If you put in time, adding comments to content you like, posting stuff you like, resteeming and upvoting great content, you will rise in rep and earn a little something while your at it.

If you are enjoying it I strongly encourage powering up all steem for the first while or buying a little to get yourself started.

If you have steem power your votes award more rewards, and yes you can reward yourself ("self-vote"). So buying steempower is like mining crypto, but with the power of words and your time.

Good luck.