If you’re interested in bringing in more cash, you may be happy to know there are countless weird ways to make money, from selling your hair to testing food to beekeeping. With today’s high cost of living and inflation chipping away at paychecks, many consumers are seeking extra income by starting part-time work or a side hustle.
So, if you want to pad your wallet with extra cash, here are some odd ways to make money in your spare time.
Key Points
• Renting out your backyard for campers can provide a unique earning opportunity.
• Participate in sleep studies, clinical trials, and market research to earn extra cash.
• Earn by testing websites and providing usability feedback.
• Help people move their belongings as a professional mover.
• Compete in food challenges or writing contests to win cash prizes.
Benefits of Weird Ways to Make Money
Generating additional income is a key benefit of starting a side hustle, and sometimes you need to be creative about how to do that. When you hit on an idea that pulls in more cash, you can use that to afford some small splurges (go ahead and get that pricey salad you love twice next week), but it can also help in a more lasting way. Whether you bring in an extra $100 or $1,000 per month, you can reap the following advantages:
• Repay debt. High-interest debt, especially from credit cards, can gobble up your income and inhibit financial growth. Paying off debt can be a huge step forward in your financial health.
• Boost retirement savings. Take advantage of the power of compounding returns by stashing more money into your IRA or 401(k) — your retired self will thank you!
• Achieve financial stability. Your extra money can build an emergency fund that allows you to handle unexpected expenses or survive for a few months without work, protecting you from the consequences of sudden job loss or a downshifting economy.
• Follow your passion. While your day job might not be the career path of your dreams, a side hustle allows you to explore what you love and earn money along the way. For example, your woodworking hobby or love of knitting can become a profitable business.
• Accomplish a financial goal. Whether you want to take an overseas vacation or update your kitchen, making extra money can help you afford a financial goal without taking on debt or dipping into your savings.
• Grow professionally. Although your second job might be unusual, such as becoming a professional eater, it can allow you to make new connections, acquire new skills, and open the door for career opportunities.
• Structure time intentionally. Another job will cut down your free time, but this can be a net positive — for example, it can help you direct the hours you have to yourself to what matters most, such as spending time with friends and family. Hard work can help highlight the good times with the ones you love.
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Making Money: 27 Unusual Ways
If you’re looking for ways to make money from home or in the outside world without loads of special training, check out this list of weird ways to make money.
1. Renting Your Backyard for Campers
No matter where you live, if you’re in a house, your lawn could be a sought-after destination for adventurers and budget vacationers. Via websites like Hipcamp, you can advertise a comfortable, affordable place to stay for a couple of nights for backpackers or vanlifers. Bonus points if you’re near popular attractions. At Hipcamp, the average active host pulls in between $8,000 to $15,000 per year.
2. Becoming a Professional Sleeper
Another one of the strange ways to make money is by sleeping (seriously!). Despite its necessity and benefits, sleep is mysterious to us, and the scientific community has much to research about it. For instance, you could become a subject for researchers trying to better understand sleep. One University of Colorado study paid almost $3,000 for a study to be completed in less than a day. Sleeping also has commercial utility in various situations. For example, you might try out a company’s products, such as a prototype pillow or sleep mask. To find gigs, set up some search-engine alerts with keywords such as “sleep study” or “sleep tester” and also comb job boards, especially at universities doing research.
3. Renting Out a Shed
Have enough room on your property for extra boxes, appliances, or tools? An app like Neighbor lets you rent out your extra storage space for other people’s possessions, processes payments for your services, and is free to use. It’s like Uber or Airbnb — but with your attic or garage.
Recommended: What to Know Before Renting Out a Room in Your House
4. Test Websites
You can be a professional web surfer by testing websites for companies wanting to improve their online capabilities. Tasks range from clicking a link to finding a specific page on a website. A few minutes a day could earn you income (anywhere from 10 cents to 10 dollars per assignment, depending on the time required), and payments usually come to you through a convenient app like Venmo or PayPal.
5. Being a Professional Mover
Moving is a challenge and can be a very stressful experience. People will often pay big money for help packing, cleaning, and transporting items. This job is physically demanding, so it may not be for everyone. You can work weekends for a moving company or become an independent mover with a company like U-Haul. You might also advertise your services locally if you have a van and access to moving supplies.
