There are many different ways to make a side income out there. You can make money at a part-time job, a full-time job, online, offline, and any other way that you are able to.
Side income can come in handy, and sometimes you may want to branch out and try something different.
Maybe you need a significant amount of side income to pay off a large unexpected expense or maybe you are just looking for a more interesting way to make money.
Whatever your reason may be, there is something out there for you to do.
If you’re interested in reading about the ways I’ve made extra money, read 10 Things I’ve Done To Make Extra Money. Also, don’t forget that even if you don’t have a blog, you can still make money through your social media accounts such as Twitter and Instagram!
Below are four interesting side income ideas:
1. Sleep for extra money.
The first of the four side income ideas I will discuss today is the NASA sleep study.
Getting paid to sleep sounds interesting, right? Well for some it can pay fairly well, to the tune of $18,000. All you have to do is lay in a bed for 70 days.
NASA is doing this research in order to find out more about how space affects astronauts. From their website they state:
Head-down bed rest helps researchers study people on earth in a way that causes some of the changes the body goes through while traveling in space without gravity… Watching you will help scientists learn how an astronaut’s body will change in weightlessness during space flight in the future.
You will be in the bed at all times, even to shower or use the bathroom. I think this would be a very difficult study to do as I would probably go crazy not seeing sunlight or walking for that many days, but it does pay well.
If you’re accepted into this study, you will receive $1,200 per week for your time.
2. Sell your poop for side income.
Being honest here, this side income idea is probably the reason most of you clicked over to this blog post.
Yes, you can actually make money selling your poop.
According to The Washington Post, you can make up to $13,000 a year by selling your poop to the company OpenBiome. OpenBiome needs it because it is “administered to patients who are very sick with infections of a bacteria called C. difficile.”
The company is willing to pay so much for these donations as finding a worthy donor is quite difficult. They need extremely healthy people, with only around 4% of people who have applied actually passing all of their tests.
So, what does the company pay?
They pay $40 for each sample you give. You receive a $50 weekly bonus on top of that if you donate five days each week. The average donor donates around three to four times a week.
If you are interested in this side income idea, you can check out the details on how to apply here.
Related content: How To Make $180,000+ A Year Selling Your Poop
3. Rent yourself out to others (as a friend).
I recently heard about the website Rentafriend.com and knew I had to include it in this side income ideas post.
This website allows you to get hired to be someone’s friend. They might bring you to a party, as a wedding guest, to go out to dinner with, to the gym (so they can have a workout buddy), and so on.
The website specifically says that it is platonic friendships only and is not an escort agency, so I’m assuming everyone on this website is strictly paying for friendships.
I did a simple search on their website to see who is listed on the website and I actually came across a Facebook friend of mine.
On Rentafriend.com, they state that some work full-time and make over $2,000 a week as a rental friend, whereas some work part-time and earn between $300 to $500 a weekend.
4. Rent your car out – probably one of the easier side income ideas in this post.
There are many car sharing websites out there, such as RelayRides, if you just do a simple Google search. With these car sharing websites, you can usually rent out your car hourly, daily, weekly, or even monthly.
You most likely do you use your car at all hours of the day, so some people try to make extra money by renting out their car for when they aren’t using it.
You do need to be careful with this. Make sure your car insurance company will allow you to do this. You also have to realize that you might see some damage with your car as strangers will be driving it.
Depending on the car that you are renting and the duration of each rental, you may be able to make anywhere from $10 to over $100 for each time your car is rented out.
How far would you go to make side income? What side income ideas would you never do?
Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank says
With that much income, I’d probably start selling my own poo tomorrow! Honestly, the income from sleeping is really good but I don’t think I can last three days by just lying in bed. I can’t.
Michelle S. says
Yeah, I think my body would really start hurting if I couldn’t move for that long!
EarlyRetirementGuy says
Wow, the first 2 are particularly weird! I don’t fancy my chances on the bed study, I suspect the effect on your muscles and mind would take a long time afterwards to correct.
Michelle S. says
Yes, that’s exactly why I wouldn’t want to do it.
