Although most people will admit that getting a job is boring, we all need money to survive!
Thankfully, there are some funny ways to make money so that not everyone has to be stuck working nine to five in an office!
Although most interesting jobs are gig work, you can also make them your full-time job. These are some weird ways to make money that many have built a career out of!
1. Working as a Rent-A-Friend
The expected income per week: $300 to $500 (VitalDollar)
Making friends in the modern world is difficult: so many hire people to hang out with them!
This may be one of the most unusual ways to make money, but as you do it, you’ll hang with your clients and play the role of their friend. Working as a friend has become one of the more popular second jobs.
It’s not an escort or dating service; it’s strictly platonic, and the clients are usually people who have a hard time socializing or don’t want to go to parties alone.
2. Sell Your Hair
The expected income per foot of hair: $200+ (LifeHacker)
Selling hair may sound strange, but it’s one of the oldest ways for people to make money.
Hair that’s naturally rare colors like pale blonde or red sell for more, along with straight hair and hair that hasn’t been treated with heat or products.
You could even cut your own hair to save money on haircuts. This is what you’d need to get started.
The longer and healthier you can grow it: the better. You can sell your hair on almost any website to sell things.
Trends on the Rise
The human hair market is worth seven billion dollars, with emphasis on ‘virgin’ hair that hasn’t been dyed, bleached, or treated. You don’t have to cut off every inch of your hair to sell it, but one 14 year old sold five feet of hair for $5,000: which can be a great push to cut as much as possible.
3. Become a Professional Cuddler
The expected income per hour: $80 (Kingged)
In recent years people have been further apart than ever: which is why many are turning to professional cuddlers to be able to feel human contact. For his same reason, people are starting to make money in the metaverse as a way to simultaneously connect with others.
This is strictly platonic, fully clothed, and clean cuddling just meant to help people unwind.
Many companies offer employment for this, and you can earn even more if you’ve trained in therapy or mental health.
4. Life Modeling for Art Classes
The expected income per hour: $25.75 (Indeed)
Artists are the creative people who can keep our society inspired: which is why they must have reference to practice from.
Life modeling, often nude, is a task where you pose for a class of people for several hours with breaks spread out through the job. This is one of many ways to make money with art skills.
You’ll have to be comfortable with many eyes on you and learn to move your body into interesting positions.
5. Virtual Bridesmaid
The expected income per hour: $100 (MarketWatch)
A wedding is a lot of stress, and brides need someone to step up to the plate and offer them all of the support they need!
Working as a virtual bridesmaid is similar to a wedding planner, except that you’ll take over maid of honor responsibilities like planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party and ensuring that the bridesmaid dresses and tasks are all taken care of.
Tactics for Success
- You have to be extremely well organized for this position and map out which clients need what and when- especially if you’re working with multiple brides.
- Try to get a read on each bride and cater your interactions to that: this will make them feel more comfortable with you in this role and allow them to feel still like a friend is taking care of their wedding despite them paying you.
6. Rent Extra Land to Campers
The expected income per night: $40 to $160 (GetawayCouple)
Don’t let it go to waste if you have extra land on your property! Whether they have an RV or a tent, renting out areas to campers can be a fantastic way to earn over a hundred dollars a night.
Of course, you’ll want to advertise the spot clearly online, make sure the area is safe for camping, and clean up after any messes between guests.
You’ll score even more money if you’re near a river or in the mountains.
7. Become a Pet Medium
The expected income per hour: $300 (TheGuardian)
Almost 90% of pet owners view their animals as part of the family, and nobody wants to let them go.
As a pet psychic, you’ll help grieving owners work through processing the loss of their pets.
There are multiple services you can work for to connect you to pet owners, but eventually, you’ll want to work solo so that you can make money without overhead costs.
Trends on the Rise
The psychic and medium industry is set to grow to 2.4 billion dollars by the end of 2024 because of a large resurgence in spiritualism during the pandemic. Carving out a niche like being a pet medium gives you less competition in this field, as long as you can be compelling and convincing.
