23 Strange Ways To Make Money

Sometimes, your 9-5 job isn’t enough to make two ends meet comfortably, and you may find yourself searching for strange ways to make money. Maybe you are fresh out of college with a humongous student loan on your back or have your heart set on a gorgeous apartment with a hefty price tag. Whatever the situation may be, we all need those extra bucks to live on and keep our dreams alive. If life hasn’t been kind to you lately on the job front, these money-making ideas will offer a silver lining. 

There’s a little something for everyone, with opportunities for a diverse range of expertise. If you ever thought that shopping or sleeping weren’t special skills, prepare to be proven wrong. Fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen because there will be a few shocks and surprises on this journey!

1. Make Money As A Professional Cuddler

You arrive at work and settle into your office. Then, the client walks in and says, “Hey, let’s cuddle!” As bizarre as it may sound, professional cuddling is an extremely rewarding profession. Just to clarify, cuddling or snuggling is not equivalent to sex. You are there to offer pure platonic companionship regardless of the client’s gender, race, and age.

Typically, the job doesn’t demand any formal qualifications. However, if you have something to show for your credibility as a cuddler, that will be an added bonus. Courses are available to teach you the nuances of the profession. A skilled cuddler is proficient in alleviating anxiety and helping clients deal with insecurities and loneliness. This is a lucrative business for those looking to earn money without any investment. 

Average Pay Expected: $40-$80 per hour which can go up to $400 an hour.

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2. Earn Money By Babysitting Virtually

Are you a stay-at-home mom who misses her financial independence? Or perhaps you are in between jobs with plenty of free time. Then here’s a secret way to make money online. All it takes is a little technical grasp to conduct virtual meetings and receive payments. Just be aware that there will be a thorough background check, so hopefully, there’s nothing shady in your past. As an online caregiver, your role encompasses:

• Entertaining children and keeping them engaged
• Chat with them, read them a story, do a sing-along, or play something fun
• Protecting the child physically is not a part of the contract. A parent is supposed to be around during the session. So, the virtual nanny is not to be blamed if the child accidentally bumps into something 

You can check out sites like care.com or Au Pair in America for a gig. 

Average Pay Expected: $15-$25/hour or as high as $50 per hour if you can teach any special skill.

3. Generate Cash Flow By Organizing  

We are looking for individuals who number their mugs to avoid losing one. You need a Monica Geller-level precision, strategizing skills, energy, and honestly a little craziness to thrive as a professional organizer. Let’s glance at the job description:

• It involves decluttering and organizing client’s homes and offices
• You can also offer one-on-one consultation on how to creatively utilize a space for maximum efficiency
• Your happy clients may ask you to come back once a year or every six months to keep the establishment up and running

This is a great prospect to make extra money as a female. Women, after all, are naturally inclined to home-keeping and have a better eye for aesthetics. For inspiration, watch a few episodes of The Home Edit on Netflix. Clea and Joanna, the co-founders, made a successful show out of decluttering celebrity houses. 

Average Pay Expected: Even if you start small, you can make $50-$200/hour with a yearly income of $50,000-$75,000.

4. Turn Your Backyard Into A Cash Cow

If you and your husband are brainstorming creative ways to make money at home, look no further. We got a real money-maker for you. That backyard of yours—it has more potential than you thought. Especially if you are near the mountains or there is a national park or hiking trail nearby. 

Campers and RV owners would flock to your yard for a competitive rate. A little investment will go into making the place appealing. For instance, add a tinge of greenery with a fresh lawn, hang some fairy lights, and put up a fence for safety. 

That’s it! You can then list your property on Hipcamp or Peerspace for easy marketing. This side income source will earn you enough to cover the basic maintenance costs of your home.

Average Pay Expected: You can generate $30-$300 per night depending on the accessibility and beauty of your site.

5. Gain Financial Freedom As An Animal Communicator

Interpreting what an animal is thinking or feeling is one of the lesser-known tricks with surprisingly high demand in the market. If my dog is walking with one leg up and there’s no sign of injury, I would be at a loss. And that’s when an animal communicator comes to the rescue. 

The fact that it is a telepathic language makes it a little out of league for many of us. Your unconditional, undying love for animals is the key to this profession—better if you have already lived or worked closely with them. Or you can always take one or more courses to master the art. 

It sure is one of the unconventional ways to make a living but not a thankless one. Top psychics like Val Heart charge $3000 for a 6-hour session. Animal psychics offer a wide array of services, such as:

• Health scanning
• Soul and body healing
• Finding lost pets
• Treatment for separation anxiety
• Connecting with a pet who passed away 

Average Pay Expected: $125 for half an hour of counseling. 