G says
probably I would have some problems with ideas number 1 for the other interestings!!!
Michelle S. says
🙂
Revanche says
I’ve got some practice at that lying in bed for long periods of time thing thanks to severe pain flares and even I would have a hard time going 70 days straight! even with twitter and other internet to keep you company, I bet most of us would be stir crazy after a week. I do wonder, though, do they change the sheets regularly? And how big is the bed? 🙂
Michelle S. says
Yes, I think 70 days would be very hard to do!
Zaby @ Zaby's Perspective says
you can sell your poop? interesting
Michelle S. says
Haha yup.
Mrs. Frugalwoods says
Hah! Who knew? I don’t think I could do the sleep study–that’s far too much time being stationary. I definitely can’t hold still for that long!
Michelle S. says
Same here!
Kristia {Family Balance Sheet} says
hmmmm, if only I lived closer to Massachusetts! LOL.
Michelle S. says
Haha yes!
Gina Horkey says
Now that’s just crazy! Interesting, but crazy;-)
Michelle S. says
Haha I agree Gina.
Amy says
Wow – these are interesting. I’ll keep them in mind for if we ever REALLY need money. 🙂
Michelle S. says
Haha good idea 🙂
Emily @ Simple Cheap Mom says
70 days strapped to a bed. That’s some serious study, no wonder it pays so well!
If I thought I was in the top 4% of healthy people, I’d be shipping my sh.. well you know, off today!
Michelle S. says
hahahaha!
Holly@ClubThrifty says
OMG Michelle- these are awful! I think I’ll stick with my day job!
Michelle S. says
Haha same here!
Clarisse says
I had read about the NASA sleep study and that’s a pretty huge amount! 🙂 Renting your car is a great side income too, I know someone who already bought another car because she made a good income from renting her own car.
Michelle S. says
Wow that’s interesting about your friend! I have never heard of someone buying a car just for that.
Ree Klein says
You are CRAZY if you think I’m doing #1 or #2 (no pun intended!)!!!!
But, your post illustrates that there are a bazillion ways to earn money. These days anyone who cries that there are no opportunities or it’s too hard to get a job is just plain lazy. Hey, maybe those are the people who should sign up for the sleep study!
Cheers,
Ree
Michelle S. says
I agree! There are PLENTY of things for people to do out there.
Stephanie says
Selling poop. You always find the weird stuff! Man, I’ve been a wedding date for a lot of my friends, who knew I should have been charging? I was just in it for the free dinner.
Michelle S. says
Haha when I read about selling poop I knew I had to create a post about this 🙂
Ana says
Geez, most of the weddings I’m invited to don’t have ” plus guest”, only if you’re married.
Mrs PoP @ Planting Our Pennies says
So weird. I’m strangely fascinated by what it means to have healthy poop!
Michelle S. says
Haha I know!
Michelle L says
My mouth is dropping with these ideas Michelle. Speechless.
Michelle S. says
🙂
Rust says
Wow. And that’s about all I got. 🙂
Interesting post!
Michelle S. says
Thanks!
Gen Y Finance Guy says
Now all you need to do is add a 5th option for making money from a side hustle. Donating sperm or eggs, not sure if that one goes before or after selling your poop.
I admit that it was the selling poop that got me to click through, still a kid at heart.
Cheers!
Michelle S. says
Thanks! 🙂
Michelle @ Modern Acupuncture Marketing says
What have I been doing with my life, sleeping like a normal person and flushing away money? Got to be honest, I couldn’t do either of those options. I like the car renting idea though. I might be feel guilty getting paid to be nice to someone and go places with them. Interesting concept, though…
Michelle S. says
Haha I love your comment Michelle!
Rick Laming says
Interesting read. As painful as laying in a bed for 70 days or as odd and uncomfortable it could be to sell my own excrement for some extra cash sounds. I think the idea of renting my car would be too much to bear. But nevertheless these are some great ideas. Good work on thinking outside the box!
Thanks again.
Rick Laming @Getrichbrothers.com
Michelle S. says
Thanks Rick!
