Comments on: This American Life: Something for Nothing http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/ Personal finance that makes cents. Common sense advice on topics from high interest savings accounts, frugality, cd rates, money market accounts, mortgage rates, how to get out of debt, money management and more. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:45:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: kwsventures http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146977 kwsventures Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:03:46 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146977 Get a 2nd job or income. I got a 2nd job 17 years ago, working about 10 hours per week extra. It is a consulting job averaging about $40.00 per hour. My hours are very flexible. I usually work a couple of hours a night on weekdays only.It has given me about $19k of extra cash every year. I have made over $300k in extra money in the last 17 years. I have never spent this extra money. I have tracked every dime I have made. I have invested it in stocks that raise dividends every year. My cash flow is great now. What did I give up? Well, I have watched no stupid sitcom TV shows in 17 years. I have never seen American Idol or Dancing with the Has Beens. I am not familiar with any of those shows. I hear people talking about those shows during the workday at my day job. I basically gave up nothing and set myself up with financial independence. Get a 2nd job or income. I got a 2nd job 17 years ago, working about 10 hours per week extra. It is a consulting job averaging about $40.00 per hour. My hours are very flexible. I usually work a couple of hours a night on weekdays only.It has given me about $19k of extra cash every year. I have made over $300k in extra money in the last 17 years. I have never spent this extra money. I have tracked every dime I have made. I have invested it in stocks that raise dividends every year. My cash flow is great now. What did I give up? Well, I have watched no stupid sitcom TV shows in 17 years. I have never seen American Idol or Dancing with the Has Beens. I am not familiar with any of those shows. I hear people talking about those shows during the workday at my day job. I basically gave up nothing and set myself up with financial independence.

]]> By: KK http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146888 KK Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:49:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146888 My husband participated in some medical studies in college so he could afford to eat more than ramen (he had a regular job in a biochemistry lab, but it didn't pay well enough to cover "real" food when he started there). I think the only part he didn't think was worth the money was the prostate biopsy. My husband participated in some medical studies in college so he could afford to eat more than ramen (he had a regular job in a biochemistry lab, but it didn’t pay well enough to cover “real” food when he started there). I think the only part he didn’t think was worth the money was the prostate biopsy.

]]> By: IndyHermit http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146622 IndyHermit Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:01:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146622 The truck stunt was featured on an episode of That 70's Show. I believe it came down to Kelso and another guy, who had a *ahem* pee-bottle taped to his leg so that he would not have to leave to use the bathroom. Also, I think that a similar stunt was done on the Drew Carey show, but contestants were forced to sit in the vehicle the whole time. Sounds easy, right? Maybe, until you think about how sore most people are after sitting in an office chair for just 8 hours. Think about 16-24 hours of that! Stupidity, all around. The truck stunt was featured on an episode of That 70’s Show. I believe it came down to Kelso and another guy, who had a *ahem* pee-bottle taped to his leg so that he would not have to leave to use the bathroom.

Also, I think that a similar stunt was done on the Drew Carey show, but contestants were forced to sit in the vehicle the whole time. Sounds easy, right? Maybe, until you think about how sore most people are after sitting in an office chair for just 8 hours. Think about 16-24 hours of that!

Stupidity, all around.

]]> By: Diana http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146589 Diana Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:48:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146589 @ Success Professor: For the record, i did drug studies, worked at a cheapo motel, worked at a bookstore, and took classes, simultaneously. I was not using drug studies as a way to avoid work, I used drug studies as a way to afford college. Many of the people I knew participating weren't doing it instead of work, but in addition to. They did this to pay for home additions/renovations/down payments, family vacations, debt, and so forth. I don't think I could have lived off of $1000 for every 3 months, but it did allow me to afford a class or two that wasn't funded by student loans. @ Success Professor:

For the record, i did drug studies, worked at a cheapo motel, worked at a bookstore, and took classes, simultaneously. I was not using drug studies as a way to avoid work, I used drug studies as a way to afford college.

