I miss the old r/buhaydigital

Back then, this subreddit was filled with meaningful discussions—questions and recommendations about living as a digital nomad, the best equipment to use, and actionable tips for thriving in this lifestyle. It was more about genuine advice and less about self-promotion or company endorsements.

Now, it feels like this space has been overrun by people desperate to enter a field they're not qualified for and lack the courage to compete in.

I’ve lost count of how many posts I’ve seen where people boast about their "success," only for the comments to be flooded with others asking for referrals. Let me be clear: this isn’t a BPO. There’s no "backer system" here. You have to carve your own path to success.

Then there are the posts claiming the market is oversaturated or that finding a job is too difficult. Maybe it's hard because you lack the experience or the skills clients are looking for. Stop spreading misinformation and fear-mongering. That narrative simply isn’t true. There’s still a wealth of opportunities out there, even on platforms like OLJ (which many people in this sub hate). I’ve been freelancing for years, and all my high-paying clients came from OLJ. And over my dead body will I ever share my "niche."

For experienced freelancers like us, clients often come to us—we don’t even need to search actively. Why? Because we’ve mastered the art of [redacted]. And no, no one is going to teach you this skill—not a coach, not a course, not a guide. It's something you figure out yourself through experience.

You might think some people are generously sharing all their "secrets," but trust me, they're not. They are just scamming you out of your hard earned money to pay for that useless course they compiled from Google and called it their own.. and if it's for free naman, trust me, ang ultimate goal lang naman ng mga yan ay bentahan kayo in the future.

There are nuances and skills we’ve learned over the years that we would never fully disclose because, frankly, sharing them would ruin the "real" market. This isn’t a space for hand-holding or referrals. It's about finding your way and proving your value.

This post will probably get downvoted into oblivion, but I don’t care—this is the truth. And if this triggers you, guess what? You’re likely one of those people who still hasn’t secured a high-paying client.

Buhay digital has turned into one of those Facebook groups where BPO employees hunt for referrals. You’ve brought your toxic habits here, and it’s disappointing.