A tech educator’s transparent test — real earnings, real lessons, and what actually works for adults 50+
I’m skeptical of anything that promises easy money online. After 15 years informally teaching adults and seniors about technology, I’ve seen enough misleading income claims to last a lifetime.
But when I kept reading about Benable on Medium and having friends and family ask me about it, I decided to test it myself.
No hype. No inflated numbers. Just 30 days of sharing what I already recommend.
Here’s the truth, including the part most people won’t tell you.
TL;DR (The Quick Version)
Total earned: $16.78 in 30 days Actual commissions: $3.79 (the rest was one-time bonuses) What worked: Tech lists (Streaming Kit got 2 sales) What didn’t: Book lists and travel guides (0 sales but other benefits) Real talk: Month 2 will likely drop to $4–8 without bonuses The framework: Build 4 list types (Income, Authority, Impact, Brand) My verdict: Worth it if you’re patient and already give recommendations
Want to try it? Skip the Benable waitlist with my link and see my actual lists at benable.com/lizwndungu
What Is Benable? (The Simple Version)
Benable is like if your friend kept a curated shopping list on their kitchen counter and you could peek at it anytime before buying.
How it works:
- Create lists of things you use
- Add personal notes explaining why
- Earn commissions when people buy (from 40,000+ brands)
No videos. No ads. No algorithm games.
The people I teach call it “the calm corner of the internet.”
Why I Finally Tested Benable
I kept seeing Medium articles about Benable. Some claimed $100+ in a month. Others showed modest earnings. A few were brutally honest about making almost nothing.
Then friends and family started asking: “Elizabeth, is this real? Should I try it?”
As someone who teaches digital literacy, I couldn’t recommend something I hadn’t tested myself.
So I gave it 30 days. No special promotion. No fancy strategy. Just creating lists and sharing them the way I normally share recommendations.
My 30-Day Reality Check: $16.78
Let me be completely transparent:
Total earnings: $16.78
Where it came from:
- $0.80 from Samsung Store purchase (10% bonus)
- $2.99 from another Samsung Store purchase (10% bonus)
- $2.99 Benable platform bonus
- $5.00 invite bonus
- $5.00 signup bonus
Actual commission from sales: $3.79 One-time bonuses: $12.99
Translation: I made less than $4 from actual shopping recommendations.
Over 75% were one-time bonuses that won’t repeat.
Why tell you this? Because when friends ask if Benable is worth it, honesty matters more than hype.
The Surprising Part: What Actually Sold
I created six lists across different topics:
Personal Development:
- Management Books for Beginners (my leadership journey)
- Books After a Breakup (healing reads by stage)
Tech & Productivity: 3. Streaming Starter Kit (complete setup) 4. Home Office Setup (23 workspace items)
Culture & Travel: 5. Kenyan Dishes You Must Try (food guide) 6. Hidden Nairobi Spots (18 local gems)
Which got sales?
Tech/Productivity.
Both Samsung purchases came from my Streaming Starter Kit list.
Not the heartfelt breakup guide. Not the management books. Not the Kenyan travel guides.
One person left a comment: “Great choice! So helpful!”
The lesson: People buy solutions to immediate problems, not aspirational content.
What Each List Type Taught Me
Tech Lists = Immediate Action (WINNER)
Performance: 2 sales in 30 days
People are ready to buy NOW. Higher price points mean better commissions. Even related purchases earn you money.
Book Lists = Long Game
Performance: 0 sales (but lots of saves)
People bookmark for later. Lower urgency. Lower price points ($15–25). Could pay off over months.
Travel/Experience Lists = Brand Building
Performance: 0 sales (but engagement)
Most items can’t be bought online. Aspirational, not transactional. Great for showcasing personality. Might lead to consulting or speaking gigs.
Why the Streaming List Won
It solves an urgent, expensive problem
“I need streaming gear NOW” beats “I should read about leadership someday” or “I want to visit Kenya eventually.”
Tech purchases happen immediately
Someone researching clicks through, browses Samsung, buys what they need. You earn either way.
Practical beats poetic
My breakup list: “Ready to stop pretending you’re fine? These transformative reads…”
My streaming kit: “This mic won’t pick up keyboard noise.”
When people shop, they want solutions, not stories.
Bonuses boost earnings
Both purchases triggered 10% Samsung bonuses.
Bottom line: Purchase intent + practicality + high prices = conversions.
My Biggest Mistakes
I built passion lists, not purchase lists
I loved the breakup book curation. Zero sales. The home office list was basic. Better performance.
I prioritized the wrong lists
Most time: Breakup books, Kenyan guides Least time: Streaming kit, home office
The rushed ones performed better.
I didn’t understand the bonus reality
$12.99 of $16.78 was one-time bonuses.
Real monthly earning potential right now: $4–6.
Skip the waitlist: Join now
The Real Win: Helping Lucy
Beyond the $3.79 in commissions, something better happened.
Lucy found my streaming kit while shopping. She commented: “Great choice! So helpful!” Then bought from Samsung.
She wasn’t browsing. She was deciding.
My list gave her confidence.
That’s word-of-mouth recommendations working.
If my list helps 2 people in month one, maybe 5 in month three, then 10 in month six.
The list works while I sleep. Trust compounds.
