Author Topic: Would your lifestyle change if......? (Read 4447 times)

rjmiz · « **on:** June 19, 2008, 11:25 »

Would your lifestyle change if you suddenly lost ALL the income from microstock?
My retirement pension is still adequate to allow me to live comfortable, and so most
of what I make is just found money "Mad Money" "Crazy Cash".

I am interested on how others would fair if all of a sudden the income stopped dead.
Those who work full time in the field are obviously making a living and so they don't count.

But if your like me and this is just a hobby, I would like to know how your lifestyle would change.
Rather than talk about myself, I am genuinely interested in hearing from others.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

nativelight · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2008, 11:59 »

Quote from: rjmiz on June 19, 2008, 11:25

Would your lifestyle change if you suddenly lost ALL the income from microstock?
My retirement pension is still adequate to allow me to live comfortable, and so most
of what I make is just found money "Mad Money" "Crazy Cash".

I am interested on how others would fair if all of a sudden the income stopped dead.
Those who work full time in the field are obviously making a living and so they don't count.

But if your like me and this is just a hobby, I would like to know how your lifestyle would change.
Rather than talk about myself, I am genuinely interested in hearing from others.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

My life would change drastically, but not financially. I would just have tons more free time!!!

The financial loss would not even be noticed. I wouldn't, however, be able to justify buying new photography toys as often.

riffmax · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2008, 12:20 »

While I certainly don't generate enough to make a significant difference in our income, it is still a little bit every month - and every little bit helps.

The impact it would have would be that it would require my husband, who has his own business and is the only one who works there, to work even harder to make up the difference- which is not physically possible....

So, yes, it would impact me strongly.

melastmohican · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2008, 12:24 »

After 3 months of doing it my income is less than 1% of what my day job gives and I spend way too much time going thru my old photos so it's not even paying for my work :-) Once I am done with my old photos it should be more acceptable.

gbcimages · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2008, 14:07 »

I don't make much at all with photography,few bucks. I'm not a pro at this. I'm retired from my job so this gives me something to do pass time and enjoyment. If I depended on photography for a living I wouldn't be here writing this.I would be gone... gone... gone

fotografer · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2008, 14:32 »

I now make more from this than from my 'proper' job, so yes my lifestyle would change quite drastically.

dullegg · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2008, 16:24 »

UNLESS your annual income from microstock (or macrostock) is significant enough to be considered a living, i don't think anybody's life is going to be affected if microstock disappears into the crevice.

To be more exact, calculate the time you spent with the income microstock earns you. if you make more than minimum wage hourly, then i think it's something to consider. still, minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

nativelight · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2008, 17:40 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 19, 2008, 16:24

UNLESS your annual income from microstock (or macrostock) is significant enough to be considered a living, i don't think anybody's life is going to be affected if microstock disappears into the crevice.

To be more exact, calculate the time you spent with the income microstock earns you. if you make more than minimum wage hourly, then i think it's something to consider. still, minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

hahahahahahaha....tell that to all the people who have to live on minimum wage! My youngest Son would definitely disagree with you.

chumley · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2008, 18:07 »

mantonino · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2008, 18:53 »

If micro died, my lifestyle would not be affected at all. One less piece of gear this month.

helix7 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2008, 20:16 »

I'd be screwed. Microstock represents about 45% of my income right now, and losing that would dramatically alter my near-future plans of buying a house.

rjmiz · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2008, 20:34 »

Quote from: helix7 on June 19, 2008, 20:16

.....that would dramatically alter my near-future plans of buying a house.

Civilized people live in houses....did you mean a cave?

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

helix7 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2008, 21:59 »

Quote from: rjmiz on June 19, 2008, 20:34

Civilized people live in houses....did you mean a cave?

Yep.. a nice 4-bedroom cave with a pool. Not sure I'm going for the optional cave paintings and extra fire pits, though. I sort of feel like it's a waste to go for those pre-furnished places.

Seren · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2008, 01:36 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 19, 2008, 16:24

minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

Don't assume things. I'm on minimum wage in my day job and stock makes up about 30% of my earnings on top of what I get from "work".

If all my photography earnings disappeared I would have to get a second job in a pub or something.

Phil · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2008, 02:25 »

My kids would have to change from their very nice private school.

but then in january macro earnings were 20% of my stock income it has risen to 45% this month (with todays sales

so every month that goes by losing the micro becomes less of an issue.

Phil

Peter · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2008, 03:16 »

Yes it would. My non-stock income is 300$ per month. Stock is about 1000-1500$ per month. So I make a living out of it.

CofkoCof · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2008, 03:52 »

Quote from: nativelight on June 19, 2008, 11:59

My life would change drastically, but not financially. I would just have tons more free time!!! The financial loss would not even be noticed. I wouldn't, however, be able to justify buying new photography toys as often.

Same here. I'm a lot more with my job and will get eve more in about 3 years. So stock is just my hobby.

Microbius · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2008, 05:42 »

MS makes up the majority of my income, upwards of $5000 per month.
I'd have to get a proper job or accept more freelance work.

lisafx · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2008, 08:50 »

Yes, it would change my lifestyle drastically too. Or I should say since I have been doing microstock it has drastically improved our lifestyle.

The idea of no longer having this income has always been something I had to consider. It's one of the main reasons we have held off buying a larger house, even though we could afford one right now with our combined incomes.

I guess we could go back to living off my husband's income, but we would have to give up all the extras we have been able to buy with the microstock money. Decent medical care and maid service being the top of the list, along with some home remodeling projects.

Not to mention that it would put more pressure on my daughter to have to get a scholarship to college.

But mostly, I really don't want to go back to cleaning my own house!

fotoKmyst · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2008, 12:15 »

Quote from: chumley on June 19, 2008, 18:07

If Micro dried up I would be in fat city. I would retire off all the money I would be making off my RF Macro.

Cheers,
Chumley

and i'll just have to trade in my 2nd porsche

oh, and i will miss all of you on this forum

Adeptris · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2008, 13:27 »

I earn about $500 a day in my IT job, and have earned about $300 with stock photography in six months, and I have spent some $$'s on kit, and I use it as an "excuse" to rent a small studio.

It would not affect me from a finance point, but I would find it hard to justify to myself renting the studio space, which is there for "Later when I start doing stock photography properly", so I keep saying

And then there is the groups and forums, that would be missed

David

rjmiz · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2008, 15:06 »

"And then there is the groups and forums, that would be missed"

Well Adeptris I think I speak for everyone here that you would be severely missed if it ever came to that.
I want you to know that if it ever did, that you could always come by once in a while and visit with us.
We would be very interested in knowing how you're doing.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

Adeptris · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2008, 15:10 »

Zeus · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2008, 17:16 »

If I lost my micro income not a single thing would happen as I've yet to cash out the money in PayPal for the small amount I've made. If however my regular stock income disappeared, well, I'd best stay off high buildings and bridges.

rjmiz · « **Reply #24 on:** June 21, 2008, 17:23 »

"I'd best stay off high buildings and bridges."

If in the event you did slip or fall off a building or a bridge, and fall to your your unwelcome demise;
I assure you we in the community would dedicate a memorial page to you and your work.

I for one find you a pillar of inspiration, and and an example to us all.
You would be sorely missed.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason