Still learning. Still building. Ready to share the journey.
One day, I opened my laptop and saw years of unfinished plans: old course emails, abandoned websites, closed Etsy shops, and books I had spent years creating.
Each one started with hope. Maybe this would be the idea that finally helped me earn my own income.
If you know that feeling, you’ll understand why I started Confident Online After 60, a platform dedicated to empowering women over 60.
What I’ve tried, and what I’ve learned
I’m Silviya. I’m 67, and I’ve spent almost 20 years trying to earn an income online. Here’s the honest story of what happened and what I’m doing now.
A good life, then a restart
I grew up in Bulgaria and earned my first degree in Economics at 24. I worked a regular 9-to-5 job as a supply chain manager, and life was good. But when our economy collapsed, jobs like mine disappeared within a few years.
In 2001, like many others, I moved to the UK. I learned English and took on manual jobs.
The problem with my right hand
Then I developed a serious problem with my right hand. The doctor said it couldn’t be treated and my only option was to avoid repetitive work. I felt stuck. There aren’t many jobs you can do without your right hand. Even now, it still hurts when I type.
So I decided to study again and look for work I could do on a computer, which I can use by voice. At 48, I sat in lectures with 18-year-olds. It was challenging, but I enjoyed it. I graduated in website development at 52.
Watch the full video on YouTube
Chasing residual income
After that, I started chasing “residual income”—money that keeps coming in after the work is done. Here’s what I tried.
Websites: I built them for myself and for others. They brought in some money, but never a steady income. Now, AI is changing that work quickly.
Products from China: I spent a lot on training, designed my own products, had them made, and shipped them to the UK. But the factory took my design and started mass-producing it without me. I lost a lot of money, so I stopped.
Etsy: I opened three shops selling digital products. I closed one, but the other two are still running and bring in some income.
Amazon FBA: I made physical products and let Amazon sell them. The tricky part was sending just the right amount of stock for six months. If you send too much, they destroy it or send it back. After paying for postage and ads, I was barely making anything.
Amazon KDP: I wrote and published books, and they sold. But Amazon requires advertising, so I must pay for ads now and wait about three months to get paid. Writing the book is less than 30% of the work—the rest is marketing and paying for ads. My books still sell sometimes, but it’s not income I can count on.
What I learned
The idea of easy residual income just isn’t real. Every option takes skills, money, and ongoing marketing. In the end, every path needed the one thing I always tried to avoid—putting myself out there.
What I am doing now
I’ve stopped avoiding it. Now I’m building three things that work together: this website, affiliate recommendations for things I’ve looked at carefully, and a YouTube channel where you can see who’s talking to you.
I chose this path for a few simple reasons. There’s no stock to buy, no factory, no warehouse fees, and I don’t have to pay for ads before I earn anything. The website and my email list belong to me, so no one else can take them away. Most importantly, it finally lets me be seen.
I earn money if you buy through some of my links, and I’ll always let you know when that’s the case.
I can’t promise this will work. But I can promise to show you what happens, with reaIs there a chance this will work? You won’t know until you try, keep going, stay open to learning, and make careful choices.
Life is short, and after 60, it feels even shorter. So choose your path wisely and spend your time doing what you love.
If you want to add to your pension, join me. Grab my three free checklists, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and let’s see what we can discover together.
Why Confident Online After 60 exists
I wanted to create a welcoming place for women over 60 who are curious about earning money online but aren’t sure where to start.
Here, I’ll share:
- Lessons from things I’ve personally tried.
- Simple explanations of what I’m learning.
- Practical steps to help you feel more comfortable online.
- Honest discussions about the effort, costs, and uncertainty involved.
I’ll always say when I’m speaking from experience and when I’m still figuring something out.
You don’t need to buy anything to prove you’re serious. Take your time, ask questions, and decide what fits your situation.
You’re welcome to begin where you are
I still have things to learn and moments when I hesitate. But I’m becoming more willing to share my journey as it happens.
If you have a dream of your own, I hope this site helps you explore it with a bit more clarity and confidence.
