Good morning Dinks. I’m not talking about our normal day jobs, although I’m sure some of us have great stories about all the things we have to put up with to get a regular pay check. But I’m not talking about all that – it’s a whole other discussion. I’m talking about all the outrageous things you’ve ever done for money.
I’m hoping no one is going to tell us that they’ve done anything illegal or crazy like robbing a bank (we know that doesn’t work, remember?) or hijacking a casino a la Ocean’s Eleven. I’m talking about anything and everything we would do to get a few (or a lot) or extra dollars in our pockets.
Having extra money is never a bad thing
I was reading the side hustle series on my friends blog over at Budgets Are Sexy and to be honest the stories were both shocking and comforting. As you know I’m a hustler. I work 40 hours every week at my day job and I put in another 20 to 30 hours into my freelance writing business. Why? Well to tell you the truth (without sounding like a total douche bag) I love money. After reading the side hustle series it was great to know that I’m not crazy. It’s comforting to know that other people get their hustle on too!
I’ve always had more than one job, ever since I was 16. Before I started freelance writing I worked in a lingerie store, at McDonalds, in a kids clothing store, sold candles and I even tried to get a part time job at the cable company so I could get my TV, internet and home phone at a discounted rate.
Would you sell sex for extra money?
If I didn’t have a boyfriend and had the courage to do so I think my new side hustle would be selling sex. Not the dirty, street corner kind, but the legit, clean five star hotel kind of sex. I read the Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl trilogy and it really opened my eyes as to how prostitution can really be a business.
I mean these women had penthouse apartments in Manhattan, private personal trainers, vacationed in the south of France and paid taxes. All they had to do was get an A list clientele and they were making a six figure income. It’s a totally respectable occupation when you treat it like a profession.
Would you pick through garbage for extra money?
This is 100% a true story. There’s a lot of money in recycling. I know you’re probably thinking about homeless people recycling cans at the grocery store, but it can be so much more than that. It’s not by any means glamorous and there are no added perks such as getting your lingerie at half price or eating Big Macs for free, but collecting recyclable goods will put some extra money in your pocket.
I have a friend who used to stroll around her neighbourhood on Saturday and Sunday mornings picking the cans and bottles out of recycling bins. No joke she made $50 in two days from recycling. Not bad for a weekend. She always said “The great thing about recycling is you can make as much money as you want.” And she’s right. If you want to make more then you have to walk around more and put in more hours. But an extra $50 a week was good enough to fill her car with gas – and it’s tax free.
Would you gamble to make extra money?
While I’m sure we all try our best at our normal day jobs to make money, including making tips and doing extra hours to save a few more pennies here and there, this extra money has the potential to be multiplied. I know some people who budget a certain amount every paycheck for their gambling hobby, whether that be going to a physical brick-and-mortar casino, or online live dealer games, table games, or slots. Personally, I enjoy placing a bet and the thrill of winning any low or high-stakes bet. While this can be a risky endeavor, that’s all a part of the fun, entertainment, and excitement. Lately, I have been online for my betting and I have made sure to check out and review the latest online slots as a way to make some extra money. It’s always important to find a reputable casino if you’re entering your bank details online, and setting limits to suit your needs.
Photo from my Flickr
Kristina Tahnyak
Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.
I once watched porn for money. Does that count? Seriously: I was paid $35 to watch a female-produced pornographic film as part of a university study. (And some people have to pay TO watch this stuff!)
If it’s kosher to post URLs, here’s an MSN Money piece I did on the topic:
http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post–need-dollar50-fast-try-these-short-term-gigs
There’s no deposit law here, so I can’t make money recycling cans and bottles. But I do pick up caps from Coca-Cola products when I see them and also pull discarded 12- and 24-pack boxes out of the recycling center bins. Then I trade in the My Coke Rewards points for free AMC movie tickets (for my daughter and son-in-law) and free 12-pack coupons (for myself).
I figure I’m out walking or driving to the recycling anyway, and just a little effort lets me treat my loved ones and myself.
Recently MCR started offering coupons for $3 off a 12-pack, an award that takes fewer points than an outright-free coupon. Last weekend the transaction went this way:
Diet Coke, three 12-packs for $12 (less in the states, but here we have the Alaska Gouge)
One free coupon plus two $3-off coupons = three 12-packs for $2, or about a nickel a can
Sure, soda isn’t good for me. But what’s life without a LITTLE sin? And there ain’t no sin like frugal-hacked sin.
Besides, in the past I’ve traded in points for holiday gifts like magazine subscriptions, a T-shirt and a NASCAR hat. Here’s an explanation of the program:
http://donnafreedman.com/2010/06/15/you-just-gonna-toss-that-bottle-cap/