6. Professional Eating
Here’s another odd way to make money: If you can gulp down food in a matter of minutes, professional eating is a viable side hustle. Local restaurants might give rewards for accomplishing food challenges. In addition, Major League Eating hosts food challenges across the United States with cash prizes for winners. Want to aim high? The annual Nathan’s hot-dog eating contest pays a $10,000 prize.
💡 Quick Tip: Want a simple way to save more everyday? When you turn on Roundups, all of your debit card purchases are automatically rounded up to the next dollar and deposited into your online savings account.
7. Cuddling
Today’s modern, fast-paced world can deprive people of physical touch, a vital factor in mental and emotional health. Cuddle Comfort is a secure website that sets up platonic cuddling sessions. At around $80 per hour, you could be well-compensated for helping others snuggle up and feel less isolated.
8. Befriending a Stranger
If you’re personable and love embarking on new experiences, being a professional friend may be right for you. RentAFriend.com is a website helping those lacking companionship. Whether you’re walking through a park or attending an evening event, your job is to spend time with people looking for friendship, make interesting conversation, and let your personality shine. Rates typically range from $20 to $50 an hour.
9. Being a Test Subject
Looking for more crazy ways to earn money? According to Ziprecuriter, the average income for a test subject nationwide is $53 an hour. By participating in market research, psychology studies, and clinical trials, you can turn your spare time into profitable experiences where you can reap the financial rewards.
10. Selling Plasma
Blood plasma is helpful for medical studies and healthcare procedures. It can save lives during surgery complications and aid scientific breakthroughs. Your body naturally produces this valuable substance, which you can sell twice per week in a process that’s similar to donating blood (but takes longer). For most people, the process has no side effects.
Plasma donors typically receive payment in a prepaid card and can earn around $100 per donation. Plus, companies like CSL Plasma pay new donors up to $700 for their first month of service to sweeten the deal.
11. Joining Writing Contests
If you have a way with words, a writing contest could be right up your alley. Whether you write as a creative outlet or to explore new ideas, you can get paid for your passion by entering a writing contest. Dozens of fee-based contests exist, meaning you can likely find your niche, enter your pieces, and hopefully win the top prize. As a bonus, you may receive reviews of your work and pointers for sharpening your craft. Search online for opportunities.
12. Being a Food Tester
Who doesn’t love to eat? This delicious pastime could become a weird way to earn money if you become a food tester. You might test new snacks and meals for a “sensory testing company” like Matrix Sciences. You can generally earn a minimum of $25 to $30 per session, though it could be more depending on the type and length of the test.
13. Reviewing “Sensitive Content”
Another unusual way to make quick cash is to review sensitive content for websites like YouTube and Reddit. Millions of users post content every day, making it almost impossible to review all of it. Therefore, large companies often hire people to review sensitive content to ensure everything is appropriate for the internet.
Remember, though; you may have to view some vulgar and upsetting content. So, if you have a weak stomach, this might not be your side hustle.
14. Recommend Items You Love
We all have our go-to essentials, like a preferred makeup brush or olive oil brand. Rather than just waxing poetic to your friends about them, you can write or post videos about your recommendations. Affiliate links online can earn you commissions. How it works: You direct your web audience to your favorite company’s website and receive cash rewards when they make purchases.
15. Cleaning Pet Poop for Others
While not the most appetizing of propositions, that poop needs to get taken care of somehow. Pet owners without the time or physical ability to clean up after their beloved animals can make good use of your services. All you need is transportation and clean-up equipment to get started. You can build your clientele base by posting flyers around your neighborhood or advertising online. Consider charging between $40 and $80 to clean up a messy yard.
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16. Host City Tours
Another unusual way to make money: If you live in a town that attracts tourists, you can conduct tours for visitors. You might have a passion for your city’s beloved parks or knowledge of its history. Whatever your specialty, you can build a website advertising your services or use an app like Showaround or FreeTour (where you earn money via tips) to put your skills to work.
17. Waiting in Line for Someone
While it’s boring when doing this for yourself, waiting in line in someone else’s place can be a profitable side hustle. Apps like Spotblaze or TaskRabbit allow you to connect with customers looking for someone to wait in line for a concert ticket, new tech gadget, or parking permit renewal. The more popular the event or product, the more you can charge (some people report having made $80 per hour). Plus, you can listen to an audiobook, podcast, or music while you wait.
