My friends have nicknamed me the “Cash Queen” because I am always making money. I swear by “quickie jobs” and research studies, and do not let a day pass without participating in one. Yes, I have a real job. (I’m actually at work right now! I have permission to be writing this, no worries).
Keep in mind; I am extremely Type A. My days are meticulously planned and I always keep my planner nearby. It is essential to be organized if you want to be able to do as many studies as possible. I am also a full-time student taking 20 credit hours and school always comes first.
But going the extra mile and making extra cash is great. You can never have enough money. I get asked constantly, “How do you do it?! When do you have time? How can I do it, too?” Well, I am here to answer all of your questions. I’m going to break it down by categories based on urgency. If you need cash now, can wait a few days, or have weeks to spare, here’s how to make it work.
Need cash now
1. Donate plasma/blood
Plasma donation centers are always looking for people. You can donate twice a week, with a day in between. So you could go every Monday and Wednesday or Thursday and Saturday, etc. Plasma donation centers pay anywhere from $25 a visit to $50 depending on factors such as bonuses, weight, referrals, etc. Usually, the centers give you a prepaid debit card the day of your donation so you have that money to spend immediately. I went twice a week for a few months and made $425.
You can only get paid to donate blood when that blood is being used for research purposes. There is a place in MA that allows this and they pay you $50 for blood donations after you pass the screening. It is $25 payment for the screening. You can donate blood every 56 days. I’ve made roughly $200 doing this.
You CANNOT donate blood and plasma simultaneously.
2. Research Studies
Research studies are near and dear to my heart. I have done over 50 of them and have made over $5,000 doing so. They are the quickest, least painful way to make extra money. Research is concentrated in hubs, metropolitan areas, and big cities. Boston is big on research and where I have done 95% of my studies. The remaining 5% were back home in Chicago. Most studies pay cash same day, but some send a check. Always ask before you participate so you know what to expect. How do you find the studies?
- Most colleges have systems where you can register for research, i.e. BU quickie jobs, Harvard Sona systems, etc. I obtained access to other colleges’ systems by requesting permission. Do not limit yourself to just your school!
- Google is a great tool too. Searching “(city name) research studies” will usually churn out some successful results
- Craigslist. It may seem sketchy, but I have done many research studies on Craigslist. If researchers are having a hard time getting participants, they turn to Craigslist because the marketplace is bigger. Obviously, be safe and use discretion!
I try to do one a day in between classes, after work, before work, and even before class If I’m feeling up to it. Depending on how much they pay, I can make $300 in a given week. Be sure to check these sites daily because new studies are always added.
3. Odd jobs
Sometimes you can find these through your college system, other times you can find them through a Google search. I help a lady with housework and organizing once a week and she pays me $16/hour in cash. Oddjobnation.com is a useful site. You could also be a Favor delivery person where people pay you to do favors for them through the Favor app- more information can be found at favordelivery.com.
Can wait a few days
3. Sell your clothes/belongings
We all have stuff that we can get rid of and what I’ve learned is someone out there in the world will want to buy it.
- Check out your school’s “Free and For Sale” page if there is one. That’s the quickest way to sell your clothes and other belongings because you can exchange cash or use Venmo on the spot on campus.
- If not, check out my other piece on selling your clothes online and through apps.
I’ve made roughly $600 selling my clothes and belongings through these methods.
Have weeks to spare
4. Gaming Apps
The Lucky Day App is literally free money. You play slots, lotto, blackjack, and scratch offs for free money. You earn coins daily and use those coins to play the games. Tip: Make an account and let it sit for a few days. Lucky Day gives you coins and let those coins accumulate. I had 196 coins in a few weeks. Otherwise, you can earn coins by sharing the app on social media. Obviously, the payouts are small and it takes a significant amount of time to get enough money to cash out. You need $10 to cash out through Paypal and I have $6 and I have had the app for a few months. I do not play it everyday, it’s a game I play when I’m bored and don’t have anything else to do. There is also an option to donate the money.
Free Eats is another site that pays you just to sign up. You earn $1.00 when you sign up and for every referral you make, you get $0.25. Not a lot of money, but those extra quarters add up if you want to buy something through Paypal and can make that purchase cheaper.
5. Surveys
Surveys take a significant amount of time to earn sufficient earnings. I have made $105 through them, but it’s taken me a few months. Most sites require you need to earn $30 before you can cash out. My favorite sites are:
- Send earnings
- Inbox Dollars
- My Survey
You can request a check, a gift card to a store, and some sites are even offering prepaid Visa gift cards that can be mailed to you for a small fee (usually $3.00). If you have down time and nothing to do, I recommend surveys. I usually do them when I am watching Netflix or TV.
I avoided adding traditional methods such as payday loans and credit cards, both of which I have dabbled in. Payday loans will kill you on interest rates and I strongly discourage anybody from getting them. I took out a pay loan for $600 and ended up having to pay $1400. I kissed $114 from each one of my checks goodbye. Credit cards are downright scary, but a necessity when building credit. Tip: Pay them off every month and keep low balances! Some of your credit score is based on what percentage of your credit you are using. If you have a $1500 limit, don’t spend $1495.
To avoid spending unnecessary money keep up with coupon codes and discount sites like retailmenot.com when shopping. Only spend on what you absolutely need and treat yourself only when you deserve.
I’m sure there are so many more ways to make money, but these are the methods that have worked for me and I am happy to share them! Tweet me @thisgirljazmyne if you have any questions or want to share your opinion!