Step 1: get away from spawn
Spawn is crowded and dangerous. Use random teleport and travel further before you settle, the further out, the safer your base.
Step 2: make starter money
- Farm crops or kelp and sell with /sell.
- Kill mobs for drops.
- Check the auction house for cheap gear.
Step 3: build a hidden base
Dig down, keep the entrance small and disguised and never build on the surface at first. A stash schematic gives you a proven hidden layout.
Step 4: start an AFK farm
A small farm next to your base earns while you are offline. Grab a farm schematic and build it with Litematica.