6. Make A Fortune With ASMR Videos

This not-so-secret way to make money online has the potential to bring you millions of dollars per annum. Leading YouTubers like Zach Choi generate $403.k-$1.2M per month from his channel. Fair warning though: increasing income in this niche will take patience as it’s a highly competitive saturated zone. Right now, Instagram has 19.3M posts with #asmr.

ASMR is an acronym for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It’s the satisfying, tingling sensation you feel in your body while watching this type of content. ASMR artists try to evoke that feeling with a calming hush voice and precise sound effects. 

If you are feeling particularly experimental, you may branch out and add the ASMR effect to your art or restock videos. For now, you are good to go with a camera, microphone, and a soundproof room. 

Average Pay Expected: $5-$10 per 1000 views on YouTube

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7. Selling Breast Milk Is An Easy Way To Make Money

When I heard about this the first time, I was really taken aback. There are so many weird things to sell in the world, and that includes feet pictures. But why would someone sell their breast milk? Then I did the research and found out that 1-5% of mothers are physically unable to breastfeed their child. They have to rely on a monthly supply.

Look at the irony. Some women lactate so abundantly that they have ample frozen batches in their freezer. The solution is simple. If you are a lactating mother, make some easy bucks selling your breast milk provided you meet the physical requirements and sanitation guidelines. You have three ways to go about it—sell online, drop it at milk banks, or make personal contracts with buyers. 

Average Pay Expected: The going rate is $1-$3 per ounce.

8. Earn Some Extra Cash By Telling Stories 

There is always that one person at a party who can get the kids to settle down with a fascinating fairytale. Do you see yourself fitting perfectly into this role? Are you even a teensy bit intrigued by creative ways to make money at home? Then let’s discuss your prospects for a side income.

Storytelling is an umbrella term. You can share your narratives through audiobooks, podcasts, live performances, or workshops. In terms of content, the possibilities are endless, such as:

• You can do dramatic readings of other writers’ works
• You can share your own writings and personal journey
• Stories that impart value and wisdom are a popular choice

Average Pay Expected: Audiobook narrators make $40 an hour. However, the cash flow depends on how you niche down to one particular medium and genre. It can be a side hustle at best. Don’t look at bagging a fortune by storytelling.

9. Become A Professional Mourner And Make Money

Attention struggling actors! Are you tired of mindless auditions? Well, there are plenty of other sources of income too, you know. When a person dies in a small family with limited friends and relatives, they hire professional mourners to fill in the crowd at the funeral. The mourner will go there as an acquaintance of the departed soul. They are expected to:

• Attend the service well-dressed and in a timely fashion 
• Interact with the guests and exchange stories about the deceased person 
• Look convincingly sad to fit in the assembly   
• Maybe shed a tear or two

It may sound like taking a walk in the park. But the job demands a flair for acting and improvising. Good communication and research skills will give you an edge. However, you can make sure your time and effort are well-compensated. 

Average Pay Expected: Earn $30-$120 from each funeral in this unusual way to make money. 

10. Get Rich Sleeping 

Wait, are we aiming for the laziest employee of the month award? I might give you some serious competition there buddy. Laziest sure but certainly not a laid-back job. To make money while you sleep, you have to stay very focused. Most likely, you will be testing sleep merchandise such as mattresses, pillows, and headphones. By the time you wake up, they will expect a detailed report on the functionality of the product. 

Participating in sleep studies is another option but that might require you to take medication. Eligibility criteria? Fall asleep at any place, any time, even after knowing a room full of people is watching you sleep and you will pull a wire if you roll. No wonder professional sleepers get $1500 a week. Talk about unconventional ways to get rich!

Average Pay Expected: $80-$100 per hour.

11. Turn A Profit As A Mystery shopper

Anyone can do this job. We personally feel it is an enticing option to make extra money as a female. Let’s face it, getting paid to shop—isn’t that every girl’s dream? The drill is quite simple: 

• Start by signing up with a legitimate mystery shopping company that operates in your town
• Spend some time comprehending their guidelines and payment clauses
• Once all that is settled, you can pick your first assignment
• These projects can take you anywhere—retail stores, supermarkets, car dealers, movie theaters, restaurants, and cafes
• You shop; you dine or avail of a service
• At the end of it, you submit a survey about your experience along with necessary proof and pictures

The company will reimburse the shopping cost and compensate you for your time, either or both. Go have the time of your life at Sephora followed by a relaxing spa to unwind after work! 

