Online Tasks

You might be surprised how much work and research there is for a real person to do on the internet. Even in the age of Google, there's plenty that teachers, journalists, students, and paralegals need actual human eyes on. Sign up for Amazon's Mechanical Turk, for example, to try your hand at some of those tasks that require human eyes and can't be done by a machine, or ShortTask if you want a less-flooded alternative.P

Make Money in Your Spare Time Doing Simple Online Tasks

Yes, many "online jobs" promising quick riches and little effort are really scams.

If you're the question-answering type, you can get paid for thorough, well-researched answers to questions at sites like Just Answer, filling out surveys atOpinionOutpost, Springboard America, The Harvard Business School's research study program, or Pinecone Research. If you're willing to leave the house, 20|20 Panel andFocus Forward will both pay you to participate in focus groups that may decide the future of products and services you actually use.

Become a Mystery Shopper

Perhaps the most low-effort way to make money is to monetize something you already do. That way you don't add more to your plate. If you enjoy shopping, for example, consider becoming a mystery shopper, or someone paid to shop in retail stores and report on the service you received and your experience in the store. It's an industry rife with scams, but real mystery shoppers do exist, and there's even a professional association you can join and get certified with to get access to legitimate listings. Competition can be fierce and sometimes you have to pay up and then be reimbursed for the things you buy and your time, but there are success stories.

Sell Your Body

You probably already know that you can donate blood, but many clinics will pay you for those donations to the tune of $30-40 each, and some will allow you to donate twice a week (but not so frequently that you become a regular face). You'll have to provide some medical history and information to qualify, but if you do, it's good cash for a good deed.P

You can also sell your hair. It may sound strange, but natural wigs and weaves all come from somewhere. Sites like Hairwork and Online Hair Affair both specialize in hair auctions. You can also list your hair on eBay. Watch out for scams (since much of the human hair trade involves poorly-paid "donors" from third world countries).P

Jokes aside, eggs and sperm will net you a tidy bit of money as well. Donated eggs can earn upwards of $1500 per donation (approx 10-15 eggs). Don't be fooled though—the process is intensive, uncomfortable, and requires several visits to a clinic to complete. You'll be screened, tested, and then the process itself takes place in an operating room. Men have it a little easier, but the returns are lower. Sperm donations can net you between $50 and $200 per donation, depending on your health, age, ethnicity, and personal background. Similarly, candidates are tested and screened, so be warned: You don't just walk into a sperm bank and offer to make a donation—most are screened out long before they're given a cup to fill, and even that donation is actually part of a months-long process.