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Which sounds better?

edited December 2007 in General
"I am unemployed and I live at home" vs "I am a degenerate gambler"

I play a lot of poker and while its not life changing money, this is better than a part-time job. I'm looking for a crafty way of avoiding telling people what I do when asked "do you work" or etc. Any suggestions?

PS: by people I mean, of the other gender.

Comments

  • edited December 2007
    "I work online from home"
    "oh yeah? What do you do?"
    "It's very simple, I make strategic online moves that siphon off money from one source to another"
    probably stop asking after that, lol
    lol
  • edited December 2007
    My bf plays poker at nite online. Hes gotten me into it now. Its really fun but i still dont know what im doing sometimes lol. Im definitely a rookie! I played last nite for a few hours and didnt really gain or lose any money, but my bf plays and he can wins hundreds....hes way more experienced than me tho and i play at the 5/10 cent tables, lol.
  • edited December 2007
    I work from home. I think people really underestimate how much you can actually make from being your own boss/setting your own schedule.
    I'm a Mystery Shopper and you really do have to work hard to make it count. When I explain what I do to people, they assume that it's the 'easiest job in the world' and that anyone could do it. It's a lot of fun, but it really is like a full-time job at times and it takes a while to get recognition from companies.
    There was a thread about someone who racked up $1000+ on dinner with his girlfriend...I can't seem to find it right now...but if you're interested, I can give you a name of a company who will reimburse you for eating at certain restaurants. Technically I'm not supposed to, but you're hitting it hard.
  • edited December 2007
    Hmmm, but are they nice restaurants or just dinky ones?

    I sent off for info for a mystery shopper thing once because it sounded interesting, but then they wanted ME to send THEM money upfront for something, so i didnt follow through with it....it sounded shady.
  • edited December 2007
    k I'm completely lost in my own thread now
    can someone go over what just happened in simple words? paid to eat, mystery shopper, whats going on?

    I swear I'm sober....
  • edited December 2007
    baby e;19902 said:
    Hmmm, but are they nice restaurants or just dinky ones?

    I sent off for info for a mystery shopper thing once because it sounded interesting, but then they wanted ME to send THEM money upfront for something, so i didnt follow through with it....it sounded shady.
    Those are scams. Go for the ones that don't ask you to pay for anything (it's hard to get a reputable company, but after a while you get the hang of it. I've only gained, never lost...you just have to be smart about it).

    As for the type of restaurants...well, you get different assignments so it's not always going to be for food. Like right now I'm working once a week with Save-On-Foods where I get reimbursed for product I purchase, plus a set fee on top of that. I've also done places like Urban Outfitters, Stitches, Sirens, etc etc. Restaurant specific...it really ranges. I regularly do assignments for Earls, Moxies, and the Shark Club. But I've also done places like The Pantry and Denny's.

    I'm not complaining either way.
  • edited December 2007
    DaNoobie;19906 said:
    k I'm completely lost in my own thread now
    can someone go over what just happened in simple words? paid to eat, mystery shopper, whats going on?

    I swear I'm sober....
    I guess it got kind of confusing...my point is that I can kind of relate to you with the technically-unemployed-but-still-making-money situation. It's a difficult thing to explain when you first start seeing someone. Like my last boyfriend would be constantly on my case, telling me to get a job. But when I worked it out, I'm making more this way than I ever did with my last part-time job, and the transition between high-school and University has been somewhat difficult as well. The guy I have just started to see is totally up for the situation and is so interested in the way these companies work...I guess it's just not for everyone.
  • edited December 2007
    Right, but does your non-traditional employment come with stigma attached? If so, how do you deal with the situation if you prefer to be honest as oppose to lying?
  • edited December 2007
    Kind of added more there, but I'm always honest about it.
  • edited December 2007
    Maybe I should just lie about having a job or something, makes things go a lot easier
  • edited December 2007
    From a female perspective, it wouldn't bother me.
    Just my opinion.
  • edited December 2007
    Theres also different things too. I'm quite the hermit/odd fuck, but I know while the amount I made this year is not life changing, hell its not even that good compared to a full time job. But I remember what its like to be making $8 a hr and to compare that to what I made this year is like, different.

    I don't want to be cast in a different light because of the amount I make or the "occupation" I do you know?
  • edited December 2007
    To the original poster, I've heard a lot of people say that they make money playing poker, but is it really that consistent?
  • edited December 2007
    DaNoobie;19918 said:
    Theres also different things too. I'm quite the hermit/odd fuck, but I know while the amount I made this year is not life changing, hell its not even that good compared to a full time job. But I remember what its like to be making $8 a hr and to compare that to what I made this year is like, different.

    I don't want to be cast in a different light because of the amount I make or the "occupation" I do you know?
    I think it happens naturally, but society in general really has a staunch opinion on the whole working-from-home concept.

    If it works for you, I'd say keep doing what you're doing. I know I'm very happy in my current position.
  • edited December 2007
    consistency is like beauty

    Plus, if you're not given a chance to even have it be accepted, who cares about consistency? Its like who cares if you can pass the LSAT if you don't have an undergrad degree
  • edited December 2007
    nicole;19920 said:
    I think it happens naturally, but society in general really has a staunch opinion on the whole working-from-home concept.

    If it works for you, I'd say keep doing what you're doing. I know I'm very happy in my current position.
    Yup, so we're back to sugarcoating the bitter pill
  • edited December 2007
    technically you can get into law school with the LSAT and three years of post secondary but thats only a technicality

    if i was seeing a guy and he told me he was a 'professional gambler' i probably wouldnt care if he had other things going on, be cultured, just have things to talk about, as long as you have things to talk about besides not having a real job things should be fine
  • edited December 2007
    Tell them you are a Strategic Resource Manager (SRM) who holds all the cards and plays them in accordance with office rules. And from time to time, are given bonuses because you are such a valuable employee of the Casino where you work at.

    That should stop them from asking you awkward questions about your professional life (style)! Cheers.

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