All right, so we're diving deep today into this whole
like making money online thing.
Oh yeah.
And specifically, we're looking at this YouTuber,
Sarah Finance, she's only 22.
Okay.
And claims to be making like $1.3 million a year.
Wow.
From her laptop.
Just all from a laptop.
Yeah, just clicking away, you know?
She even put it right in the title of one of her videos.
Oh really?
I make $1.03 a year from my laptop.
Here's how.
Okay, well that's pretty straightforward.
Yeah, no kidding.
And she says she doesn't have a big team.
Started in a small city.
So like the relatable every man kind of thing.
Yeah, exactly.
It kind of sounds almost too good to be true, right?
Yeah, a little bit.
But you know, even if we don't all become millionaires,
I figure there's gotta be something we can learn
from her, from her approach at least.
For sure, for sure.
So let's break down like what she actually does.
So first up, she talks about affiliate marketing.
Uh huh.
And just for anyone who's not familiar.
Right.
This is basically where you promote other people's products.
And you get a commission for every sale that you drive
through your unique link.
Gotcha.
So Sarah claims to have made over $44,000
in a single month doing this.
Wow, that's impressive.
Yeah.
And she really emphasizes finding a niche
that you're genuinely passionate about.
Oh, that makes sense.
Yeah, that's right.
Like you're not just out there pushing random stuff.
Exactly.
You're recommending something that you actually like are into.
Yeah, something you believe in.
Yeah.
So I mean, it makes sense that people
would trust those recommendations more.
Absolutely.
I mean, think about it.
If you see someone who's genuinely excited about something,
you're gonna be way more likely to listen
to their suggestions.
Exactly.
Yeah, if you see someone's a real enthusiast,
you're gonna pay attention.
And it doesn't even have to be something
super mainstream either.
Oh, that's true.
You know, there are people out there making good money
in some pretty niche areas.
Yeah, for real.
Like I was reading about this guy the other day
who makes bank selling vintage woodworking tools.
Wow.
Who knew?
That's amazing.
Right.
Who would have thought?
And Sarah mentioned some good places
to like start looking for affiliate programs.
Oh yeah.
Like impact.com and ClickBank.
I've heard of those.
Yeah, so, you know, if you've got a hobby
or like an interest you're already spending time on,
maybe there's a way to actually make money from it.
It's worth looking into.
Totally.
So, okay, next up, let's talk about digital products.
All right.
This is where things get really interesting.
Okay, I'm intrigued.
So, Sarah has kind of two main ways she does this.
Okay.
One is online courses, which she says she makes like
$2,000 to $40,000 a month from.
Wow.
And then like planners and journals,
which she sells on Etsy.
Oh, okay.
And get that she actually shares a tip
for finding like hot products on Etsy.
Oh, really?
Yeah, just search digital product
and then look for the popular tag.
Oh, wow, so you can see what's already selling well.
Yeah, exactly.
It almost feels like cheating a little bit.
That's a good tip.
Right.
But, you know, just because something is popular
doesn't mean it's gonna be easy to replicate.
You still need to make sure your product is high quality.
Right.
And that you know how to market it.
Yeah, and stand out from the crowd.
Exactly.
It's definitely a lot of competition out there.
For sure.
But I still think it's pretty cool,
like anyone with some basic design skills
and Canva can potentially create an income stream.
Yeah.
That's the beauty of digital products.
The barrier to entry is pretty low.
Yeah, exactly.
But, you know, like with anything else,
success depends on a lot of factors.
Yeah, for sure.
Like, is there actually a demand for this product?
Right.
How good is it?
And how well can you actually market it?
Totally.
Okay, let's shift gears a bit and talk about YouTube.
All right, let's hear it.
So Sarah's channel brings in $10,000 to $15,000 a month.
Okay.
And that's not even counting sponsorships,
which could add like another zero or two to that.
Wow.
But here's the interesting thing.
What's that?
She doesn't even appear on camera in all of her videos.
Oh, really?
Yeah, she actually mentions this other channel
called Movie Recaps.
And they have over 2 million subscribers.
Oh, okay.
But they just use AI voices in movie footage.
So basically they've figured out how to tell stories
without actually being on camera.
Exactly, and it clearly works.
It's pretty interesting.
Yeah, totally.
It challenges that whole assumption
that you need to be like a charismatic personality.