Many of the people I knew participating weren’t doing it instead of work, but in addition to. They did this to pay for home additions/renovations/down payments, family vacations, debt, and so forth. I don’t think I could have lived off of $1000 for every 3 months, but it did allow me to afford a class or two that wasn’t funded by student loans.

]]> By: BW http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146578 BW Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:54:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146578 Another great episode of "This American Life" is the one where they interview Edward Ugel who offered up-front cash to lottery winners in lieu of annual payments. Some would say the lottery is almost like getting something for nothing. Another great episode of “This American Life” is the one where they interview Edward Ugel who offered up-front cash to lottery winners in lieu of annual payments. Some would say the lottery is almost like getting something for nothing.

]]> By: kitty http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146571 kitty Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:45:21 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146571 I do appreciate people who participate in medical research. It's too risky for my taste though, but I do appreciate people taking risk. Drug studies seem safe, but there was a really bad experience in England not that long ago when volunteers died. I googled for spinal tap risks and saw meningitis, injury to a disk in your spine, damage to the spinal cord, etc. All rare, but it's one thing if you are sick and really need the test and quite another if you are healthy. Not for me. Do admire people who do it, though. I do appreciate people who participate in medical research. It’s too risky for my taste though, but I do appreciate people taking risk.
Drug studies seem safe, but there was a really bad experience in England not that long ago when volunteers died. I googled for spinal tap risks and saw meningitis, injury to a disk in your spine, damage to the spinal cord, etc. All rare, but it’s one thing if you are sick and really need the test and quite another if you are healthy. Not for me. Do admire people who do it, though.

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146545 Cheap Like Me Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:45:28 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146545 That documentary is terrific. My husband and I still quote a line to each other: "If you can't play with the big dogs, you'd better get back up on the porch. With the puppehs." I did psychology research for money during college. The most lucrative was a series of tests of voice-imitation computers. They were so awful, you could barely understand anything. I think of that research all the time, when computers call us on the phone. And I still miss my beautiful suede jacket I found in a dumpster - mint condition, just needed cleaning. I wore it out over 10 years. That documentary is terrific. My husband and I still quote a line to each other: “If you can’t play with the big dogs, you’d better get back up on the porch. With the puppehs.”

I did psychology research for money during college. The most lucrative was a series of tests of voice-imitation computers. They were so awful, you could barely understand anything. I think of that research all the time, when computers call us on the phone.

And I still miss my beautiful suede jacket I found in a dumpster - mint condition, just needed cleaning. I wore it out over 10 years.

]]> By: Pieter Friedrich http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146542 Pieter Friedrich Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:08:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146542 A MUCH safer and easier way of making money doing a similar thing is to participate in focus groups. I did this several times a few years ago when money was even tighter than it is now. I generally received $50-100 to sit in a room with several other people and give my opinion about fast food advertising, trade colleges, etc. You can usually find these listed under the "etc" or "gigs" sections of your local Craigslist. A MUCH safer and easier way of making money doing a similar thing is to participate in focus groups. I did this several times a few years ago when money was even tighter than it is now. I generally received $50-100 to sit in a room with several other people and give my opinion about fast food advertising, trade colleges, etc. You can usually find these listed under the “etc” or “gigs” sections of your local Craigslist.

]]> By: Mo Money http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146537 Mo Money Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:47:54 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146537 I did volunteer to take a med while they monitored my bone density. It lasted for several months (being tested once per week). I was paid very well and never knew if I got the placebo or the real thing. It was a very well conducted study and I received $3,000 for my part. I did volunteer to take a med while they monitored my bone density. It lasted for several months (being tested once per week). I was paid very well and never knew if I got the placebo or the real thing. It was a very well conducted study and I received $3,000 for my part.

