This is a breakdown of what I made online in April and what actually brought in money.
I find it useful to look at everything together at the end of the month, especially when income is coming from a mix of different sources. Some months can look better than others, and it’s easy to forget what’s really doing the work if you don’t step back and review it properly.
For April, I tracked everything through my accounts so I could see exactly where the money came from and what I actually ended up with after costs.
Income for April
Here’s how my income looked this month:
- Survey and study rewards (mainly Prolific): £715
- Shop sales: £75
- Amazon Royalties: £3.00
That gave me a total turnover of £793 for the month.
The biggest portion by far came from survey and study work. The shop brought in a small amount, which is always good to see, but it’s still early days in terms of relying on it.
Amazon KDP royalties came in at £3 this month, so not much to report. Some months are like that, especially with low-content books where sales can be inconsistent. It’s a good reminder that this income stream isn’t steady and can go quiet for a while.
That said, it can change quickly. I’ve had days where sales have picked up unexpectedly, including one where I sold 79 books in a single day, so I know it’s possible.
Costs and expenses
There were some costs to take into account:
- Cost of goods sold: £10
- General expenses (web hosting, software, printing, bank charges and exchange differences): £69
These are the regular types of costs that come with running a website and selling online. They’re not huge on their own, but they do add up over time, so it’s important to include them when looking at the full picture.
Profit for the month
After taking everything into account, my total profit for April came to:
£714
That’s the figure that really matters, as it’s what’s left after costs rather than just the money coming in.
What actually made money
Looking at it honestly, most of this month’s income came from one source.
Survey and study work made up the majority of the total, and without it the overall figure would have been very low. It’s the one thing that is bringing in consistent money right now.
The shop contributed a small amount, which shows it’s starting to move, but it’s not at a level where it can be relied on. It still needs time and consistent effort to grow.
What didn’t
Other income streams didn’t contribute anything meaningful this month.
That includes things like blog income, KDP, and anything else I’ve been working on in the background. They’re there, and they may build over time, but right now they’re not bringing in much money.
It’s easy to assume everything should be working at once, but that’s not always how it goes in reality.
What this shows
This month is a good example of how uneven online income can be.
At the moment, one income stream is doing most of the work, while everything else is still building. That might not be the ideal situation long term, but it’s a realistic one.
A lot of content online makes it sound like multiple income streams all bring in money at the same time, but in practice, it often starts with one thing working while the rest take longer to develop.
What I’m focusing on next
Going into next month, the focus is fairly simple.
I’ll continue with what is currently bringing in money, while still putting time into the shop, blog, and other income streams alongside it. The aim is to build things up gradually rather than expect them to suddenly take off.
It’s about keeping things moving without relying on one thing forever, even if that’s where the money is coming from right now.
Final thoughts
April has been a useful month to look back on because it shows things as they really are.
The income is there, but it’s not coming from lots of different places yet. It’s mainly one source carrying everything else, and the rest are still in progress.
That might not be the most exciting picture, but it’s a realistic one, and it’s where a lot of people are when they’re trying to build income from home.
If you’re in a similar position, it’s worth looking at what is actually bringing in money right now, and what is still in the building stage. That alone can help you decide where to focus your time.
If you want to work out how much to set aside from income like this, I’ve put together a simple tax and National Insurance calculator you can use.
