How to Sell Yourself for Cash
by www.SixWise.com
Perhaps you've thought about selling your car, your home
or your garage-full of accumulated "things," but
have you ever considered selling yourself, or, rather, byproducts
of yourself, for money?
About 8 million Americans donate their blood in any given
year, and the number one reason most donors choose to do so,
according to the American Red Cross, is because they want
to help others.
|
Donating blood is one of the most common ways to help
others by giving a part of yourself -- still, only 5
percent of those who are eligible do so each year.
|
But blood is not the only human byproduct that can be donated,
and it's certainly not the only one that's in demand. Whether
you're just curious, are seriously considering or know of
someone who's "looking," here are some of the more
common ways people can donate, or sell, byproducts of themselves
for money.
Blood Plasma
Plasma is used to treat disorders such as hemophilia and
immune system deficiencies, as well as to make products to
treat and prevent diseases including tetanus, rabies, measles,
rubella and hepatitis B.
Components of plasma are also used by hospitals and emergency
rooms to treat shock and burn victims.
Plasma can be donated twice in a seven-day period, with a
limited number of donations in a year, in a process similar
to giving blood. There are about 400 for-profit plasma collection
centers in the United States.
Who's Eligible: You must be 18 years old or older, weigh
110 pounds or more, be in good general health, and pass a
medical history interview and brief physical examination.
What it Pays: From $9-$35 per donation. Plasma can also be
donated, without pay.
Resources: Check the yellow pages for for-profit plasma collection
centers near you. College campuses may also have information.
On the Web:
Hair
Several agencies collect hair donations to make complimentary
wigs for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy,
radiation treatments, alopecia, burns, or other medical situations.
It is also possible to sell your hair, at your own risk, via
the Web.
Who's Eligible: Hair must be a minimum of 10-12 inches in
length, clean and dry, and bundled into a ponytail or braid
for donations. Requirements vary for selling on your own.
What it Pays: Varies widely depending on the quality of hair
and length, but may range from $200 to several thousand if
selling to a private buyer. One online wig company will pay
$3-$5 per ounce of "usable" hair.
Resources:
Sperm
Sperm banks collect sperm from donors that will later be
used to help an individual or couple have a child. People
who use donor sperm include single women and lesbian couples,
couples in which the man is sterile, or couples who are trying
to avoid passing on a genetic disorder carried by male sperm.
Who's Eligible: Men must typically be between the ages of
18 and 45 and pass testing for genetically linked diseases,
communicable disease, drug abuse, and general health. Some
sperm banks also require that men have attended at least two
years at a four-year university.
In order to be approved as a donor, the semen must meet minimum
sperm count levels, as sperm is frozen before use and some
sperm are lost during this time. Reportedly, only 1 percent
to 2 percent of men who apply as donors will be accepted.
Sperm banks typically ask men who are accepted as donors
to sign a contract committing to one or two sperm donations
a week, for at least six months.
What it Pays: It varies by sperm bank, but typically between
$35-$65 per specimen. Payment may be withheld for six months
(during which time the specimen is frozen and then retested
for disease).
Resources: You should only donate sperm to a state-licensed
sperm bank to ensure that your sperm will be used ethically.
Eggs
Women can donate eggs to help a couple have a child, or for
research purposes. It is an involved process that involves
taking various hormones for weeks and collecting eggs with
a needle inserted through the wall of the vagina into the
ovary.
The long-term health risks of egg donations have recently
been called into question, as little is known about the effects
of egg donation on women's health.
Who's Eligible: Women typically must be between the ages
of 19 and 32, be in good health, a non-smoker, not use drugs
and must pass a medical history and disease and psychological
testing.
What it Pays: Payment for egg donations vary widely, from
$3,000 to $25,000 and up, depending on the buyer. According
to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, "Although
there is no consensus on the precise payment that oocyte [egg]
donors should receive, at this time sums of $5,000 or more
require justification and sums above $10,000 go beyond what
is appropriate."
Resources:
Giving Yourself Away
|
Though living organ donation can be done anonymously,
it's most often a parent who donates an organ, or part
of an organ, to a child.
|
If you're interested in helping others, there are also ways
to give "yourself" away, namely by donating blood,
bone marrow or organs to those in need.
Blood Donation
According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone
in the United States needs blood for emergencies or to treat
cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell, anemia and other illnesses,
but only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates
blood each year.
Who's Eligible: To donate blood you must be healthy, be at
least 17 years old, or 16 years old if allowed by state law,
weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in the
last eight weeks (56 days).
Resources:
Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood Cells
Bone marrow and peripheral blood cells are used to help people
with leukemia and other blood diseases. Bone marrow is removed
with a needle from the back of your pelvic bone, and requires
either general or regional anesthesia.
Peripheral blood cells are donated during a process called
apheresis, in which your blood is removed through a needle,
passed through an apheresis machine that separates out the
blood-forming cells, then returns the remaining blood through
a needle in your other arm. Donors must also take an injection
of a drug to increase blood-forming cells for four to five
days prior to their donation.
Who's Eligible: You must be between the ages of 18 and 60,
willing to donate to any patient in need and meet certain
health guidelines.
Resources:
Umbilical Cord Blood
A woman can choose to donate her baby's umbilical cord blood
to help someone with leukemia, aplastic anemia or other blood
diseases. The blood-forming cells found in cord blood are
being studied as a new method for treating such patients.
Who's Eligible: Women must be at least 18 years old (16 in
some locations), in general good health and live in a community
where cord blood donation is available (it's still a relatively
new process and not all hospitals take donations at this time).
Note: Donating cord blood is different from privately banking
cord blood. If you choose to donate your baby's cord blood,
it's available for anyone's use. If you store the cord blood
privately, it is reserved for your family's use, and you will
usually be charged a fee for storage.
Resources:
Living Organ Donation
A person can choose to donate an organ (kidney) or a part
of an organ, such as the liver, lung or pancreas, to someone
in need of a transplant. Though the recipient is usually a
close family member, they can also be a more distant relative,
friend, spouse or co-worker. However, you can also choose
to donate anonymously, or to donate to someone you do not
know.
Resources:
Recommended Reading
Ethics
Guidelines for Physicians Updated on Sex, Drunkenness, Gifts
& Other Issues
Items
Left Inside People After Surgery: Just How Common is This
Terrifying Ordeal