I actually did both the plasma donation (totally worth the time, as you can sit and read while you donate, and (in my experience, anyway) one doesn't feel faint afterward, having gotten one's red blood cells back. The only unpleasant bit (depending on how you feel about needles) is how COLD the saline they suspend your blood cells in is when they stick them back inside you. Bring a sweater, no matter how warm the day is. I always spent a few moments shivering violently, during re-insertion.) and the trying-out-medical-experiments bit. Well, I only did the one, and it was totally easy, and I didn't experience any weird side effects, at all (of course, for all I know, I was on the placebo...) It was a pill for stomach problems (I was having a lot at the time, I'm pretty sure stress triggers my IBS) if I felt stomach pain, I would take a pill. Every evening, whether I had taken a pill or not, I would log on to the website the researchers had set up and fill out a short questionnaire. This was for, oh, a few weeks? Anyway, at the end, I had a physical, filled out more paperwork and questionnaires, and then got a check for a few hundred dollars. Not an unpleasant experience, and it helped me pay rent that month, so.
I guess what I'm trying to say in my tl;dr way is: these ARE real ways to make money, and I survived doing both(I donated plasma for several months, if I hadn't moved away from the donation centre in DeKalb [and the only one I know of] I'd still be doing it) with no ill effects. Is it possible for you to get ahold of the school papers of local universities? I know I found the advertisements for both the plasma place AND the scientific study I participated in the NIU school paper -- college students are the prime targets for these things as they are young, healthy, and very, very broke, usually.
A thousand sounds like a good buffer; and you'd be surprised how quickly that can evaporate. (Although maybe I'm just bitter because I just watched my paychecks disappear in the usual beginning-of-the-goddamn-month way. =P )
You have some good, solid ideas on how to earn money; the hard part will be implementing them. The current state of the economy doesn't really help much, either. =/ But there's not much you can do about that.
You're a canny girl, I'm sure you'll be able to learn to drive, no problem. You'll find the hardest part is getting an adult driver to find the time to coach you. Are there any large, empty parking lots near your house where you can practice? Have any friends over 21 you can bribe with baked things? (I don't know what it's like where you live, but in IL the person helping the driving learner had to be over 21 and with a license of their own.)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 04:10 am (UTC)I guess what I'm trying to say in my tl;dr way is: these ARE real ways to make money, and I survived doing both(I donated plasma for several months, if I hadn't moved away from the donation centre in DeKalb [and the only one I know of] I'd still be doing it) with no ill effects.
Is it possible for you to get ahold of the school papers of local universities? I know I found the advertisements for both the plasma place AND the scientific study I participated in the NIU school paper -- college students are the prime targets for these things as they are young, healthy, and very, very broke, usually.
A thousand sounds like a good buffer; and you'd be surprised how quickly that can evaporate. (Although maybe I'm just bitter because I just watched my paychecks disappear in the usual beginning-of-the-goddamn-month way. =P )
You have some good, solid ideas on how to earn money; the hard part will be implementing them. The current state of the economy doesn't really help much, either. =/ But there's not much you can do about that.
You're a canny girl, I'm sure you'll be able to learn to drive, no problem. You'll find the hardest part is getting an adult driver to find the time to coach you. Are there any large, empty parking lots near your house where you can practice? Have any friends over 21 you can bribe with baked things? (I don't know what it's like where you live, but in IL the person helping the driving learner had to be over 21 and with a license of their own.)