Unusual Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend: How Much You Can Earn and Invest for a Golden Retirement

 

In the world of side hustles, there's an infinite array of opportunities waiting to be explored. While some may gravitate towards traditional avenues like freelancing or driving for ride-share services, others may prefer to dive into more unconventional pursuits. If you're itching to try something out of the ordinary that could fatten your wallet, this post is your golden ticket. Here, we’ll uncover some unusual side hustles you can start this weekend, how much you can realistically earn from them, and how investing that extra income could grow your nest egg by retirement.

First, let’s kick things off with a truly bizarre side hustle: professional cuddling. Yes, you read that right. In our fast-paced, often lonely world, people are willing to pay good money for a comforting cuddle. Websites like Cuddle Comfort (https://cuddlecomfort.com/) offer platforms where you can register as a professional cuddler. Rates can vary, but typically you can expect to charge around $60 per hour. If you manage to land a couple of clients and work ten hours over the weekend, that's a cool $600. Assuming you save and invest this income consistently, with a modest annual return of 7% over 30 years, your cuddling sessions could amount to a retirement fund worth approximately $180,000.

Now, if the thought of cuddling strangers doesn't appeal to you, how about becoming a human billboard? Companies are always looking for creative ways to advertise, and what better way than using you as a walking ad space? Platforms like Human Billboard (https://humanbillboard.com/) connect people with companies willing to pay you to wear branded clothing or even temporary tattoos. Depending on the brand and location, you might earn anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour. Let’s say you strike a deal for $50 per hour and work eight hours each weekend. That’s $400 per weekend. Invested similarly to our cuddling scenario, this could grow to over $120,000 in 30 years.

For those with a penchant for fashion, renting out your wardrobe can be a surprisingly lucrative venture. Apps like Rent My Wardrobe (https://www.rentmywardrobe.com/) allow you to rent out your clothes, shoes, and accessories. If you have a collection of trendy or designer pieces, you could charge anywhere from $10 to $50 per item per day. Suppose you manage to rent out five items each weekend for an average of $30 per item. That's an easy $150 per weekend. Over a year, this could add up to around $7,800, and with smart investing, it could turn into a comfortable retirement fund of about $230,000 in three decades.

Next on our list is pet sitting or dog walking. While it may not sound unusual at first glance, consider offering your services exclusively for exotic pets. There’s a growing community of people who own reptiles, birds, or even miniature pigs, and they need caretakers who understand these unique pets. Websites like Rover (https://www.rover.com/) are great for finding clients. Exotic pet sitting can fetch higher rates, often around $25 per hour. If you dedicate eight hours each weekend to this, you can pocket $200. Saving and investing this amount regularly can help you amass a tidy sum of $60,000 over 30 years, assuming a 7% annual return.

Another quirky idea is mystery shopping. Companies hire mystery shoppers to evaluate their services anonymously. While this isn’t entirely unheard of, the unusual twist here is to focus on luxury brands and services. By registering with agencies like Market Force (https://www.marketforce.com/), you can get paid to shop, dine, and even stay at upscale hotels, all while evaluating the experience. Payments for luxury mystery shopping can range from $50 to $200 per assignment. If you complete two assignments each weekend, that’s up to $400. Invested wisely, this side hustle can grow into a retirement fund of about $120,000 over 30 years.

For the tech-savvy, consider becoming a virtual friend. Websites like Rent a Friend (https://rentafriend.com/) allow you to offer companionship services, virtually or in person. This can include anything from chatting online to accompanying someone to an event. Rates typically range from $20 to $50 per hour. Assuming you work six hours each weekend at $35 per hour, you can earn $210. Over the course of 30 years, investing this amount could result in a nest egg of approximately $63,000.

If you have a green thumb, consider renting out your garden space for urban farming. Many city dwellers are eager to grow their own food but lack the space. By listing your garden on platforms like Shared Earth (https://sharedearth.com/), you can charge people to use your land. Rates can vary, but let’s say you charge $50 per month per plot and have five plots available. That’s $250 per month or $3,000 per year. Investing this income could grow into a retirement fund of around $90,000 over 30 years.

Lastly, for those with an adventurous spirit, scavenging for scrap metal can be quite profitable. Collecting and selling scrap metal is not only good for the environment but can also bring in a decent side income. Check your local recycling centers or scrap yards for rates, which typically range from $0.10 to $0.50 per pound, depending on the metal. Let’s assume you collect and sell 500 pounds of mixed metal each weekend, earning an average of $0.30 per pound. That’s $150 per weekend. Investing this money could yield a retirement fund of about $45,000 over 30 years.

While these side hustles are unconventional, they offer exciting ways to boost your income. Here’s a rough table to illustrate potential earnings and long-term investments:

Side Hustle	Weekly Earnings	Annual Earnings	30-Year Investment Value
Professional Cuddling	$600	$31,200	$180,000
Human Billboard	$400	$20,800	$120,000
Wardrobe Rental	$150	$7,800	$230,000
Exotic Pet Sitting	$200	$10,400	$60,000
Luxury Mystery Shopping	$400	$20,800	$120,000
Virtual Friend	$210	$10,920	$63,000
Garden Space Rental	$250	$3,000	$90,000
Scrap Metal Scavenging	$150	$7,800	$45,000

Humorously, while your friends might raise an eyebrow at your new weekend gig as a professional cuddler or human billboard, you'll be the one laughing all the way to the bank—or rather, your retirement fund. Each quirky job not only adds to your immediate cash flow but also contributes to your long-term financial stability. So, the next time you find yourself with some free time on a weekend, consider these unusual side hustles. They might just be the ticket to a comfortable and financially secure retirement. Happy hustling!