Get Paid To: September Issue
Get Paid To: September Issue
Staying in bed and crashing weddings
Hi Oddies,
Jen Glantz here.
We've all heard about the typical 9-to-5 grind, but what if I told you there's a whole world of quirky gigs out there that could have you laughing all the way to the bank?
This week, we're diving into the realm of unconventional jobs that pay you for doing things you'd never imagine could be profitable.
From professional wedding crashers to paid sleep study participants, these oddball opportunities prove that sometimes, the strangest paths can lead to the most interesting paydays.
So buckle up, because we're about to explore some of the wackiest ways to pad your wallet while having a blast (or catching some Z's).
Ready to turn your wildest dreams into cold, hard cash? Let's get weird!
Wedding Speeches & Eulogies
Ps. if you (or anyone you know) needs a wedding speech this season (vows, officiant, maid of honor/best man, father/mother of bride/groom, sister/brother of the bride/groom) — I built these really awesome speech writing tools. Also, a eulogy tool (though I hope nobody you know needs to use that).
Get Paid To: September Issue
Crash Weddings
Ernesto offers a unique service where he crashes weddings and poses as the client's long-lost love, aiming to get the event canceled for a fee of 500 euros. His unconventional business has gained viral attention after appearing in a TikTok video, where he explained that he caters to people who view their impending wedding as a nightmare rather than a joyous occasion.
Stay in Bed
MEDES, the Toulouse Space Clinic, is offering volunteers $18,000 to participate in a sleep study that requires lying in bed for two months. This unique opportunity allows participants to earn money while contributing to important scientific research, making it an attractive "dream job" for many.
Become a World Leader
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who earns an annual salary of nearly $1.69 million. Wong's earnings significantly outpace those of the second-highest-paid world leader, Swiss President Viola Amherd, who receives approximately $570,000 per year.
Go (Mystery) Shopping
Mystery shopping is a job where individuals pose as regular customers to provide feedback on businesses, receiving payment for their observations and often reimbursement for purchases made during the assignment. The role typically involves visiting retail stores, restaurants, or other establishments, then submitting detailed reports on the experience, with mystery shoppers in the U.S. earning an average of $714 per week as independent contractors.
Throw a Halloween Party
Boston is offering $250 "Spooky Streets Grants" to residents for Halloween block parties, building on the success of previous community-building programs like summer block party grants and last year's closed-street Halloween party permits. The grants aim to foster community engagement and affordable fun, with the city suggesting the funds be used for festive items such as candy, pumpkins, decorations, and face paint.
Eat Dinner
Seated is a mobile app that offers cash back rewards for dining out at participating restaurants in select cities, including New York City, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia, with users able to browse nearby options, make reservations or walk in, and earn a percentage of their bill back as a reward. The app also features a referral program, typically offering $10 credit to both the referrer and new user, with occasional promotions increasing the bonus to $25 or $35, further incentivizing users to share the app with others.
Read Books
PW, an industry magazine, offers $25 per book review of approximately 180-200 words, allowing reviewers to choose their monthly workload. Reviewers have the flexibility to adjust their review frequency based on their schedule, with the possibility of declining books, though this may vary depending on the editor.
Travel
TrovaTrip is a platform that enables Creators to host group travel experiences for their communities, allowing them to earn money while traveling and deepening connections with their audience. Hosts can earn an average of $6,000 per trip by including their margin in the sale price, with the potential to generate repeatable income, scale their brand, create unique content, and lead workshops, all while exploring different parts of the world with their followers.
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feedback about mystery shopping: I've been doing this for almost 30 years. it's completely unpredictable. sometimes there are lots of available jobs, sometimes there's nothing. some pay as little as $3 or as much as a couple hundred dollars. big cities have more opportunities than small towns.
you're almost never able to depend on having the same assignment repeatedly - in fact, there are many rules about going to the same places too much because of the risk of being found out as a shopper. some of the best-paying shops involve a real application for a credit card, but that can only be done once per person. I can't imagine where you got your info but an average of over $700/week seems completely implausible to me. I'd be doing that if it was possible! most shops pay about $10-25/hour. I spend a lot of time driving to assignments, which of course is unpaid time plus gas. absorbing the directions for each shop is also time-consuming, but vital if you don't want your report to be rejected. the (sometimes long) time spent writing reports is also unpaid. your best source of accurate info is the mystery shopping provider association. mystery shopping is intended as a part-time thing to do when you can, not a reliable source of income.