Who knew there were so many unconventional paths to financial success? Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to explore some of the most bizarre and amazing strategies humans have ever employed to become wealthy!
We’re frequently urged to work hard, save money, make sensible investments, and keep an eye on our spending when it comes to earning money. And while that’s typically sound advice, some of the most creative businesspeople have found that there may be a lot of oddballs and unexpected turns along the way to success.
Renting Goats
Yes, you read that right. Many homeowner’s organizations, municipalities, and even individual landowners have used goats’ ravenous appetites to control overgrowth on their properties. These lawnmowers with four legs provide an economical and environmentally responsible way to get rid of vast patches of unwanted vegetation. Goats are rented out by businesses all around the United States for tasks including removing exotic species and building firebreaks. Goat rentals are from $400 to $800 per acre, according to Angi. Astoundingly, lucrative goat rental ventures can bring in as much as $600,000 a year, demonstrating that even the most bizarre concepts can be extremely successful.
Antique Banana Labels
Collectors are becoming quite interested in antique banana labels—tiny works of art that are found on banana bunches. Due to the vibrant designs and historical relevance of the labels, this oddball pastime gained popularity in the latter half of the 20th century. Auctions may yield thousands of dollars for labels belonging to long-gone companies. Look for these vintage jewels at flea markets and online marketplaces if you’re seeking for a different kind of activity that could earn you some money.
Self-storage units
In the realm of real estate investments, the self-storage business has shown to be a treasure trove (REITs). Storage spaces are clearly in high demand, as seen by a one-year return of 16% and a three-year annualized return of 21.2%. Prominent firms such as CubeSmart, Sovran Self Storage, and Space Storage Inc. have experienced remarkable increases of 21.3%, 27.2%, and 36.7% during the last three years, respectively. Investing in self-storage is a lucrative business with growing returns that go beyond simply giving individuals a place to store their excess belongings.
Mining E-Waste
Millions of tons of electrical garbage are dumped every year as a result of our infatuation with gadgets. Valuable elements like gold, copper, and iron are concealed among this garbage, which makes recycling e-waste a profitable venture. Businesses are profiting from this trend by taking valuable metals out of abandoned electronics. One significant participant is Aurubis AG, a $3.46 billion market capitalization German firm that leads the e-waste recycling space. In addition to benefiting the environment, mining e-waste makes a sizable profit from what is typically seen as trash.
Yellow smileys
An iconic image in culture long before emojis took over our digital lives was the plain yellow smiling face. Bernard and Murray Spain, brothers, purchased the rights to this upbeat image in the early 1970s and used it on everything from buttons to t-shirts, creating the expression “Have a nice day,” which was one of the most profitable investments. When celebrities began to wear the happy face, it became incredibly popular. Investors who thought it was a strange business idea at first made a fortune. The Spain brothers sold the rights to the Smiley Face and their Dollar Express stores for a whopping $500 million in 2000.
