Let's make some money, fast! But how?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I need to make some money fast. Actually, I needed to make some money fast about 6 months ago. Now I need to win the lottery. But this thread made me think that one like this here might prove timely for someone else.

I found a 2006 thread on this topic, but I didn’t want to risk a moderator’s wrath by resurrecting a zombie. Here are a few of the more serious suggestions from that one.

* **Mystery shopping** - I have a friend who did this between jobs. Contrary to expectations she did *not* get a lot of fabulous food and merchandise  and it wasn't easy money. The company had a very tight turnaround schedule and expected detailed written reports on each shop. It did help pay for groceries, though.
* **Collecting recycling** - I haven't rummaged through dumpsters *yet*. It's not the ick factor that holds me back as much as the fear of being seen by someone I know. I may have to get over that. I did take in a few large trash bags of my own containers and my neighbor's, and got about $10 for my trouble.
* **Free-lancing** - I used to be a freelance journalist. Getting assignments in the first place was like playing the lottery and I found that, after adjusting for travel and phone expenses, I was making far less than minimum wage. I am interested in freelancing writing opportunities that don't involve travel or interviews though. 
* **Tech support / computer repair** - doesn't apply to me, but there it is.
* **Pet sitting** - I've done this in the past. It can be a good way to make some money and, in some cases, temporarily get to stay in a nice home.
* **Commercial voice-acting from home** - commercial voice-acting is very tough to break into, and most employers are going to want talent to come in to a professional studio and record under supervision. But since this was suggested in the previous thread, and like to hear from anyone who actually made it work.
  • eBay - an option for those who actually have extra stuff worth buying (or at least stuff they can make seem worth buying).
  • Sleeping in a home for the mentally disturbed so you can be woken up in case there’s a disturbance. That’s a pretty close paraphrase, offered without comment.
  • Phone sex/stripper. I’m a dude. A flabby, pasty, middle-aged dude. I have been told I have a good speaking voice, though.
  • Selling blood plasma. I’ve heard of people making a couple hundred dollars a month doing this. Not in California, though, where the state will allow me to give it away but not sell it.
  • Mowing lawns.
  • Focus groups. I signed up for this and they’ve never called me. Sigh.
  • On-call courier.

Please feel free to offer any practical advice on the above or contribute any other realistic, legal suggestions.

2

Hmm, I meant to post this in IMHO where I found the previous thread on this topic, but I guess it can sit here until a mod feels like moving it.

3

And those who have the time, skills and/or opportunities to obtain valuable items cheaply. Garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, classified ads, dumpsters, etc.

4

Have you ever considered being a professional guinea pig? There are a couple of contract research organisations in my area who are always looking for test subjects. They advertise on the subway and everything. one of them is Biovail Corporation.

5

Off to IMHO.

Cajun Man
for the SDMB

6

Sell hotcakes.

7

What do those sell like, anyway?

8

Well, first you get a printing press…

9
  1. Get underpants
  2. ???
  3. PROFIT!
10

For crafty folks, etsy.com is a handcrafts marketplace. No auctions or bidding, just post your handmade stuff to sell. It’s ultra user-friendly and home to a wide range of crafters of all types, from hobby to professional. Fees are really reasonable and they’re great about helping you market yourself. It’s a fun site.
More or less anything handmade is game to sell there, and I love surfing it just to see what kinds of things people come up with.

11

I got a few hundred bucks last year during a period of unemployment by doing a test at a major medical school for mood effects on people diagnosed with eating disorders after taking over-the-counter drugs. I went in for 5 hours at a time for 10 days and took medicine and played computer games and they fed me. It was easy until they gave me alcohol for the “medicine” (they didn’t tell me it was, but I knew) and I couldn’t leave for 8 hours because the stuff wouldn’t filter out of my system and there was a liability issue where they couldn’t release people with a BAL of over a certain amount. I was crabby and half-drunk and they kept threatening me with no money if I quit and walked out so I just cried in the hallway for two hours until my BAL was low enough so I could leave.

I imagine not all guinea pig type studies are as emotionally arduous…