18. Losing Weight
Here’s a weird way to earn money that’s also potentially healthy. Shedding pounds can also mean big capital gains with websites like HealthyWage. Here’s how it works: You set your weight loss goal and then wager a dollar amount of your choice that you’ll be successful. This setup gives you extra motivation by putting your money where your mouth is. If you hit your goal, you win prize money and receive your initial investment back. However, failing to hit your goal means losing your wager.
Recommended: 39 Passive Income Ideas to Build Wealth
19. Selling Your Hair
This opportunity is more selective, as you’ll have to grow your hair at least 10 inches long in most cases to sell it for a significant profit. However, if your hair grows quickly, you can pair this side hustle with others to generate income. Human hair is excellent for weaves, wigs, and scientific uses, and you can sell yours on websites like Hairsellon or eBay.
20. Give Your Opinion With Online Surveys
If you love giving your opinion, filling out online surveys can be a great way to earn extra cash. Platforms like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks want people to share their detailed opinions on specific topics. Surveys can take anywhere from five minutes to one hour to complete. If you complete three surveys daily, you can earn as much as $40 a month.
21. Selling Digital Templates
Folks with a knack for design can enjoy selling digital templates and potentially make thousands of dollars monthly. You can create e-book page layouts, brand kits, social media packages, and more. Using a site like Canva, you can create endless digital templates that you may be able to sell from the comfort of your own home.
22. Beekeeping
Here’s another offbeat way to bring in money: Beekeeping is the practice of caring for bees so they can contribute to the growth of your garden or the environment. Before you can start making money, you will need to gain some experience (if you don’t have any). Once you gain experience, you can make money by selling bee products such as honey, providing pollination services, or educating others on beekeeping.
23. Organize Other People’s Things
We can thank The Home Edit and Marie Kondo for encouraging everyone to live a life of organization. But, while it comes easy for some, others may struggle to get started. So, if you enjoy organizing the closet, cabinets, papers, or anything, you could make between $30 and $130 per hour organizing people’s homes. To get started, sign up for sites like Thumbtack and Westtenth and let people know about your services.
24. Being a Statue
Believe it or not, you can make money without even lifting a finger, or actually moving at all. Acting as a statue on a busy street can help you earn some extra dough from passers-by and tourists who leave tips. Depending on the time and traffic of the location you choose, you can make as much as $60 to $80 per hour.
25. Taking Notes for Others
Another unusual way to make money is to sell your college lecture notes. Sites like EduBirdie allow you to sell your notes to students who missed a lecture or need help getting through course material. Keep in mind that notes need to be typed, not handwritten. Pay runs around $1 per lecture note.
26. Mystery Shopping
When you become a secret shopper or mystery shopper, you can earn cash by shopping at local retailers, completing shopping surveys, or taking photos of displays. Registering for an account with apps like Mobee or Marketforce can help you start earning extra money shopping.
27. Review Music
Music lovers can make extra money by reviewing unsigned artists online at Slicethepie. Some categories will pay more than others. However, all payments will be listed at the top of the category page so you can decide if the review is worth your time. Typical pay for those just starting out is less than 20 cents per review, but if you love listening, this could bring in some extra pocket change.
The Takeaway
Using these weird ways to make money can help you boost your savings, pay off debt, or allow you to get paid for doing something you love. So whether you make extra cash sleeping, eating, shopping, or giving your opinion, you can inch one step closer to your financial goals.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Where can I sell weird things?
Websites like Ecwid, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and eBay are just a few platforms where you can sell weird items like keychains, eccentric jewelry, or clothes. People have even marketed air on some of these sites.
How much money can I make from these weird ways to make money?
The amount of money you make in these weird ways will depend on the gig you choose and how much time you invest in it. For example, if you choose to start reviewing music and only post a few critiques, you might only make a dollar; if you clean up someone’s messy yard of dog poop, you might earn $80 per session after proving to be a competent and reliable provider.
Are any of these weird ways to make money illegal?
No, all of the crazy ways to make money above are legitimate and legal.
Photo credit: iStock/Diamond Dogs
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