Right, like you need to be some kind of star.
Yeah, to succeed on YouTube.
So you know, if you're not comfortable being on camera,
but you can explain things in a fun and engaging way.
Maybe there's a YouTube niche out there waiting for you.
You never know.
So now you might be thinking,
oh, okay, this is all cool,
but what about something a little more traditional?
Uh-huh, yeah.
Well, good news, Sarah is also a big believer
in investing in the stock market.
Okay, that makes sense.
Yeah, and you know, she's right.
Yeah.
That's one of the most effective ways
to build long-term wealth.
For sure, but there's also a lot of misinformation out there.
Oh, absolutely.
And people have these unrealistic expectations.
Exactly.
So let's talk about that.
She mentions individual stocks first.
Okay.
Which obviously high risk, higher reward potential.
And she even gives the example of putting like $10,000
into Tesla five years ago.
Right.
And seeing it grow to over $100,000.
Which is amazing.
Yeah, incredible.
But come on, who's really hitting
those kind of returns consistently?
Right, not many people.
Exactly.
It's important to remember
that those are like the outliers.
Yeah, the stock market can be really unpredictable.
Oh, for sure.
You know, past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Right, so you gotta be smart about it.
Absolutely.
And that's where index funds come in.
Okay.
So these are like a diversified basket of stocks.
Right.
Designed to track the performance
of a specific market index.
Like the S&P 500.
Exactly.
And she mentions VU and VTI as some of her favorites.
Okay, so for those who might not be familiar.
Yeah.
How do index funds differ from like ETFs or mutual funds?
That's a great question.
So with index funds, you're basically betting
on the overall market performance
rather than trying to pick individual winners and losers.
Gotcha.
And then there are dividend stocks.
Right.
These are companies that actually pay you
just for holding their stock.
It's like getting a little bonus just for being an owner.
Exactly.
Very cool.
And she also recommends this platform called M1 Finance.
Okay.
For investing.
And they even have a sign up bonus
where you can get free stocks or cash rewards.
Oh nice.
Yeah.
So if you're looking to get started with investing,
maybe check that out.
I will.
All right, now are you ready to talk
about some real estate?
Let's do it.
Okay.
This is where Sarah's claims get really bold.
Okay, I'm listening.
She says she's currently making over $7,000 a month
from real estate.
Wow.
And she's aiming for over $20,000 a month.
That's a lot of money.
Yeah, it is.
But how does someone in their early 20s
even get started with real estate?
Well, that's where leverage comes in.
Leverage.
Yeah, essentially you're borrowing money to buy a property.
Okay, so you're not paying for the whole thing up front.
Right.
So for example, she talks about a $300,000 home.
You might only need to put down like 20%
Right.
Which would be $60,000.
Yeah.
And then you get a mortgage for the rest.
Gotcha.
And then you rent out the property.
And ideally, the rental income covers your mortgage payments.
Okay.
Property taxes, insurance, any maintenance.
Right.
And if you're lucky, you have some profit each month.
So leverage can be really powerful.
Yeah.
But it's important to understand all the details.
Different loans have different interest rates
and terms and conditions.
Right, you gotta do your research.
Absolutely.
So real estate investing,
it's not just buy a property and watch the cash roll in, right?
No, definitely not.
There's a lot more to it.
There's a lot to consider.
Okay, good to know.
Yeah, you need to be prepared to manage the property.
Deal with any repairs, find tenants.
And the market can always change.
Totally.
Okay, that's a much needed reality check.
For sure.
So let's wrap up this part of our deep dive
with something almost everyone can relate to.
Okay, what's that?
Credit card rewards.
Right.
You know, cash back, points, miles, all that good stuff.
The things that make using credit cards
a little less painful.
Exactly.
Sarah highlights those cash back rewards.
Okay.
She uses her Discover card as an example.
Yeah.
Which gives her 5% back on certain categories.
Oh.
Which can definitely add up.
Yeah, for sure.
Like you spend $1,000, you get $50 back.
Not bad.
Right, it's essentially free money
if you're making those purchases anyway.
It is, but I think this is a good opportunity
to just emphasize responsible credit card use.
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah, you really need to be paying off your balance
in full every month.
Right.
Otherwise those high interest charges
will wipe out any rewards you've earned.
