The world has changed, and not for the better. The people in charge don’t care if you have a job, a home, or enough food to eat. They are making money while everyone else struggles. The middle class is gone, and big companies see people as disposable. But you are not disposable. You can still survive—if you learn how to work outside their broken system.
Here’s how you can make money while staying safe.
1. Use Skills, Not Resumes
Big companies don’t care about workers anymore, and why would they in a world with Ai workers? So don’t wait for a “good job” to appear—create your own. Think about what you’re good at. Are you handy? Can you fix cars? Cut hair? Make websites?
How to start:
- Offer your services to neighbors and friends. You’d be surprised how effective word-of-mouth advertising can be
- Put up signs at grocery stores or laundromats.
- Use websites like Craigslist, TaskRabbit, or Fiverr to find gigs (if you still have internet access).
2. Sell What People Need
People will always need food, clothes, and repairs. If you can make or find things people need, you can sell them.
Ideas:
- Cook and sell homemade meals.
- Fix and resell used bikes, clothes, or furniture.
- Sell second-hand items from thrift stores or yard sales online (if safe to do so).
- Grow vegetables and sell them at farmers’ markets.
3. Make Money Online (If You Can)
The internet used to be a free market, but that’s changing fast. If you still have full access, use it while you can.
Ways to earn:
- Freelancing – Write, edit, do graphic design, or teach online.
- Content creation – Start a YouTube channel, blog, or podcast (if allowed by pending censorship laws aimed at reducing your freedom of speech).
- Print-on-demand – Sell T-shirts, mugs, and stickers without touching inventory.
- Flipping – Buy cheap things, fix them, and resell for profit.
4. Trade and Barter
If money is tight, trade skills or goods instead.
Examples:
- Trade babysitting for food.
- Offer home repairs in exchange for car repairs.
- Swap clothing, tools, or anything else you don’t need.
5. Be Careful About Housing Choices
Some past survival strategies—like living in a van or RV—are now dangerous. New laws aim to criminalize unhoused people, and in the USA, some unhoused people are already being sent to work camps. Know the risks before making a move.
Safer options:
- Seek out community housing or co-ops.
- Look for caretaking jobs that offer free housing.
- Find trusted people to share space with.
6. Don’t Rely on One Income Stream
The old idea of “one job for life” is dead. The rich have multiple ways of making money—you should too.
Mix & Match Income:
- Part-time work + side hustle.
- Selling online + local services.
- Renting out a room + gig work.
7. Join Forces
The rich stay rich by working together. The rest of us need to do the same. Build a community of people who help each other.
Ways to work together:
- Start a local food co-op.
- Share tools and resources.
- Teach each other new skills.
- Watch out for scams and protect each other.
Final Thoughts
The system is broken, and the people in power want you to feel hopeless. The truth is, we can’t win under their rules—but we can outlast them by learning to rely on each other. The more we build our own support systems, the less power they have over us.
Right now, survival is the goal. But survival is resistance—and resistance is the first step toward a future where we can do more than just survive.