Easy Green: Paid Science & Medical Studies
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Recently I have been feeling life’s expenses burn a hole in my wallet more and more. Even my modest social expenses, which are truly modest, seem to be a burden. Take it a step further and say you recently got the boot or are between jobs; the pain from your wallet would sky rocket.
I’ve thought of ways to attempt to fill in the bottomless pit my money seems to conveniently find. An extra job, working more overtime or even selling my soul - though I believe I already sold it once to pay my electric bill. One issue that always stands in the way is that I do not have a lot of free time. Those of us with regular jobs or looking for employment probably do not find the prospect of going to work after putting time in at your job (looking for a job is one in itself) very appealing. Then one day I was reading my recent issue of the Economist - see, I’m always in a financial frame of mind - and I realized that a great way to make some extra cash without excessive commitment is participating in scientific/medical research.
Ok, I’m not spewing some more crazy talk. You’re not going to wake up in a back alley with one less kidney and I think frontal lobotomies are outlawed, so no worries. Also, this won’t make you rich, but will pad your wallet a bit and give you an opportunity to experience something new while having some fun. A lot of universities and pharmaceutical companies need participants for various studies and trial runs of procedures and drugs. Some of these studies are long-term, others last just a day and some even pay in cash after each session. I mean really, what’s better than getting paid to take a survey on alcoholism, getting paid in cash and then immediately going to the bar? - probably a lot of things, but it’s still an awesome prospect.
Common studies and research you can get involved in range from psychology surveys concerning depression and memory recall, donating blood for specific demographic groups, MRIs focusing on areas of the brain that become active during certain thought processes, to testing the effects of caffeine. There are numerous studies out there involving some very run of the mill stuff to “why are we wasting our money this” types of studies.
As I said before, don’t quit your job thinking you can float yourself participating in a study on the correlation of number video games played and its impact on your libido. Additionally, do your research. University studies/medical research are usually legitimate, but privately conducted studies and research should be investigated - doesn’t hurt to look out for yourself and your kidneys. It is always good to know what you are getting yourself into. No one wants to get wrapped up in some sales pitch or scam. A few good places to begin your journey to easy money are:
1. http://www.paidclinicaltrials.org/
3. http://www.nih.gov (This is the National Institutes of Health Web site.)
4. http://www.cc.nih.gov/participate.shtml (Web site for the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health.)
5. http://www.gpgp.net/ (Has a pretty extensive network)
6. Craigslist.org (I kid you not. Craigslist is more than housing and questionable rendezvous’)
7. http://boostyourincometoday.blogspot.com/2008/06/get-paid-to-volunteer-for-medical.html
One thing you will notice is that your location makes a significant difference when looking for these opportunities. If you live near a university or metropolitan area, odds are you will find more options versus in rural areas. However, don’t let that dissuade you. Even if you are participating in one or two studies a year, it is well worth it. Remember, this is pocket money, not a career and often times the hourly rate is better than a career job. So, go get some green and have fun!
