Interesting and Unusual Ways to Make Money

Whether you need to earn a few extra bucks to make it through the month or are saving up for something special, you can always use some extra cash. If you don't have the time or desire to pick up a second job, you can try out one of these interesting and unusual ways to make money. These ideas may not make you rich, but they will give you some extra cash in your pocket.

Give your body or time to science. Research institutions, drug companies and universities often pay people to participate in research studies. The pay varies, but you can make good money, especially if you participate in clinical trials for medications. You may be given medications, asked to perform certain activities or simply asked to fill out a survey. You may also have to undergo monitoring procedures, such as having your blood drawn or blood pressure taken, so that the researcher can find out how your body was affected by the trial.

Donate Blood Plasma

Not only can your blood plasma save lives, it can also be worth money. Blood plasma, the liquid portion of your blood, is used in a variety of medical applications, and plasma donation centers will pay big money for it. This is not something for the squeamish, however, because you will have a needle inserted into your arm to collect the plasma. You must meet certain health and weight requirements to donate plasma for money. Once you are approved, however, you can donate up to twice a week and make several hundred dollars a month.

You know that you can sell your old junk online, but have you thought about selling other people’s junk? Browse through yardsales and look for things that you can pick at a bargain price and then resell elsewhere. You can resell items on Craigslist, Ebay, Amazon (for books), and even your own yardsale if you get the item for a low enough price.

Rent Out Your Extra Space

If you have an extra room, extra space in your garage or even extra space in your driveway, consider renting it out to make extra money. If you live near a major airport, subway, tourist attraction or sporting arena, you can rent out your driveway to commuters. The commuter can avoid the high parking fees and restrictions of commercial parking areas and you can earn extra money. It’s a win-win situation.

If you have an unused bedroom, you can rent it to a college student or someone who works in your city but lives elsewhere. Target individuals who don’t want to rent and furnish a full apartment. You can also rent out the extra storage space in your garage or shed.

Participate in Market and Consumer Research

Focus groups and marketing studies are another way to earn extra money. Companies conduct studies to find out what consumers think about their products or ideas. You may be asked to try out a product, fill out a survey or attend a focus group session.

Become a Mystery Shopper

If you like to shop, you may want to become a mystery shopper. Companies hire mystery shoppers to visit their stores and report back on their experience. You may be asked to purchase a product, ask a question or simply report on the appearance of the store and employees.

Drive Your Car for Cash

Become a driving advertisement. Some companies will pay you to place their ads on your car, and all you have to do is drive your car as normal. According to www.freecarmedia.com, their participants are paid up to $900 per month. That’s a lot of money for simply driving your car around town.

Cash in on your local attractions. If you live in an area with several camp grounds, offer firewood for sale. If you live near a lake, dig up worms and sell them as bait. If you enjoy photography and have the right equipment, offer to take family pictures at the beach or park. Think about what people coming to your area would need and offer a service or product for them to buy.

Offer a Service

Selling a service is not a new idea, but you can be creative in the services you offer. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Take care of people’s homes while they are on vacation or if they have moved away and are selling their house.
• Offer to petsit for people on vacation or who don’t have the time to care for all of the needs of their pets. You could bathe them, groom them, take them to vet appointments or walk them.
• Become a personal shopper or run errands for someone who is elderly or very busy.
• Offer apartment cleaning services to tenants who are moving out
• Teach workshops on car repair, computer skills, swimming, sports, crafts, gardening or any other skill you may have.
• Hold a mom’s day out program a few times a week in your home.