Average Pay Expected: The average mystery shopping rate is $17 per hour plus free products. Seasoned shoppers even earn up to $70,000 in a year. 

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12. Generate Revenue By Selling Your Art Online  

“Why don’t you sell your stuff? When are you going to open your store/gallery?”—As a painter or craft artist you must have heard it a thousand times from a thousand different people. It’s high time to monetize your skill. It’s a fact that artists need multiple streams of income. Traditional gallery sales aren’t steady money. So, why can’t a creative person make money online? 

You can put a price on your original artwork and reprints. If you are a crafter, items like candles, jewelry, and home decor pieces have a huge market. Platforms such as Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Shopify are great for setting up your online store. Boost your business through social media and earn a little something by running ads.

Average Pay Expected:  $5000/month is not a tough nut to crack if you are consistent. An Etsy seller claims to have generated $75,967 in a year by selling supplies on Etsy.

13. Earn Money As A Virtual Assistant 

For those who are on the lookout for honest ways to make money, here’s a golden opportunity. Becoming a virtual assistant is a remote position which means working from the beach or the mountain, your choice! You will offer administrative services to companies and solopreneurs for a handsome salary.

Assuming you are a hard worker, you will do just fine handling multiple roles and responsibilities. For instance, 

• Managing calendars and email communication
• Customer relations
• Bookkeeping and data entry
• Virtual organization 
• More niche services like social media management and graphic design

Average Pay Expected: The standard industry rate in this profession is $10-$20 per hour which can go up to $40. 

14. Get Rich Scooping Dog Poops

Talking about crazy careers that earn serious cash, this one by far tops the list. Apparently, people are happy to pay for getting their yard dog-poop free. As long as you are comfortable seeing and cleaning a ton of doo-doo every day, soon you will sit on a boatload of money. 

A guy from Spokane, Washington, William Milliken built a mighty $2M business from a minor investment of $1000. I bet that will get you motivated to scoop some poop for a passive income.

Let’s get the details hashed out. A low startup cost will cover the essentials such as scooping equipment, bin bags, gloves, disinfectant, and a minivan for transportation. Approach dog owners in your locality initially and once the ball gets rolling, you can upscale. 

Average Pay Expected: The standard rate is $20 for one dog. As it takes no more than 15 minutes to tidy up a property, you can complete 4 visits in one hour for a whopping $80.

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15. Easy Ways To Make Extra Income? Wait In Line 

Alright, trivia time, folks. Who did Sheldon Cooper hire to wait in line for him in the movie theater? We all laughed at his hilarious settlement with Stuart but this, in fact, is one of the strange side hustles. In case you have a little free time on your hands and you don’t mind standing in a concert line for a couple of hours, you earned yourself a second income. 

You will get a hike during the holiday season or whenever there is a major event in the city. Could there be any better ways to make extra income? For any profit you make in this business, thank the man, Robert Samuel, who first came up with this clever idea in 2012. Now he is running a flourishing company based out of New York called Same Ole Line Dudes.

Average Pay Expected: The usual payscale for professional line standers is hourly $25-$35. 

16. Try Hand Modelling To Unlock Wealth

A dear friend of mine, Linda, is a hand model. I am excited to share some of the insider information I scored from her. In her opinion, someone who’s pretty handy that way will never run out of jobs. Do you think your hands have all the aesthetically pleasing features? Long, thin fingers with no scars or blemishes? Then you are already halfway there. The next order of business is,  

• Create a portfolio featuring pictures of your hand in traditional poses
• Drop in the portfolio to modeling agencies 
• Wait for the phone to ring

Here’s a little pointer: Recruiters will pick someone who can keep their hands steady for extended periods during shoots. If you want to beat the crowd, start practicing right away. Lend a hand and make extra money as a female. 

Average Pay Expected: Hand models make $100-$1500 for a day’s shoot. You will be earning more as experiences pile up in your portfolio.  

17. Earn Money By Chatting With Strangers

As you might have guessed, people get paid to do weird things online. At first, the idea of chatting with an unknown person may seem off-putting. So, let’s clarify the job description before you get any wrong impressions. Sometimes loneliness drives people to seek meaningful companionship. Having no success in real life, they often turn to the internet in search of a friend. On the other side, there are some individuals for whom this is an opportunity for increasing income. 

You will find many legit apps and websites dedicated to bridging the gap between these two groups of people. In some cases, English language learners want to chat with native speakers to enhance their fluency. Rent a Friend, Phredly, Cambly—these are your go-to platforms to find a job. 

