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I have donated plasma for money, not just once but twice a week for a couple of weeks for extra cash. The best part is that donating plasma helps to save lives. However, for the people donating, really, the best part is the quick (relatively) money for doing practically nothing.

Start by researching about donating plasma. A good site would be ZLB Plasma (http://www.zlbplasma.com). They explain what plasma is, what qualifies/doesn't qualify you on being a donor, how to become a donor, and the locations they have in the various states. If there is no ZLB Plasma near you, or even in your state, Google for other companies you can donate to for money. Hawaii, however, does not have a place that people there can donate for money. Not anymore, anyway.

Because you are donating plasma instead of blood, the donation process allows you to donate twice a week as long as there is at least a day in between the donations. The reason you can donate plasma more often is because when they hook you up to the machine, the blood that goes through the tubes spins in the machine to separate out the plasma, then the blood goes straight back into your body. You will feel a bit faint, depending on how much water and food you drank before your visit, but you will feel a lot better afterwards after drinking more fluids to balance what was lost during that visit.

For your first time visit, I would suggest going as early as possible. The first time will take twice as long as other visits because they have to create your file and give you a physical, as well as other tests and questions they will ask. The next times can be as short as two hours, but that all depends on how many people are before you in the line as well as your fluid intake to make the donation process that much faster.

I would also suggest bringing something to do while you are waiting in the lobby. I usually bring a notebook to write in as well as my iPod for when I am on my back pumping my hand to let the blood flow through the machine. ZLB Plasma usually has movies playing, both in the lobby as well as the donation area, but the movies may not be to your liking or, if you are going with another company, they may have something else or nothing at all while you wait. It is better to be safe than sorry.

No matter what, drink drink drink lots of water. It will help you donate plasma faster as well as leave you feeling less weak afterwards.

The first visit I donated plasma, I earned around $40. The second time that week, I earned about the same. This is because I was over the weight that would give out the minimum amount of money as well as it being my first time. The money entices people to return. The next week I earned around $25, then $35 which helped keep me afloat for the time being.

It felt good to be doing something that would save lives as well as giving me back money that I needed at the time. It is a win/win situation for those who donate plasma.

Learn more about this author, Cherie Camins.
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