Paid Research

We've all seen the ads for getting paid to do research, but how many of us actually do them? If you are lucky and live in a bigger city, you might have more opportunity than you know. There are various avenues one could take. For example if you are willing to get paid for testing drugs and medical procedures you might check out one of these two sites:

1. ClinicalTrials.gov
2. ClinicalConnection.com

If you have a little extra time on your hands perform a quick search of your surrounding area via Craig's List for "Volunteer" positions. Many times these are paid opportunities that are close to home. Even a simple Google search for "paid research" + your town will bring up local focus groups that are paying for your opinion on products or services.

I was lucky enough to join a group that tests oral hygiene products on a regular basis. When I finish one study, they sign me up for the next and it goes all year until I am done. The best part is that these are products that I would normally use and they are already approved by the FDA. As you can see, with some investigation on your part, you too can make your thin wallet a little thicker.

Mail Decoy

Who doesn't like to receive a little mail every now and then? Unfortunately, much of the USPS revenue comes from third class or "junk" mail that is delivered every day. If they can get paid to deliver it, why not get paid to receive it?

Mail decoy programs use your current address at home or work to send mail from various sources to ensure that client mail is being delivered without damage and on time. As an agent you will receive pieces of mail, catalogs, magazines or products. Simply log into their online database and answer a few simple questions about the mail and earn a little spending cash. It takes time to build up a steady flow of mail and most pieces only pay $0.25 each, but it's easy money and free magazines.

A couple of the better known and more reputable programs are The Hauser Group and US Monitor. By using the following links, you can apply for positions with each company: The Hauser Group and US Monitor. Commonly, they will only have one position per zip code. Now lets see if my mail has been delivered yet!