]]> By: Success Professor http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146535 Success Professor Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:38:17 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146535 It is amazing how much of a bad name "work" has gotten. People will do everything to avoid work. We need to change that perception and understand that work is a good thing. You are able to give, contribute, and be, because you work. Your work is what makes you who you are. That doesn't mean you need to have a job, especially a job you don't like; you can be an entrepreneur and work from home like many on this blog. You will still work. You will still give, contribute and make a difference because of what you do. Life is not about free, it is about meaningful contribution through what you do (your work)! The Success Professor http://www.successprofessor.ca It is amazing how much of a bad name “work” has gotten. People will do everything to avoid work. We need to change that perception and understand that work is a good thing. You are able to give, contribute, and be, because you work. Your work is what makes you who you are. That doesn’t mean you need to have a job, especially a job you don’t like; you can be an entrepreneur and work from home like many on this blog. You will still work. You will still give, contribute and make a difference because of what you do. Life is not about free, it is about meaningful contribution through what you do (your work)!

The Success Professor
http://www.successprofessor.ca

]]> By: elisabeth http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146531 elisabeth Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:23:48 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146531 As someone alive only because of modern medicine, I'm very grateful to those who volunteer for medical tests and to those who get paid to do so. Certainly, this is better than when prisoners were coerced into becoming test subjects. There have also been questions raised about how some western companies go to third-world countries and pay very small amounts to test out medications, which also seems like an ill-use of the idea of market-based, for profit, research. I'll stop now before becoming completely political about this. As someone alive only because of modern medicine, I’m very grateful to those who volunteer for medical tests and to those who get paid to do so. Certainly, this is better than when prisoners were coerced into becoming test subjects.
There have also been questions raised about how some western companies go to third-world countries and pay very small amounts to test out medications, which also seems like an ill-use of the idea of market-based, for profit, research. I’ll stop now before becoming completely political about this.

]]> By: dogatemyfinances http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146530 dogatemyfinances Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:19:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146530 This article is exactly why I don't watch TV anymore. This article is exactly why I don’t watch TV anymore.

]]> By: Diana http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146526 Diana Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:35:38 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146526 I used to do drug studies. I loved it, although it was a time consuming side gig for money. It was perfect for those summers in between college, as my hours at work were scarce and I had plenty of time on my hands. I never did anything so crazy as getting a spinal tap, and i never had a catheter. I did one on Birth Control, Cholesterol Meds, and there was one other I don't remember. But, overall I made close to $4000 from 3 different studies I participated in, and 2 or 3 more that I tested for but didn't qualify. Since this was through a pharmaceutical company, they kept very close contact with us for side effects and such. It was a good experience, and if I could, I'd do it again. I used to do drug studies. I loved it, although it was a time consuming side gig for money. It was perfect for those summers in between college, as my hours at work were scarce and I had plenty of time on my hands.

I never did anything so crazy as getting a spinal tap, and i never had a catheter. I did one on Birth Control, Cholesterol Meds, and there was one other I don’t remember.

But, overall I made close to $4000 from 3 different studies I participated in, and 2 or 3 more that I tested for but didn’t qualify. Since this was through a pharmaceutical company, they kept very close contact with us for side effects and such. It was a good experience, and if I could, I’d do it again.

]]> By: RDS http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146522 RDS Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:23:07 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146522 I have a good friend that regularly volunteers for medical tests to make some extra cash. He once described to me an experiment that you was going to participate in that would require him to lie still for several hours with a spinal tap and a catheter. For this he would be paid a few hundred dollars. Not worth it in my book. What I found even more interesting was that he said that he regularly saw the same volunteers over and over at different medical tests. To the best of his knowledge, there were no studies showing whether or not using the same human guinea pigs over and over would eventually cause problems with the data. RDS http://financialvalues.blogspot.com/ I have a good friend that regularly volunteers for medical tests to make some extra cash. He once described to me an experiment that you was going to participate in that would require him to lie still for several hours with a spinal tap and a catheter. For this he would be paid a few hundred dollars. Not worth it in my book.

