How I Made 6 Figures Out of A 5k Investment

I spent the past few days reading my previous blogs. I usually do this when I’m out of reading materials to read on and just want to have some fun. I know it’s odd, but I usually laugh at my witty punches sometimes. And there’s one particular blog I wrote three years ago that had me laughing so hard. You can’t find it on this site, though, since I’ve written it in my crypto blog.

I think that was one of the proudest but at the same time the most terrible blog I’ve written so far. I don’t even have the guts to link the original blog here, but I’ll share some snaps of it. Who in the world would sell a good friend online like he’s just a cellphone?

Aside from posting his face without his consent, I just sold him online without him knowing. What’s even worst is, I sold him for a jaw-dropping P5,000! (SBD is one form of cryptocurrency, and at that time, 10 SBD equates to P5,000). I even added some upsells to make the offer more enticing.

But if you think I was able to sell this friend and got 5k, you’re wrong. In fact, the offer still stands up to this day! Just send me an email, and I’ll give you my Gcash details.

Kidding aside, I’m very thankful for this man. He’s actually the one who offered me a P5,000 investment where I eventually made six figures in a year or less. But if you think he’s an MLM or a get-rich-quick Lord, again, you’re wrong.

My good friend, Laurence, just sold me his second-hand Dell Core i5 Laptop for ONLY P5,000! And without knowing, that minimal investment opened countless opportunities for me to earn figures I never thought I could make using this laptop.

My 5k Laptop Story

When I purchased this second-hand laptop, I was still in my first year in the corporate world. As opposed to most people think, engineers, particularly civil engineers, don’t earn as much as you think they are, especially on an entry-level. And being a breadwinner, I have to stretch every peso I make to provide for my family’s needs.

Midyear of 2017, my laptop which I’ve been using since I was still a student, eventually died after serving me well for six years. That was also the time when I first discovered Steemit (now Hive), a free crypto blogging platform that lets you earn cryptocurrencies. I already had some earnings on my first month but not that significant to buy myself a brand new laptop.

I was only using my smartphone in writing and editing blogs, but it came to a point when I already complained. My thumbs were already swelling. I even used all four of my other fingers to type and distribute the pain and struggle of pressing the smartphone screen all day long.

I never tried to get myself a laptop through installment either since I don’t want to get myself into debt. So when I saw my friend’s FB post, I immediately grabbed the opportunity. Where else in the world could you get a Dell Core i5 laptop for a bargain price?

Although the laptop had a battery issue (I have to charge it all the time) and a discrepancy in some keyboard functions, I considered it a jackpot. It was functioning very well and had greatly served its purpose. From then on, I was able to earn six figures in a year or less through blogging, crypto trading, and online freelancing.

But even if I already earned more than what I expected, I kept it with me. It was only until 2019 when an unexpected power interruption made me realize that I had to buy a new one having a more dependable battery in times of unexpected power interruptions.

Fast forward today, I have already accumulated four laptops, but I only kept one. I gave the other three to my family members. And what happened to the 5k laptop I bought? I just sold it for P2,000 to a co-worker who just started her freelancing venture. So technically, I just spent 3k Pesos for that lucky laptop.

My Key Takeaways:

1. It’s not just about the tool, it’s how resourceful you are that makes the difference.

Growing up, I’m already used to utilizing second-hand things that are being handed down to me. But instead of complaining, I make sure to maximize their use and take good care of them so I could use them longer. The idea of having this second-hand laptop was not new to me, so I was able to pull off everything I hoped it would serve me for. And I’m just glad it didn’t disappoint.

This may serve as a lesson for some people who always wait for the best tools to magically appear in front of them before actually doing something. Start with what you have. Start with the little you’ve got. No matter how small or how limited your tool is, as long as it can serve its purpose, then make use of that purpose. You don’t need the best tools to create the best results. You just need the skill and the proper perspective to make things work.

2. Invest in things that could help you generate more income, even if it may depreciate through time.

“Do not invest in things that depreciate through time.” When I wrote that blog three years ago, this was my mentality. I know most people have the same mindset as well cause why not? We all hear this quote almost everywhere. But over the years, I realized that as long as it could help you generate income, even if it depreciates in value through time, it will never be an expense but an investment. This isn’t just applicable in tools like a laptop but also in cameras and cars. As long as you use it for business, freelancing, or other income-generating activities, it will always be an investment.

3. Keep a journal.

I always consider my blogs and articles my journal, except it’s available to everyone. It’s an avenue for me to express my thoughts and manifest my intentions clearly and concisely. Whenever I go back to one of them, I always compare my current disposition with my past self, who wrote that very article. And it makes me even more grateful how I grew through time — mentally, psychologically, spiritually, and financially.