8 weird ways to make extra money
From writing messages on your lips to selling blood, these days there's almost no limit to the ways you can turn a buck.
This post comes from Brandon Ballenger at partner site Money Talks News.
There are two ways to get ahead financially: Spend less and make more. Unfortunately, you can't give yourself an instant raise. But that doesn't mean you can't turn a quick buck if you want or need to.
In the following video, Stacy Johnson highlights unusual ways to make a little extra cash. Check it out, then continue below for more ideas.
Here's a recap of Stacy's ideas, plus a few more:- Sell your body. For science, that is. You can sell whole blood or plasma. According to American Red Cross standards, you have to weigh at least 110 pounds, be 18 or older, and be in good health. Plasma can be sold monthly, and it takes about an hour and 15 minutes. Whole blood can be sold only every two months, but it takes just 10 minutes, on average. Check with your local hospital or clinic to see if it pays for donations. Each visit can be worth up to $35.
- Do clinical trials. Provided you qualify, participating in tests of new medicines and procedures can earn you up to a couple thousand dollars. Two sources for finding clinical trials are the National Institutes of Health database and the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation, which can also help you over the phone.
- Show talent. Fiverr.com helps you make money from your ability to do anything from retouching photos to singing. You can net $4 (the site takes a $1 cut) for a wide variety of small tasks. And if you don't have a special skill, try being clever or weird. Recently on the Fiverr front page, someone was offering to do voiceovers in a Power Ranger costume and another was offering to write messages on her lips. While lots of this stuff is silly, this site can theoretically be used as an entree for those with serious ambitions to showcase more traditional work.
- Sell used goods. If you have stuff you don't use -- and who doesn't? -- there are plenty of places to sell it, from Craigslist to eBay to Amazon. And if you don't want to wait on a buyer, you can trade in used electronics, books, movies and games at Amazon for credit. We have a few more ideas in "5 best websites for turning junk into cash." While this idea isn't particularly weird, if you need money, it's a good place to start.
- Sell crafts. Better than selling used is selling new -- especially if you have something unique to offer. Websites like Etsy.com can help you launch a side business selling your own crafts, from jewelry to painting to custom purses and clothing. Promoting your crafts on a social network like Pinterest can help drum up business.
- Work online. One of our most-asked questions: Is there legitimate work from home? Technically, yes. In fact, you're reading some right now: Every Money Talks News staffer works from home. But finding a legitimate work-at-home job isn't easy, and there are a lot of scams. Still, you can use the Internet to make extra cash. You can provide product research on sites like SurveySavvy.com for anywhere from $1 to $15 per survey, or perform quick menial tasks like tagging images for a few cents each on Mechanical Turk. You can also use the Internet to find offline jobs in your area (like bartending or short-term work as a personal assistant) at Zaarly, where some gigs are worth $100 or more.
- Find missing money. "Finding unclaimed cash" explains how to check with government agencies for cash you didn't know you had, like tax refunds, retirement accounts from old employers, abandoned paychecks, and unclaimed life insurance proceeds.
- Try apps. As smartphones become more popular, some startup businesses are based entirely on apps that get you to use them in certain ways while you're out and about. In "5 smartphone apps that can earn you money," we covered apps that can make you $5 to $10 for something as simple as snapping quick photos to prove a store has a certain product in stock. There are even apps that reward you for trying and reviewing other apps.
More on Money Talks News and MSN Money:
Am I the only one who thinks this is just sick? Sell your bodily fluids is now the new American dream job? To bad there isn't a market for feces as I have a tank full of it in my back yard at the moment... I want a job where I can just spout out crap like this and get paid. 99.9% of what this guy says is common sense. Got extra junk...need money...hey how about eBay...wow, what a brain storm...never dun wulda though bout that der ider...you sure is smart mister.. tanks. I'm surprised this brain stormer forgot to tell us all to check under our couch cushions. Here's a new article...feet stink? Get some soap and wash them!! Wow, I'm on my way to a new career in msn journalism!! If this is where Americans are turning for advise, it is no wonder we are in the position we are.
I have been selling plasma for the last 3 months and the writer of this article is wrong, you can sell plasma 2 times a week so its not just monthly. LOL
· If you are going to sell plasma start drinking about a gallon of water a day to cut down on donor time. The more dehydrated you are the longer it takes to get the plasma out of you.
· Bring along a book or something to keep you busy (I am rereading Harry Potter and also get online on my phone while I’m donating) You can’t sleep during donation because they need to make sure you haven’t passed out.
· Be sure to wear comfy clothes because you will be laying in a recliner for at least an hour.
· Take a light jacket, they give you a saline drip (at room temp) when they return your red blood cells which makes you a little chilly.
(For me its been a very enjoyable process because I relax while I’m there and am able to read my book uninterrupted & I look forward to it every week!)
***The Red cross DOES NOT pay for plasma but one of the biggest companies is CSL****
It is very sad that none of you know how important is to donate plasma. For patients with primary immunodeficiency...you are born with a genetic disorder that can not fight any infection. A minor cold would be life-threatening. Without plasma donors, those patients would not be alive. I hope all of you get to donate plasma, even if the economy is good. This is not only about economy, is about thousands of people's life.
Even if you get paid, it does not take away that is saving a life, and it does not take away that you are doing something good.
@Blood donor: it is not illegal to compensate people. Blood banks give gift cards or tickets to parks, plasma centers give cash.
I do not think is immoral or illegal or unethical to pay plasma donors. Last year I visited a center and saw how this is, and that this takes a LOT OF TIME. I learned that to get enough to make one dose, a single dose, they need 7-10 donations. In order to make the medicines they need a lot of people, and a lot of people returning.
Many of us would not even think about it because the "money is not worth it"...2 hours for a few bucks...but a life is worth it, and thank goodness that they get paid, so at least there is an additional incentive to return every week. I do not care that they first come in because of the money, but in reality those who stay is because they also care and help people.
So, before you talk, or judge, think past your social perceptions. Get a job AND also donate.
@ blood donation - read it again - it says sell for science, nothing about transfusion into people. Does anyone read before they post,,,Also think of the title "8 weird ways to make extra money" so if you don't get what is being said or you lack reading compression, then don't post, or write something better, this is information not a debate,,,,,
Enough Crap Articles!
I think it is time for Americans to demand a higher quality from the press that denigrates all of us down to street vendors.
And if you paid out tax dollars in federal student aid to millions but none of them can pay these loans back because of power-hungry Congress that fails students - do you believe that they will earn enough to pay you back with ideas like this?
Tell the press - provide substance or we'll shut you down and open the path for new media sources!
That includes CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS.
The mark of an entrepeneur is one who defies the odds with passion because she knows the words of the Bill of Rights.
She doesn't listen to men that order her around like a piece of property.
This statement is directed primarily to the Newsweek staff.
Capice?
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