The Truth About Benable Income
What $16.78 actually means:
- $12.99 one-time bonuses
- $3.79 repeatable earnings
Realistic expectations:
- Month 1: $15–20 (inflated by bonuses)
- Month 2+: $5–15 with minimal promotion
- Month 6+: $20–50 if you build audience
- Year 1+: $100+ if you treat it like a business
My projection:
- Month 1: $16.78 (with bonuses)
- Month 2: $4–8 (without bonuses)
Not quitting my day job. But not quitting Benable either.
Why I’m Keeping “Losing” Lists
I’m not deleting the breakup books or Nairobi guides.
The Breakup Books:
- Sharing lists of books I have read or want to read with my friends
- Might convert slowly
The Kenyan Guides:
- Showcase heritage and the awesome foods for friends who are visiting
- May help some tourists that are headed to Kenya
- Help friends planning trips
The Management Books:
- Wanted to share the list with my mentees (Its honestly the reason I created it)
- Establish credibility
- Support consulting brand
Not every list needs to earn money this month.
My 4-List Framework (Copy This)
After 30 days, here’s what works:
💰 Income Lists (build first)
Purpose: Generate affiliate earnings Types: Tech, office gear, fitness equipment Goal: Solve immediate, expensive problems
🎯 Authority Lists (build credibility)
Purpose: Show expertise Types: Professional books, industry tools Goal: Position as trusted expert
💝 Impact Lists (show humanity)
Purpose: Connect emotionally Types: Breakup recovery, personal growth Goal: Build relationships
🌍 Brand Lists (be memorable)
Purpose: Differentiate yourself Types: Cultural guides, unique perspectives Goal: Be unforgettable
The strategy: Have all four.
Income lists pay bills. Authority builds trust. Impact creates connection. Brand makes you memorable.
Want to see all my lists in action? Check them out here
Skip the waitlist: Join now
What I Tell Friends Who Ask
“Should I try Benable?”
Depends what you want:
Quick money? No. Expect $15–20 month one (mostly bonuses), then $5–10 after.
Organize recommendations? Yes. Free, takes a few minutes to set up.
Multi-passionate? Yes. Showcase different sides (my tech, books, culture lists).
Need validation fast? No. Most lists won’t earn for months.
Patient and strategic? Yes. Build now, compound later.
My verdict: Try it with realistic expectations. Tech lists work better than passion projects, at least early on.
Who Benefits Most
This works for:
- Multi-passionate people with diverse interests
- Anyone with a small engaged audience (100 beats 10,000)
- Patient strategists building long-term assets
- People who already give recommendations
- Those comfortable with mixed monetization
Skip it if:
- You need income this month
- You have no audience
- You’re uncomfortable with affiliate marketing
- You expect bonuses every month
- You need instant validation
How to Start (Realistic Guide)
Step 1: Understand reality
Month 1 looks great (bonuses). Month 2 shows real potential. Don’t quit your job yet.
Step 2: Create 4–6 balanced lists
- 1–2 Income Lists (tech people need NOW)
- 1–2 Authority Lists (books in your field)
- 1–2 Brand Lists (uniquely YOU)
Step 3: Write for purpose
- Income: Practical, problem-solving
- Authority: Credibility-building
- Brand: Personal, story-driven
Step 4: Share strategically
- Income lists in buying communities
- Authority lists on LinkedIn
- Brand lists on personal social
Step 5: Be patient
Month 2 drops 50–75%. Judge over 6–12 months. Value comes from multiple sources.
Expect: $15–20 month one, then $5–10 initially
Hope for: Growth as lists compound
Ready to try? Skip the waitlist with my link
Is $16.78 Worth It If Only $4 Repeats?
Yes if you value:
- Building diverse assets
- Organizing recommendations anyway
- Showcasing expertise
- Patient compound growth
- Helping people without immediate pay
There are other medium users who have shared their successes and tips:
- Lokie Gamer:
How I Made My First $65 on Benable — From Zero to Something Real
2. Suomii Studio :
My Honest Benable Test: $22 in One Month with No Ads, No Blog, No Followers
No if you:
- Need money in 3 months
- Only measure success in dollars
- Can’t handle month 2 dropping to $5–8
- Don’t have varied interests
- Can’t wait for results
For me? Absolutely.
Not because of $16.78. Because:
- Lucy found value (impact)
- Kenyan lists showcase culture (brand)
- Book lists build credibility (authority)
- Tech lists might grow (income)
I’m building a helpfulness portfolio serving multiple goals.
Those 2 purchases could become 5, then 10.
Lists compound. Trust grows. $4 becomes $40.
Final Thoughts
After reading all those Medium articles creating 6 diverse lists taught me:
Tech lists earn money. Book lists build authority. Travel lists showcase culture. Healing lists create connection.
Together, they’re bigger than any single list.
My $16.78 looks decent. But $12.99 was one-time bonuses.
Real recurring income? $3.79 month one.
But real value?
- 6 shareable recommendation lists
- Proof I help people (Lucy’s comment)
- Portfolio showing tech expertise, leadership, heritage
- Foundation that can grow
That’s honest. That came from 5–6 hours total work.
If I grow that $4 to $40 over a year while building credibility and connections, that’s multi-dimensional winning.
That’s the actual math.
Build all three.
See my 6 lists: benable.com/lizwndungu
Skip the waitlist: Join with my link
Digital literacy for 50+: ndunguconsulting.com
P.S. If you try Benable, tell me: Which list type excites you most? Income, authority, or brand? Did month 1 surprise you? Brutal honesty welcome in comments.
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