Unusual Ways to Make Money

With a bad economy comes an influx of creativity to make ends meet. Whether it's out of desperation or just a way to keep the budget rolling, people are coming up with odd ways to make money. Here are just a few of the more unusual ways you can earn an extra income.

Sell your hair - Selling your hair isn't a new idea, but it's certainly become more mainstream over the last few years. A search online for "hair brokers" can result in professionals looking to buy your hair. Usually locks have to be a certain length, around 10 inches, for a successful sale. Depending on the service, you may even be able to sell it if it's been permed or colored, though it's unlikely you'll earn as much as untreated hair.

Sell your blood - Selling plasma use to be something we'd see destitute people do in movies and on television for an extra bottle of liquor. Today, it's a popular choice to help save someone else's life while making a little extra money on the side. Plasma can be donated up to twice a week and usually pays around $40 per donation. If you donate twice a week for a month, you're looking at an extra $320.

Medical research - Researchers are always looking for human guinea pigs for medical, sleep, heart, psychological trials and more. It's easier to find medical research opportunities in bigger cities like New York, but they can be found just about anywhere. You can start by checking out www.clinicalconnection.com, craigslist ETC section, and at local hospitals and research centers. You could make anywhere from $100 to $1,500 depending on the length and complexity of the trial.

Fruit picking - Farmers hire cheap labor during apple, pumpkin, and grape season to help harvest. You can get paid by the basket or hour and bring along an iPod to help pass the time. It's a great way to spend the day outdoors and earn anywhere from $10 to $15 an hour.

Art model - Art students and photographers need models (often nude) to pose for various projects. It doesn't really matter your age, shape, or size, as artists will need a range of subjects for their work. You can inquire at local colleges, art schools, and universities or post your services around campus. You could make $100 or more for sitting around for an hour or two.

Selling gold teeth - Companies and manufacturers pay for scrap gold and even an old, gold tooth can result in some extra cash. If you have any sitting around, or your grandparents want to get rid of them, try taking them to a gold expo or cash for gold business to see how much you can earn. Remember that many DJ's and artists invested in gold teeth and grills over the last few years and as the economy sinks, they might be looking to sell.

All these ways could result in an extra $100 to $1,500 a month depending on your time commitment and sleuthing skills to find such opportunities. But even with minimal effort, you're still looking at some extra money to make ends meet. What are some of the most unusual ways you've ever come up with to make some extra money?