While I am a full time employee, many know that it requires a second, third, or fourth source of income to really live. I have fallen prey to a couple of ways to earn a little extra money here and there without being committed to a second job.
As I have mentioned before I starting assisting a wedding photographer this summer. I have only done two weddings at this point, but in my defense she has two other assistants, works out of Mankato, and doesn't really take on too many weddings a year. This position makes me an extra $100 for a ceremony plus reception. When she is only hired for the ceremony she makes half of her pay, so in turn I do as well. The other deal is that when photos are ordered off of her website, say it is one that I took, I get the profit from that sale.
I see this job as more than just money though. One reason is because I have had to drive quite a ways for these events and most likely burn through most of the money in the gas it takes to go there and back. What is best about photographing these weddings is the experience. I am able to see how a professional photographer runs her wedding business and how she works. In addition, I gain product for my portfolio.
The other way I am able to afford life is donating mine. Let me explain... Since my days of college (I know, not THAT long ago) I have been donating blood plasma. I call this my "second job." Twice a week I go into Biolife Plasma Services for a little over an hour. They run my blood through a machine, take out the plasma, return red blood cells, replenish with sodium chloride, then pay me. Biolife then uses the plasma to make medicines and other healing items for the sick.
It is possible to make up to $260 a month here. I can go twice a week, with at least a day between visits. The first visit will pay $20, the second in a week (must be same week) pays $45. This money gets put on to a debit card, giving me more accounts to keep track of. When I first started they paid $20 then $30 and paid in cash, I like the current procedure much better. Cash I throw around all willy nilly, but when it is on the card it builds up pretty quickly.
This is probably my favorite form of income. I sit in a bed for an hour while reading, and make money doing it. All the while saving lives, which of course is my main interest. The downside is when you are rejected. There was a time when I would be rejected once every couple donations for low iron. When this happens you cannot donate that particular day but, depending on the situation, can usually come back the next day. Other things they reject for are; low/high blood pressure, bruises, sickness, protein levels, small veins, and body temp.
All in all I have gotten in to a habit of this extra money. When I look at my finances and see what I can or cannot afford, I do not include these in my income. This helps so that I am still underestimating what I can afford and therefore saving me from wrong decisions (like the hot pink pumps I want so bad).
