Why We Needed the Money (And Why It Mattered)
A group of us needed to come up with $1,000 each to help a friend in our circle.
This wasn’t for something optional or nice-to-have. It was a medical need that insurance didn’t cover.
So we did what we had to do.
Everything below is what we actually used. I’m including links where relevant — some may earn me a small commission, but they don’t cost you anything extra.
1. Selling Everything We Didn’t Need (or Use)
This alone surprised me the most.
Old Electronics
Phones, tablets, accessories — even broken ones.
If it doesn’t work, list it as “for parts only” on platforms like eBay. Always wipe your data first.
Clothes
We used eBay and Mercari.
Pro tip:
- Price slightly under the competition
- Sell in lots, not single items, whenever possible
I was shocked to see bidding wars on some items. Clean clothes, honest descriptions — that’s it.
Household Goods
Platforms like eBay, EBTH, and similar worked well.
Key tips:
- Good photos
- Measurements included
- Be brutally honest about condition
I sold:
- Old high-end towel sets (poor condition, but branded)
- Lamps
- Vintage wooden coin valets
- Figurines and old souvenirs
Some of this “junk” brought in way more money than expected.
Jewelry (Costume & Real)
Brooches, pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings.
Low-value pieces were grouped into lots and sold extremely well.
Kitchen Goods
Vintage Tupperware was a hit.
Sold everything as one lot — easier shipping for me, cheaper for the buyer.
2. Plasma Donation (Yes, Really)
Hydrate well for a day or two beforehand.
Eat protein.
Don’t miss appointments.
This added up faster than expected.
3. Medical Research (Non-Drug Studies)
Avoid medication trials if you’re uncomfortable.
Sleep studies, in particular, can pay very well.
I wasn’t selected, but someone in our group was — and they made a solid payout.
4. Cemetery Documentation Gigs
This one takes effort upfront, but pays well.
Large cemeteries often need help cataloging graves on sites like FindAGrave.com.
How we did it:
- Contacted cemeteries directly
- Charged per person entry, not per grave
- Took multiple photos per site
- Added precise geolocation data
We:
- Created or updated cemetery accounts
- Left login credentials with staff
This can be especially lucrative if you land a corporate-owned cemetery.
5. Furniture Cleaning Gigs
Target furniture rental companies.
Sometimes furniture needs more than a wipe-down — it needs:
- Steam cleaning
- Vacuuming
For under $50, you can buy a used portable vacuum designed for pet accidents and upholstery.
6. Using Benable as a Group
We used Benable.com, a newer curation and social platform.
As a group:
- We rotated daily curation
- Listed useful products consistently
It worked well enough that I created my own account too.
(If you sign up through my link, it helps me ❤️)
7. Gig Driver Apps (Use Strategically)
We used them only while already traveling.
Be realistic:
- Pickup time
- Waiting time
- Drop-off time
In saturated areas, returns were low. In less crowded markets, this could be much better.
8. TikTok Lives (Niche Down Hard)
We chose a “saturated” topic: beauty
Then niched down to: special occasion makeup
The result:
- High attendance
- Generous gifting
The account now belongs to the person who needed help.
I’ve since made my own, but haven’t monetized it yet.
9. Wedding Reception Kid Watcher
Yes — this is a real thing.
How to get started:
- Contact wedding planners
- CPR certification helps
- Licensing may be required
Tips:
- Plan activities
- Expect to stay 2 hours longer than the reception
- Bring wipes, snacks, supplies
This can be a year-round income stream, since weddings happen all year.
The Final Outcome (And Why It Was Worth It)
I personally made over $3,000, which honestly shocked me.
But more importantly:
- Our friend got the medical help they needed
- Recovery was smoother because of the extra funds
- Working together brought our group closer
Sometimes money problems don’t need one perfect solution — just a lot of small, honest efforts stacked together.
Thanks for reading.
I hope this helps someone who really needs it.