Making a Second Income Donating Plasma
Why you should consider getting stuck today
Three years ago I started pursuing my masters degree and faced a glaring problem: I had no money. I received $400 a month, free housing, and a small food stipend, but overlooked the fact that I did not make enough to cover my car insurance, phone bill, and groceries for meals that were not provided. On top of this, between working for the university as a graduate assistant and completing homework for my degree, I did not have the time or ability to work a part-time job — especially since my work required 24 hour availability five days a week. Needing some sort flexible side income quickly, I started google searching all sorts of ways to make an extra buck fast. My solution? Donating plasma.
The Pros
Unlike most side-hustles, donating plasma is by far the easiest to jump into. All it takes is a few hours a week, willingness to have a needle stuck in your arm, and identification. You don’t need money, resources or much time to get started, just your plasma. To give you an idea of what a normal month of donating looks like, I made a small chart showing my earnings from this past August.
Assuming each donation takes two hours, that’s $22 an hour. Not bad for laying in a bed and watching Netflix. If you are like me and normally only take an hour to finish donating, that's $44 an hour. On top of this, most centers offer incentive bonuses for donating. If you look at the chart above, you will notice that my last two donations of the month don’t follow the trend of $20 to $50 for every other donation. This is because I received an additional amount of money on my seventh and eighth donations within the month of August. Other months have even better bonuses. So far in September, I have made $320 with three donations left, putting me at an estimated amount of $450. If we assume that I will make, on average, $350 a month from plasma, thats an extra $4,200 a year of non-taxable income. Not bad for a couple hours a week. Donate for ten years? That’s $42,000.
To many, the thought of being stuck with a needle mortifies them. To me, donating plasma is therapeutic. Donating gives me time to disconnect from the busyness of life, watch Hulu, and get paid! Donating in and of itself is easy. You make an appointment, get your vitals checked, sit down, get stuck, pump your first, and get paid. It is far less work than picking up a part time job that requires far more time and overall effort. You can also decide when you donate. Most — but not all — centers allow you to schedule appointments in advance, making the process even more convenient and quick. Donating plasma can be a flexible part of your schedule, you just can’t donate two days in a row.
If money and flexibility aren’t enough of a motivation, donating plasma literally saves peoples lives. Plasma is used to treat rare illnesses, research new medicines, and used in emergency situations at hospitals. You can find more details about how plasma helps others here. As long as plasma is needed to save lives, your plasma will always be needed. For donors, its a win win.
The Cons
Donating plasma may seem too good to be true. And honestly, it is. There are some drawbacks to donating. The most obvious is that it makes you tired. Just like donating blood, a lot of people feel lightheaded and weak after donating. Which makes sense, you just gave a large amount of plasma away. This can be problematic if you have other things you have to do after donating, like exercise or work. Most days after I donate I go home, drink lots of water, and relax. For some, that is doable. For others, they simply don’t have the time to relax after donating. The best way to prevent tiredness is to drink lots of water and eat a protein packed meal before and after donating.
Another con is that donating plasma has its limitations. There are some medical conditions and medications that may prevent you from donating. On top of this, there are other limitations that may disqualify you from donating, such as living in a another country during a specific time period or getting a tattoo within the past six months. Thankfully, before donating you go through a screening process with a nurse who will identify whether or not you meet the requirements to donate. However, it is always a good idea to talk to a doctor if you are unsure of whether or not you should donate. Like most medical procedures, there is always a risk to donating.
Finally, donating plasma means you have to get stuck with a relatively large needle. To those of you who hate needles with a passion, donating plasma may not be your best side hustle. The first time you donate can hurt, but the pain is very short lasting. Over the span of three years of donating, I have had one stick that was painfully uncomfortable — which was administrated by a new worker. Over time you develop scar tissue that makes the process much easier and less painful. And honestly, it never hurt much in the first place. But if you have a low pain tolerance, donating plasma may not be right for you
Donating can be a great way to make extra money for groceries, gas, or frivolous activities. If you are consistent, it adds up and can save you a lot of money in the long-run. For me, I consider it my side hustle. And unlike other hustles, donating is a consistent source of income that literally saves lives.
If you are unsure of whether or not donating plasma is for you, I would recommend checking out webMD’s article on donating plasma and consult a local physician.
