The test, a poor mans journey to money

My money was really running low and I needed to get all the way to Southern Spain for the Summer camp. I was stopped in Valencia and learning from the locals, decided I would try my luck at selling beer on the beach. I also used it as a social experiment, can a poor man make enough money to get on his feet.

Day 1: 1 Euro
I wanted to start out from scratch so I literally begged for 1 Euro. I took this Euro to the nearest store and bought 3 cold beers. I took these beer to the beach and walked up and down the beach methodically chanting, cercezaaaa. Within 15 minutes I had sold the three beer for 3 Euro. I took the money back to the shop and bought 9 beer. I returned to the beach and sold the beer within an hour. I bought 27 beer (storing half of them in a trash can away from the beach. At the end of the day I had sold all of them, and went back to friends house. That night I took 7 euros and bought a big backpack to store the beer in.

Day 2: 20 Euros
I used 3Euros to buy Ice and 17 Euros to buy beer. I started early and realized my mistake, no one wants beer at 11:30, they want water, and coke! I learned from this though and although it took me 3 hours to sell 50 beer I had a new idea, diversify. I took some of the 50 euros and bought 20 beer, 15 water, and 15 cokes. By sunset I had sold everything and treated myself to some groceieries

Day 3: 70 Euros
I now had food for breakfest, lunch, and dinner for the next couple days. I started day 3 confident. My first sale was 15 beer to a drunk Mexican which cleaned me right out. By afternoon I had sold all of my products and was over 120 Euros, but I wasnt the only one realizing my sucesse.

The Spanish beaches are, some say, plauged with foreigners trying to sell them things. I had stumbled upon a beach that had already been taken over by 3 groups, the Pakistanis, The Nigerians, and the Beach Hut owners. None of them were happy to see me. On the third day a Pakistani inquired to how much I had sold. Later that day two Nigerians were giving me some nasty looks. I wouldnt let it deter me however, I still didnt have enough.

Day 4: 100 Euros
I went out on day 3 and spent some of my earnings but day 4 was a weekend and the beach was busy! The work had started to take its toll on me however. It was over 30 degrees and I had spent the last 3 days walking up and down the beach with a backpack full of beer. My skin was burnt, my back was sore, and after one Russian threw money at me my morale was low. I kept strong however, and as it was so busy the other sellers didnt mind me. I made a lot of money that day.

Day 5 200 Euros
Sunday was another busy day, but I realised how dangerous this job could be. I watched as two sellers beers were confiscated by the police and one was taken away to who knows where. I met a lot of funny people that day, a lot of beautiful women, and attracted the attention of a couple of unwanted people as well

Day 6: 300 Euros
My Spanish had improved a lot over the first couple months in Spain, it wasnt perfect however, and in high stress situations I forgot almost everything. On Monday, the beach was almost deserted, I would walk for minutes before seeing anybody. The beach was about 2KM long and after my 3rd pass a huge body builder ran out from out of his Beach Hut. They were licesend sellers and he was pissed. He shouted at me for a few minutes and grabbed me by the arm and started to drag me towards the promigade. His arm muscle was about the size of my head and I guessed he wasnt bringning me for a friendly chat. I struggled to get free of his grip and took off. I guess Monday was going to be a day off.

Day 7: 300 Euros
There was a festival in the city, one of many, and I tried my luck walking the streets, and whatyaknow, people love cold beer on the streets as well. I made over 125 euro but I was finished.

One week: 425 Euros

I actually made more than that. I was able to get grociers, by a backpack for beer, and even get myself a nice shirt for the first day at work. The work was hard, seasonal, and possibly dangerous, but the point being that it was there and anyone who can walk could do it.

I took the money and left Valencia, the city had treated me well.