour nap after twenty minutes of standing, lifting, and moving around, I needed to work from home. So, even though I had received the advice to wait until I had steadier income to start a business, I went ahead with my plans.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Basically, I was winging it each day as I tried to find clients and build my portfolio. Then came the numerous business coaches: people who offered guidance and structure that would lead to my success! After each freebie they gave, though, there was the need to pay them thousands of dollars for their services. And there was always the question: "Wouldn't it be worth the investment?" I wholeheartedly believed that the coaching I would receive was of great value, but I physically did not have the money to spend. I had no choice but to take the hard way and go it alone.

Now, after a year of running my business, I wish I could tell you that I became wildly successful and made six figures like many of those coaches. I still struggle with the ins and outs of finding clients and working around my health issues. But, I have made it work. I have realized that my journey is different than anyone else's and if I continue to persevere, I will succeed in my own time. Plus, I have had plenty of successes, even if they weren't six-figure ones.

I wanted to share a few resources that I used (and still use) that are free, in case anyone else is struggling with finances but wants to start freelance writing. Yes, it is difficult to do on your own. You will not magically go from qualifying for food stamps to suddenly being a millionaire. But, it is possible to create a steady income through your writing. Here are some places to start:

HubSpot Academy

HubSpot is a good blog to check out when learning marketing strategies and writing techniques that clients are looking for. HubSpot Academy is a branch of this blog that offers free courses on things like SEO, social media marketing, and ad campaigns. You just need to make an account to sign up for different courses.

Alison.com

Alison.com is a free website that offers courses on hundreds of topics, including writing courses. They have copywriting and content writing, as well as writing for novels, scripts, etc. It is a great way to upskill in any topic that interests you. Once you decide what niche you want to write for, you can also dig into courses on that niche to become an expert in your field.

Writer's Digest

Writer's Digest puts out a huge book each year filled with publishing companies, literary agents, magazines, and so much more to help writers find paying jobs. It also teaches you how to write queries and pitch ideas to then market yourself better. While this book obviously costs money to purchase, you can find older editions (that don't change much) at your local library. Writer's Digest also offers courses on their website, but again those aren't free. Check your library for Writer's Market 100th Edition (or previous editions). If you would rather purchase it, I recommend looking at thriftbooks.com or betterworldbooks.com for a used copy.

Elna Cain

I don't want to put you off of writing coaches entirely, because they do have a lot of value and insider tips on the business. Elna Cain is someone that I have followed for a while because she offers free insights in her YouTube videos and on her blog. She does have paid courses, but a lot of her offerings can be given for free if you just subscribe to her blog. She'll guide you on different websites that have legitimate writing jobs and other tricks she's learned as she navigated her freelance writing journey. Check her out at elnacain.com.

Ravenwood Writing Academy

Ravenwood Writing Academy has a free weekly newsletter titled "Write Your Story," that teaches different skills and strategies to develop your writing and increase your income. This is totally a plug for a connection I made here on LinkedIn, Cody DeBos, but his advice is solid and extremely helpful. So, definitely check it out by clicking on the links in this paragraph!

Upwork/Fiverr/Freelancer.com/FlexJobs

I just wanted to note that all of these job boards are legitimate, but are extremely difficult to wade through. Especially if you use the free versions (which don't include FlexJobs, though they do have a trial period of $2.95 for two weeks), you will have to choose very carefully which jobs to apply for. You are only allotted a certain number of credits to apply for jobs, so it's okay to be "picky" on what jobs to try for. It is a tedious process, but you can find some success if you decide to put all your time and effort into it.

You don't have to have money to make money. Sure, it's not a breezy jaunt down the boardwalk to simply collect the money that you're worth. But, if you are determined to succeed in freelance writing, there are plenty of ways to do that when you only have enough cash for a bus ride to the library. I'll be cheering you on, and one day we can celebrate our success stories together!