Exactly.
You don't want to end up in debt chasing rewards.
Definitely not.
Okay, so that brings us to the end of part one
of our deep dive into Sarah Finance's world.
Welcome back to our deep dive.
Yeah.
You know, we've been looking at this whole
Sarah Finance thing.
Yeah, all these different ways
she's making money online.
It's a lot to take in.
It really is.
But before we get too caught up in like the fantasy
of this million dollar laptop lifestyle,
let's bring things back down to earth a bit.
Okay, reality check time.
Yeah, exactly.
Because her video, it's inspiring,
but just one person's experience.
Yeah, it's not necessarily a blueprint for everyone.
Exactly, like there's a lot of hard work involved.
Oh, for sure.
Dedication.
Mm-hmm.
And honestly, probably a good bit of luck too.
And let's not forget about all the stuff
she doesn't really show in the video.
Oh yeah, the behind the scenes stuff.
Yeah, like the time she's investing.
Right.
The constant learning curve.
Mm-hmm.
The potential for setbacks.
Because it's not all passive income in beach vacations.
Yeah, definitely not.
I mean, she kind of glosses over the challenges,
like building an audience.
Right.
Managing all these different income streams,
dealing with taxes.
Not to mention the competition.
Oh yeah.
It feels like everyone's trying
to make money online these days.
It's a crowded space.
So how do you even stand out?
That is the question.
Right.
And really take to succeed in this digital economy.
It's almost like you need an MBA
just to navigate it all.
Well, in a way, you kind of,
do you need to understand the basics of business?
Oh yeah, for sure.
Like market research.
Mm-hmm.
Customer acquisition.
Right.
Financial management, all that stuff.
Yeah, even if you're just working from your couch.
So Sarah's video, it's a great starting point.
Definitely.
But it's just a starting point.
You need to do your own research.
Absolutely.
Informed decisions are key.
Okay, so let's revisit affiliate marketing for a minute.
Okay.
It sounds simple enough on the surface, right?
Mm-hmm.
Promote products, earn commissions.
Yeah.
But what are some of the potential pitfalls?
Well, finding the right niche is crucial.
Oh yeah?
It can't just be something you're passionate about.
Right.
There needs to be an audience for it.
Okay.
And not too much competition.
And then you have to create content
that actually converts.
Exactly.
Yeah.
It's not enough to just slap a link on your Instagram.
Right.
You need to build trust.
Mm-hmm.
And then you have to position yourself
as a credible resource.
So it's really about building a community.
Yeah, exactly.
Not just chasing those commissions.
And that same principle applies to
creating your own digital products.
Oh yeah, like the online courses and Etsy stuff.
Exactly.
What do you think are the biggest challenges there?
Well, standing out in a crowded marketplace is tough.
Yeah.
You need to offer something unique and valuable.
Right.
Something that solves a problem for people.
Exactly.
And then there's the whole marketing piece.
Yeah.
Getting people to actually see your product.
Exactly.
And let's not forget about the technical side of things.
Oh, right.
Building a website.
Setting up payments.
Handling customer service.
It can feel overwhelming.
Oh, definitely.
Especially if you're not super tech savvy.
Right.
But luckily there are platforms out there that can help.
Oh, really?
Like what?
Like Etsy.
Okay.
Shopify.
Teachable.
So they can handle some of the harder stuff.
Exactly.
So you could focus on the creative side.
Okay.
So we've talked about some of the challenges.
But let's flip the script for a second.
What gets you excited about this whole online business thing?
Honestly, for me, it's the potential.
Yeah.
The internet has created so much opportunity.
Right.
Anyone with a laptop and an internet connection
can reach a global audience.
It's pretty amazing when you think about it.
It is.
It's like a level playing field.
Where creativity and hard work can really pay off.
I love that it's so empowering.
And the freedom is incredible.
Right.
You can work from anywhere.
Exactly.
But it's not a free-for-all.
Oh yeah, for sure.
It still takes work and dedication.
And a willingness to adapt.
Absolutely.
So for our listeners who are feeling inspired.
Yeah.
But maybe a little overwhelmed.
It's a lot to process.
What's the first step?
I think it starts with self-reflection.
Okay.
What are you good at?
What are you passionate about?
Okay.
What problems can you solve?
So it's not about copying Sarah.
No, not at all.