Average Pay Expected: The hourly pay ranges between $10-$50.

18. Donating Plasma Can Make Good Money

Are you a little behind on some of your bills this month and need some quick ways to make money? Unlike other income generation ideas, Plasma donation is the easiest and quickest. It doesn’t take any prior preparation or investment—literally nothing but your time. 

Plasma is the pale yellow liquidy part of the blood that carries salt, enzymes, and water. The donated fluid comes in handy to treat patients with burns and other injuries, liver diseases, and clotting disorders. Provided that you weigh 110 pounds, are above 18, and lead a healthy life, you will qualify for donations with flying colors.

Average Pay Expected: It brings you an easy $50-$100 bucks for each contribution. 

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19. Earn Money By Participating In Clinical Trials

Paid volunteering in medical research studies is somewhere along the same lines as plasma donation. Interested candidates can skim through the internet to enlist all the ongoing trials near them. Once you find the one you are interested in, 

• Get in touch with the center if you qualify for the basic eligibility criteria
• They will take you through another screening round and a consent form with all the details and risk factors involved in this study
• As soon as you sign the form, you are on for the trial

Your compensation will vary on several factors like the number of visits, the phase of the trial, the health condition, and the organ being studied. 

Average Pay Expected: You can expect a gross of $100-$5000 for the majority of these trials. 

20. Make Money As A Professional Human Statue 

These performers are highly admired and respected on the streets. Who can turn their back on a funny clown or fairy angel? A good audience appreciates the artist’s marvelous effort and tenacity helping them with generous contributions. 

Now if you think you will wake up tomorrow, rent a costume, and go straight to busk on the town square, you may fail miserably. Holding a specific pose for hours is no bed of roses.

A Reddit User sums it up quite well, “Intense focus training you receive at drama school usually, always using your peripheral vision. Breathing through the diaphragm and maintaining a steady heart rate is essential.” So, do you have what it takes to be a living statue? Are you at least ready to learn the ropes of this craft? 

Average Pay Expected: Even as an unusual way to make money, this occupation can pull in $60-$80 in an hour. 

21. Generate Income As A Netflix Tagger

Did a little birdie tell you Netflix pays people for binge-watching shows on the channel? Your source of information is nearly correct. Along with watching, you are also supposed to analyze and stamp various content from Netflix’s huge archive. You know how viewers can filter out their choices based on different genres, languages, and casts. That’s the work of a Netflix tagger.

Labeling each and every show with specific tags provides the audience with a more personalized watchlist. You can leverage this secret way to make money online with five years of work experience in entertainment or data analysis. 

Average Pay Expected: Entry-level positions start with an annual package of $28,000. As you show more expertise, the yearly wage can peak at $91,000.

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22. Flipping Furniture Is An Easy Way To Get Rich

It is a common dream to create an income source with little to no investment. Furniture flipping easily fits that parameter. This is an advanced version of the ‘best out of waste’ strategy. 

Instead of recycling a soda bottle, here you will remodel old, discarded furniture. YouTube tutorials would be very convenient to learn the nitty gritty of furniture flipping as a beginner. If you are looking for ways to make extra income, give this a shot. Here’s a plan of action for you:

• Be a more frequent visitor to local thrift stores and garage sales. You will be amazed at the collection of furniture people throw out at a nominal price
• Bring your best picks home
• Refurbishing typically involves replacing old hardware, fixing any damage, and topping it with a fresh coat of paint
• Put a new price considering your time and effort and list the item online for sale 

Average Pay Expected: We can promise you at least $10,000 a month with consistent work.

23. Make A Fortune By Streaming Video Games 

Don’t underestimate these gaming channels as weird ways to earn money online. Tyler Blevins, a professional gamer and live streamer, has generated a net worth of $60 million as of November 2024. Once you get into that big league, the potential to maximize income is limitless. 

Basically, gamers livestream themselves on YouTube and Twitch for others to watch them play. With multiple monetization options including ad revenue, donation, and brand collaborations, one can swoop in $3000-$5000 every month. Remember, success comes slowly in saturated niches like gaming. Don’t give up on your passion in a matter of weeks. 

Average Pay Expected: $2-$12 per 1000 views on YouTube

Now you have a comprehensive list of odd jobs and super strange ways to make money. With the right choice and strategic networking, you can bounce back from your financial stress in no time and then make some more. If you ask me, I am tickled by the concept of furniture flipping and organizing spaces for others. Let us know how our suggestions worked out for you. Are you on your way to making a fortune or not?