Jason B says
Currently looking for a house in MA. But seriously #2 is one of craziest ways to make money. People literally are paying for sh…. lol.
Michelle S. says
Haha well technically #2 has been saving lives. I had no idea!
Fervent Finance says
Interesting should have been in all caps, italicized, and in bold. Being paid to be a friend reminds me of the hilarious movie with Paul Rudd “I Love You, Man” where he doesn’t have any guy friends to be in his wedding party 🙁
Michelle S. says
Haha I love that movie!
Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It says
Holy Canoli! This is quite the interesting list. Not sure I would want to do any of them but it goes to show, there’s something for everyone;0)
Michelle S. says
Haha yup!
Natalie says
I have no words! HA. This is hilarious. Made funnier that it’s true.
Michelle S. says
Haha Natalie. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Barrie says
Well, I must say these are some interesting ways to make money. Who knew?! 🙂
Michelle S. says
Haha thanks for reading 🙂
nicole dziedzic says
Okay I could do the sleeping one for sure, I mean who on here couldn’t need more sleep and get paid to do it, but the poop one sounds a little strange, I wouldn’t be able to do that one, I will just stick to the old way of selling my unused items online or yard sales.
Michelle S. says
Haha I agree Nicole 🙂
Mrs. Maroon says
Entirely too bizarre for me. I must not be cut out for a side hustle…
Michelle S. says
Haha there are more boring side hustles out there 🙂
Squirrelers says
Goes to show that if people are desperate enough, there are ways to make legitimate side income! Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing. A few of these, well, all I can say is “who knew?”
Michelle S. says
Haha thanks!
Pamela Gurganus says
Oh my! These are some very interesting ways to make some extra money!
Michelle S. says
Haha yes Pamela!
Mike Collins says
Well that’s a catchy headline! Selling poop is something I’ve never heard of, and I like the idea of getting paid to sleep but 70 days? I’d miss too much and I’m guessing health would decline significantly.
Michelle S. says
Haha yes, very catchy 🙂
Kali @ XY Planning Network says
From the headline I was thinking selling your own waste was going to be the wildest part of this post.. but for some reason I think it’s even crazier that someone would literally pay to rent a friend. Wacky! I guess there truly is something for everyone out there.. 🙂
Michelle S. says
Haha yes being a rental friends sounds… Interesting.
Melanie @ Dear Debt says
Wow, that poop thing is freaky. And I wonder how well the rent a friends do? With so many online communities, I feel like you could get real friends on Meetup, etc.
Michelle S. says
Yeah I’m not sure how the rent a friends things works. I would love to hear from someone who makes a full-time income from that website one day.
Michelle says
I just saw a thing on t.v. about how Japanese people are so lonely that they are renting friends to do things with. It doesn’t surprise me that we have the same issue in the U.S. 🙁
Michelle S. says
I remember seeing that too!
Laurie says
When I read that you can sell your own poop for side income, I told my hon about it and laughed.
It’s also gross too. Ewww!!
Now I wish you didn’t mention it.
Michelle S. says
Haha sorry 🙂
Don @ Breath of Optimism says
This is a great list, but there is no way I am loaning out my car to strangers. I just wouldn’t trust them with it!
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
Hmmm… you’ve got me thinking Michelle. I wonder if there are similarly wacky ways of side hustling in Australia. Definitely requires some research!
I wonder what one would put on the customs declaration for poop? Would Aussie poop cut the mustard? Or, do we eat too much Vegemite?
Interesting stuff for sure!
Jessica says
Am I the only one who was excited about the sleep study? As a single Mom, I couldn’t do that to my son…but the idea that I could have sleep? I walk around sleep deprived and work 40 hours a week to make just over what the weekly amount is, in a month. Single Mom, work full time, full time online student. This 70 days sounds like an AMAZING vacation. Probably just me though. lol
Ryan says
I love the idea of rent yourself as a friend. Weird, but it sounds like it will work, given that there are tons of people without any real friends.
Robyn Ferris says
Living in rural Tenn. & herniated disc I could sure use any way to make extra cash. Please email me anything I could participate in. Thank you for in for sharing the information you find.