It's about finding your own path.
Exactly what works for her might not work for you.
And that's okay.
And it's okay to start small.
Right.
Absolutely.
You don't need to build a million dollar business overnight.
Take baby steps.
Yeah.
Experiment.
Learn and grow.
I love that this has been such a great conversation.
You too.
We've covered so much ground.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Exactly.
But we're not done yet.
Oh really?
In part three we're gonna tackle another big question.
Okay.
Hit me.
Sustainability.
Interesting.
This laptop lifestyle actually last.
Ooh, that's a good one.
All right, so we're back talking about
Sarah Finance and this whole online income thing.
Yeah, and I think, you know,
we talked about a lot of the like exciting parts.
The potential.
Yeah, the strategies.
But I wanna like step back for a minute.
Okay.
And think about the bigger picture.
The long game.
Yeah, because it's easy to get caught up in the hustle.
Right.
Just trying to make a quick buck.
Yeah.
And forget about the impact we're having.
We're talking about ourselves.
Yeah, but also unlike the world around us.
Absolutely, we're talking about the sustainability.
Exactly.
And not just in the environmental sense.
Right.
But also like can these online business models actually last?
Yeah, because the internet changes so fast.
Oh my gosh, it's constantly evolving.
What's hot today might be gone tomorrow.
So how do you build something that's actually gonna last?
That's the tough part.
Right, because it's like trying to predict the future.
Yeah, but I think it starts with being willing to adapt.
Okay.
Learn new things.
Embrace new technologies.
Be flexible.
Exactly.
Don't be afraid to like pivot if you need to.
Right, because what worked yesterday might not work today.
Okay, so that's like the business side of sustainability.
Okay.
But what about the environmental side?
Oh yeah, that's a huge factor.
I mean, all this online stuff.
Our data centers.
Our vices.
Shopping have.
Streaming all day.
It all adds up.
Yeah, it definitely impacts the planet.
So how do we make sure we're not doing more harm than good?
That's a good question.
I mean, I struggle with that too.
See too.
Because we want to empower people to build a better life online.
Right.
But not at the expense of the planet.
So it's about making conscious choices.
Okay.
Like choosing eco-friendly web hosting.
Oh, that's a good one.
Minimizing our digital waste.
Deleting those old emails.
Yeah, getting rid of files we don't need.
Supporting companies that care about the environment.
It all makes a difference.
So it's really about taking responsibility
for our own digital footprint.
Exactly.
And making sure our online businesses
are part of the solution.
Not the problem.
Okay, I love that.
And you know, sustainability isn't just about the environment.
Oh, right.
It's also about the social impact of our businesses.
Okay, what do you mean by that?
Are we creating real value for our customers?
Oh yeah.
Are we treating our employees and collaborators fairly?
Right.
Are we contributing to a positive online community?
I love that you bring up community.
Yeah.
Because it's so easy to get caught up
in our own little world.
Our own hustle.
Yeah.
And forget that we're all...
For all part of this digital ecosystem.
And our actions have ripple effects.
Exactly.
So let's be mindful of that.
Yeah.
Let's build businesses that benefit everyone.
I like that.
Okay.
Yeah.
So as we wrap up this deep dive,
what's the key message for our listeners?
I think it's this.
The internet offers amazing opportunities.
Mm-hmm.
But we need to approach them
with a sense of responsibility.
Okay.
Let's build businesses that are not just profitable.
Right.
But also ethical, sustainable.
Right.
And contribute to a better online experience for everyone.
I love that it's about finding that balance.
Yeah.
Between personal success and collective well-being.
Exactly.
Making money is great.
Of course.
But it's not everything.
We need to build a digital world that we're proud of.
A world that's fair.
Included.
And sustainable.
I couldn't agree more.
Well, that's a wrap on our deep dive.
Wow, that was a lot.
It was.
But hopefully it was helpful.
I think so.
We explored a lot of different ways to make money online.
From affiliate marketing to real estate.
But we also talked about the importance
of doing it ethically.
It's a story.
And building a digital world that we actually wanna live in.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
So for everyone listening.
Yeah.
We hope you feel inspired to go out there
and create something amazing.
The internet is full of possibilities.
But it's up to us to shape it in a way
that benefits everyone.
So go out there and make a difference.
Until next time.
Keep diving deep.