I've went through this idea and seeing if it would be an option, considering my outlook for any type of employment is virtually zero. And even if it were.. it's not sustainable in the sense that long term employment will end up being a case of "getting lucky" and get hired at companies and hope they don't let you go within a month. And that's the optimistic cases IMO... I'm not even talking people with no degree or limited experience or capabilities.
The problem I have with this, isn't that you can live "on the cheap", since that's totally an option. It's where governments become to nosey that they want to know where someone makes his money off (and most likely the IRS, or whatever you call the national tax collecting agency is where you live) does have this information. The moment you have zero income they will ask questions and you will at some point have to make a statement along with a full investigation on how you make money. That then furthers in taxes, registration at the chamber of commerce and you'll end up with more than you can ever make in a money, just to cover expenses and registration fees, apart from "making a living". It's a reason why both one man stores as well as online businesses are running out of business. The overhead, just to exist as a service is ridiculous. But maybe that's just how it's done here... over here it almost seems like their punishing people for trying to be self-sufficient and check up on every business as if it is a drugdealer.
An issue I have with it being an option is that you need to have some kind of starting assets first. Of those 2 people you know, one most likely has a boat (or access to a boat; not to mention documentation to operate a boat) and the other one had assets to get started to sell said equipment. I don't even have the room to operate an online business. I have a bedroom... and that's all I have, and it surely isn't big enough for storage. So for me to start being viable I need to have sources and/or assets to get into something. It's pretty much like that catch 22 society dictates quite often. Most people start on their own after having a decently paid job and the ability to save a decent penny over time. That gets you assets, a house (even if it's rented), maybe a car (and license)... so for me it's becoming an increasingly harder situation since I'm pretty much below starter level for the workforce with only little opportunity to save up.
That all being said, I've considered doing commission based miniature painting. That can earn a decent amount if you're good. But mostly it's not something people do as their only job. It's like a 2nd job on friday nights... or if you have a decent paying part-time job and have a lot of spare time because of this... it's more like an extra income. Which probably, compared to the time invested is underpaid, but if people have time on their hands and no use for it, I guess it's not time wasted either. Even if you can turn an hour of work into 2 bucks it's still 2 bucks of otherwise wasted time. I just don't know if I'm that driven and passionate about it. I'm already having a hard time motivating myself to get painting at times... forcing deadlines wouldn't work a lot better either. And, as with what I mentioned earlier in this post... room/space is an issue. MOst people I know that do their own commission painting have a big painting area, ventilation, loads of paints, airbrushes and can pretty much do any job. That's something that's often acquired due to having a job and being passionate about said activity and thus being driven to do this a lot of hours after work. I'm totally not in that place to think about those expenses. I'd probably need a house with at least a suitable spare room first.