What I found even more interesting was that he said that he regularly saw the same volunteers over and over at different medical tests. To the best of his knowledge, there were no studies showing whether or not using the same human guinea pigs over and over would eventually cause problems with the data.

RDS
http://financialvalues.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Tabs at Levnow http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146520 Tabs at Levnow Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:12:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146520 There is no such thing as free, they are giving you money, a prize or your paycheck because you are giving away something, a service, your expertise, your time or personal information. Whatever you give is of more value than the item given for free. My favorite "free" is the 15% off I get if I open a store credit card that charges 30% or more interest on my purchases. We all know we promise to pay off the credit card before the end of the month so as not to incur the charges but who does? Whenever I come across a free offer I look more than twice before I accept. Thanks for a great post. -Tabs There is no such thing as free, they are giving you money, a prize or your paycheck because you are giving away something, a service, your expertise, your time or personal information. Whatever you give is of more value than the item given for free.

My favorite “free” is the 15% off I get if I open a store credit card that charges 30% or more interest on my purchases. We all know we promise to pay off the credit card before the end of the month so as not to incur the charges but who does?

Whenever I come across a free offer I look more than twice before I accept.

Thanks for a great post.

-Tabs

]]> By: Erica Douglass http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146517 Erica Douglass Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:30:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146517 I had a spinal tap as a kid to be tested for meningitis (on my birthday, no less.) I still remember that it was one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences I have ever been through. I have to think that those who agree to have one for $100 are either hopelessly ignorant or insane and desperate. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. -Erica I had a spinal tap as a kid to be tested for meningitis (on my birthday, no less.) I still remember that it was one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences I have ever been through. I have to think that those who agree to have one for $100 are either hopelessly ignorant or insane and desperate. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

-Erica

]]> By: Lily http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146516 Lily Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:21:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146516 Good grief. The truck thing was also in "The Safety of Objects" by AM Homes. Good grief. The truck thing was also in “The Safety of Objects” by AM Homes.

]]> By: Ryan @ Smarter Wealth http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146512 Ryan @ Smarter Wealth Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:21:02 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146512 Yuk, I would never let anyone spinal tap me for $100 Screw that, Ide rather keep my body intact and not become the result of some science experiment gone wrong. I'll stick to blogging thank you very much Yuk,
I would never let anyone spinal tap me for $100
Screw that, Ide rather keep my body intact and not become the result of some science experiment gone wrong. I’ll stick to blogging thank you very much

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146507 J.D. Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:57:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146507 A. Dawn, your comment rings very true to me. Since quitting my day job to blog full time, I've come to realize that while this makes me happy, it's not without a price. Don't get me wrong -- I love writing this site -- but it's not the same as when it was just something I did in my spare time. A. Dawn, your comment rings very true to me. Since quitting my day job to blog full time, I’ve come to realize that while this makes me happy, it’s not without a price. Don’t get me wrong — I love writing this site — but it’s not the same as when it was just something I did in my spare time.

]]> By: A. Dawn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/31/this-american-life-something-for-nothing/#comment-146504 A. Dawn Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:18:48 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=2026#comment-146504 Your article is making me think ... I am working towards building my Internet Entrepreneurship so I don't have to do traditional 9 - 5 anymore. When I reach that, there must be something I will be missing (of 9-5 job). What that will be? Perhaps daily hustle and bustle, or meeting my friends at work. Because everything comes with a price. A Dawn Journal www.adawnjournal.com Your article is making me think … I am working towards building my Internet Entrepreneurship so I don’t have to do traditional 9 - 5 anymore. When I reach that, there must be something I will be missing (of 9-5 job). What that will be? Perhaps daily hustle and bustle, or meeting my friends at work. Because everything comes with a price.
A Dawn Journal
http://www.adawnjournal.com

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