Sharply-done is right about reality check, and I agree with Microbius. Even if you think it's not a very good starting point financially, then just look at other circumstances and you'll see it's worth trying.

Quote from: sharply_done on May 12, 2010, 10:55

I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.

^^ Seriously!!  Folks on this forum must have some pretty lavish lifestyles to consider 50k/year pocket change 

I considered myself FT at half that.  Maybe because we had been living off my husband's income for over a decade while I raised my daughter, and also because his job provides health insurance. 

50k seems like enough income for one person to me, and most Americans seem to make do on that or less. 

I make about half of 50k in my day-time job (though I live in Europe and only work part-time). The photography income is a good supplement, even though it is is not a whole lot either. However, even if I were to earn 200$ a weekday with photography I would not do photography fulltime. I simply love my day-time job. Again - it's not just about money... . 

I have to jump in here. I got laid off my medical job which I held for 10 years with good pay and benefits. I look everyday for a job and can find nothing in Cat Scan and Radiology in the Greenville SC area. I mainly shoot video for stock and am accepted at Getty Images as well. Since no jobs are on the horizon I have been shooting fulltime and paying my bills. I have cobra medical for 15months. I have 1 kid and another due Aug. 27 2010. Lets talk about job security. If you think working for someone else is job security then I feel sorry for you. I am having the time of my life right now and if the train were to stop I can always jump back into the medical field. Life is short and nothing will last forever but if you can make a living doing what you love then why not go for it. The worst thing that can happen is you have to find a different job and to that I say so what. I work just as hard now as I did before but I am twice as happy now so who wants to put a price on that. Life is a risk  and rewards come to those who take the challenge. I am loving it and have been full-time stock now for 2 months.

I work just as hard now as I did before but I am twice as happy now so who wants to put a price on that. Life is a risk  and rewards come to those who take the challenge. I am loving it and have been full-time stock now for 2 months.

Great story. I discovered stock while I was struggling as a freelancer after quitting my full time job. For me, it was like being hit by a lightning bolt. I immediately saw the potential.

P.S. That Cobra has to be costing you a fortune.

The photography income is a good supplement, even though it is is not a whole lot either. However, even if I were to earn 200$ a weekday with photography I would not do photography fulltime. I simply love my day-time job. Again - it's not just about money... . 

Agree. I like my ordinary job (architect) even more now thanks to microstock. Because thanks to the additional revenue I can now afford to ditch my worst clients and concentrate only on more interesting projects. My suggestion to the OP is to turn the regular job into a "hobby" if the kind of occupations allows this

hypothetically speaking: if i have choice :to have a job that i do not like for a "full meal" -or job that i really like, and i have a good fun while working - for "piece of dry bread, and glas of fresh water" -my choice is always "just bread and water".

bread and BEER, and I'm completely happy

^^ well, i am happy with ONLY beer. but did not want to mention this at the first place. -there might be some minors members -and i do not want to advertise alcoholic beverages.
"if the beer is an alcohol =>than i am an alcoholic"
(*thanks to d.a.maradona)

^ no. if you have deceision in your head: my hobby is going to become my occupation, and i want to earn as much as i can... than - you're right.
 if you have option "i live my hobby" -things are slightly different . what i am tryin' to say is that anything people do, must be done with love. if yo do not love something you do, whatever this is, than you better don't. off course - if you can.

My former hobby is my job now.  Not nearly as much fun as it used to be 

I avoid taking pictures unless absolutely necessary if it isn't for stock.  I used to love taking pictures.

Hmm, same here. I still love taking pictures __ but only when I think they'll sell. The excitment is all about 'harvesting' something that most others wouldn't see the value in.

Having said that I much prefer doing my 'job' now than I used to when I worked in a factory. I've got a nasty feeling that we're all going to have to work much harder in the future attempting to maintain an ever dwindling income though.

... The excitment is all about 'harvesting' something that most others wouldn't see the value in.
...

Yep, same here. I used to do a lot of studio work, but I find 'harvesting' to be much more of an engaging and interesting challenge.

Also, I've found that specializing in stock has the added downsides of working in relative isolation and a lack of camaraderie. If the feeling of being a part of a team is important to you, or if you enjoy interacting with clients, or you aren't strongly self-motivated, you will likely run into problems.

Yep.  Thus hanging out here.

Also, I've found that specializing in stock has the added downsides of working in relative isolation and a lack of camaraderie. If the feeling of being a part of a team is important to you, or if you enjoy interacting with clients, or you aren't strongly self-motivated, you will likely run into problems.

Good points.  Of course for me it's perfect because I can't stand working with, and especially FOR other people.

If I didn't sing in the choir at church I would probably go nuts from the isolation though.  And as Sean points out, this group is great for getting in some social interaction...

Very general question, but if you were consistently pulling in over $150 to $250 a day (weekday) from microstock and revenues actually were going up from month to month as u put more time in it, would you do this fulltime? Im just curious on the ones that jumped on the fulltime boat if this was roughly the amount of income they started with...

It depends on how much your full time job pays. If it pays waaaaay better than $200 a day, and makes you happy then keep it the way it is.

If you don't make more than $200 a day in your day job + hate your job why would you keep torturing yourself?

You don't really need my advice or other's opinions here as you are the one who should evaluate your specific case.

If you insist that you need more opinions here is mine: If your day job is nothing special then quit right away, because if you make $200 a day  while doing another job, just imagine how much more you can do once you go full time.