8. Become a Lice Removal Technician
The expected income per hour: $31 (Indeed)
Lice are a stressful and itchy situation that can infect an entire household before anyone notices they’ve been hit by it.
As a lice removal technician, you’ll travel from household to household, helping families kill and remove lice, as well as educating them on how to keep lice out of their homes for good.
This isn’t a great job for anyone with a fear of insects!
9. Write Online Dating Profiles
The expected income per hour: $35 to $52 (PennyHoarder)
Dating can be hard, and although it’s important to be ourselves, it can be hard to do a self-elevator pitch.
Instead, many hire people and companies to develop better dating profiles.
You can work for a company or advertise yourself solo and create profiles offering a variety of personalities from funny, to sultry, to cute depending on your customer’s needs.
Tactics for Success
- Many who have worked this line say that if you have fewer words to use on a profile, use a joke that has to do with the profile owner’s photos or career.
- When advertising that you do this, create fake mock-ups of profiles and don’t share your clients’ information.
10. Become a Snake Milker
The expected income per month: $2,500 (JobMonkey.com)
Snake venom is vital to many medical procedures: so some venom can sell for as much as $4,000 a gram.
Unfortunately, this is a very high-risk job, which is why it has such a high payout. If you’re not scared of snakes and are prepared to take all the safety precautions possible: consider being a snake milker!
11. Wait In Line for Events
The expected income per hour: $35 (Money.com)
Many don’t want to wait in line for events, even if it’s something they’re looking forward to. Although it would be fairer if everyone waited, many work around it by hiring people to wait for them.
As a professional line-spot-holder, you’ll stake out their spot in a line anywhere from a camping event to an amusement park, and do the waiting for them.
It’s a very common job to help with reselling shoes and other profitable items to flip.
This is good for anyone who’s patient and doesn’t mind bringing a seat or tent along.
12. Virtual Babysitting
The expected income per hour: $48 (BusinessInsider)
Almost 75% of parents hire a babysitter once a month, but did you know doing it virtually can score you nearly $50 an hour?
Many parents are now working from home and need someone to sit with their child while also not inviting someone into their home during a pandemic.
Virtual babysitting allows you to stay home, read books, and interact with children while their parents work. Many services offer this job, but you can also easily score gigs going solo!
13. Waking People Up
Expected income per year: $27,000 to $54,000 (ZipRecruiter)
Mornings are hard, and many struggle to get out of bed. As a professional wake-up caller, you’ll be tasked with being the first voice people start their day with.
Multiple companies hire for this role and offer competitive pay to ensure you don’t mind dealing with people at their grumpiest.
Shifts for this often include overnights and weekends since shifts rotate around the clock, but many ex-employees say the tips are worth it.
14. Become an Ethical Hacker
The expected income per year: $168,948 (Comparably)
Hacking may have a bad reputation: but ethical hacking offers something amazing for everyone involved.
As an ethical hacker, you’ll attempt (with permission) to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, application, or its data. This is a service that every company from banks to social media hires to ensure their security is up to par.
If you can build a name for yourself, there are even high-paying government contracts for this role.
15. Save Lives With Fecal Matter
The expected income per donation: $40
This idea may sound wild: but donating your poop can gain you forty dollars per drop-off!
Fecal matter donations are used to treat the gut microbiome of patients and help promote a healthy bacterial balance.
Of course, you’ll need a nutritious diet and to have your stool tested, and then you can score the gig! Multiple organizations work with individuals to complete this work.
16. Sports Betting
With sports betting now hitting mainstream, many people have begun trying this out in an effort to make money. Professional gamblers are now relying on Sports Betting picks from pros to try and supplement their incomes. Of course, gambling needs to be taken very seriously and should be done so responsibly. Some betting communities have seen wins in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Wrapping Up
Whether you decide to keep your nine to five, or become a snake milker, gathering venom in tiny containers, your job can be as interesting as you make it!
If you don’t want to leave your full-time work, at least consider one of these gigs as a great way to make some spare cash!
Erin is a business teacher and mother of three. When she’s not in the classroom or fulfilling her obligations as an A+ hockey and lacrosse mom, she’s working on her latest article.
