3 Unique Side Gigs That Can Help You Earn More and Add to Your Savings
Whether you want to aggressively pay off your student loans, get rid of your credit card debt, or save towards a down payment on your dream home, having additional income is a great way to work towards that goal.
You could easily get a part-time job working in retail or in the hospitality industry, but doing that would mean giving up your weekends and probably your evenings, and let’s be real… no one wants to do that if you’re already working a full-time, Monday-Friday job. Instead, try looking for jobs that give you more control over your hours, and even your rate of pay.
Gigs like that are great because they allow you the flexibility to work around your own schedule, cutting your stress levels in half! I mean, you’re already stressed from your main job… you don’t need any added stress from a side gig that you’re doing for extra money.
When you have a financial goal that you’re trying to reach, you start to pinch corners everywhere, on top of trying to find a side gig to bring in extra money. Whether you start cooking more instead of eating out, or turn off your air conditioner and open the windows, you know that every little bit counts!
So if you’re serious about bringing in a little extra money in this year without taking on the responsibilities of a traditional part-time job, then consider these unique side gigs that will make you money and help you save towards your financial goals.
Become a Test Subject in Research Studies
You know that researchers are always studying new medical treatments and ways to advance the medical field, right? Well, the guinea pigs they use to test out these ideas and theories usually get paid!
Whether you’re open to the idea of testing pharmaceutical drugs or prefer to stick to the psychological studies, you could earn a nice chunk of money as a test subject contributing to the advancement of medical sciences.
Just keep in mind, you might be asked to do unusual things like take a pill and keep track of how often you move your bowels in a day, or you might be asked to stay awake for several hours! You can make anything from $10 to thousands of dollars depending on the time frame of the study and the invasiveness of it.
Sell Your Body… Legally!!
I know you read this sub-topic and your jaw dropped! Don’t be alarmed, everything is legal, and doesn’t cost you a dime!
Breast Milk. One of the ways you can make money the “natural” way is to sell your breast milk. Moms all over the world are joining the bandwagon in freezing and selling their breast milk. You might be turning your nose up right now, but doing this actually is helpful to mothers who struggle to breastfeed their babies, or their babies don’t react well to formulas.
Sperm Donor. For men, they, of course, have had the option to sell sperm at sperm banks for quite some time, but if you are thinking about doing that, just keep in mind that sperm banks are quite picky about their donors… you usually have to fit the description of educated, young, tall, and physically and mentally in great shape!
Egg Donor. Young women who donate their eggs could earn $5,000 or more as an egg donor. The process is definitely lengthy and intensive, so by the time the whole process is done, you will definitely have earned the money you’ll be receiving, but you will also be helping mothers around the world who are struggling to produce their own eggs.
Become a Wedding Officiant
When someone gets married, there are people in the wedding that play specific roles in the wedding. You have your typical roles of the bride and groom, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and you have the wedding officiant. In the past, the role of a wedding officiant was reserved for religious officials, ship captains, or judges but now, anybody can become a wedding officiant (depending on your state)!
As a wedding officiant, you are legally recognized as someone who can lead a wedding ceremony and marry two people. It is your signature that will be on that couple’s marriage license, and by signing it you are in agreement that a couple is legally allowed to get married, are of legal age to be married, and are not already married or living in a state that prohibits same-sex marriage.
To become a wedding officiant is very simple and doesn’t require years of study. Once you’ve actually lead a few ceremonies, and if you enjoy it, you can start your own business officiating weddings. As simple as it is to become ordained as a wedding officiant, it’s just as simple to get your wedding officiant business started… it just takes a few simple steps!
