Kidney

The most common organ to be transplanted, it’s estimated that 3 patients still die each day while waiting for a donor kidney because of a shortage of willing donors. It’s perfectly possible to live a long and healthy life after donating a kidney.

Interestingly, in Iran where selling kidneys for profit is legal, the waiting list for transplants is non-existent.

Payouts vary; kidneys can be sold for anything between $20,000 and $80,000, although as the donor you could expect to receive just a portion of that, with the rest going to cover surgical fees and other expenses. After deductions, you’d be looking at a profit of up to $10,000.

Cornea

The second most common transplanted body part, the cornea has a high success rate because of the lack of blood vessels. Corneas are the clear lens across the front of the eye and are necessary for vision. Most corneas are harvested from cadavers but it is possible, if you want to live with the sight of just one eye, to be a living donor.

The major exporter of corneas is Brazil and the practice reportedly doesn’t pay too well. Donors can typically expect around $7,000 and a loss of depth perception for their trouble.

Liver

Obviously you can’t donate your whole liver and expect to carry on living! However partial donations are possible, albeit risky. Surgeons will, wherever possible, remove the left lobe as there are fewer complications involved than with removal of the right lobe.

Apparently, liver donors could get up to $150,000, but you’d be risking hefty fines and jail time if you got caught. And prison isn’t really the ideal place to recover from liver surgery!

Lung

The lung is another organ for which a partial donation is possible, with the right lung preferred as it avoids the need to manoeuvre around the donor’s heart. Complications can include fluid around the lungs, spitting up blood and non-productive coughs. Needless to say, being a living lung donor requires careful consideration.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it was hard to find out a definite price for a lung donation! However I did manage to find one site which estimates the worth of a human lung as being anything up to $116,000. Presumably that’s for a full lung, which would be much harder to part with than a partial one if you planned on living a good life with the money you’d earn…

Blood

Donating blood and plasma for compensation is legal in the US. It’s the simplest form of donation and you can earn between $20 and $40 each time you give blood. It’s recommended that you don’t donate too often, although guidelines do vary: in the UK you can only give blood every 16 weeks, whereas in the US a gap of 54 days is recommended.

Plasma, the substance which carries vitamins through your bloodstream, can be donated at the same time or in a separate donation. Unlike blood, plasma can be donated up to twice a week, with donors getting paid roughly $20-$25 for the first session and $30-$45 for the second.

Bone Marrow

Next to blood and sperm, this is perhaps the simplest of all the body parts to donate, and donors report a fast recovery time of just 5 days while their body regenerates the marrow.

Originally classified as an organ, it’s technically illegal to receive financial reward for donating marrow. However, a new ruling passed in December 2011 states that some donors can now receive cash for their marrow; depending on the amount taken this could be anywhere from $125 to $450.

Sperm/Eggs

Donating sperm is not as simple as walking into a clinic, ‘doing your stuff’ to some girly mags and trotting out, cash in hand. A donor needs to fit certain very specific criteria regarding height, colouring and education level, then provide a sample to check the quality of the ‘swimmers’. If the candidate gets accepted to become a regular donor, he will need to commit to a minimum 6 months contract, making one or two deposits each week.

Depending on the clinic, you could be paid between $35-$50 per deposit…but you don’t get the cash right away. Instead, the clinic ‘freezes your assets’ – as it were – and holds onto the money until 6 months after your contract finishes, and then you only get the money if your swimmers are still healthy after defrosting.

Women can donate their eggs, or ova, but the procedure obviously isn’t as simple! Egg donation involves injecting yourself with a stimulant hormone to boost egg production prior to them being harvested from your ovaries.

The compensation an egg donor receives varies greatly between countries. In the US the going rate can be anywhere from $2,000-$10,000, whereas in the UK the maximum a donor can currently get paid is £250 (a little less than $390). However this sum is under review and may be increased in the near future.

To sum up (taking the highest values found):

Kidneys                        $10,000

Cornea                         $7,000

Liver                            $150,000

Lung                            $116,000

Blood                           $240 per year for blood

Plasma                        $3640 assuming 2 donations every week for a year

Bone Marrow               $450

Sperm                          $2600 assuming 2 deposits per week for 6 months

Ova                              $10,000

Total  worth (men)       $289,930

Total worth (women)    $297,330

As far as debt management goes, selling your body probably isn’t the most ethical way to do it, but it’s comforting to know that you’re worth so much!

Written by Louise Tillotson from MoneySupermarket, a price comparison site in the UK. No, we don’t compare body parts!

I’ve been reflecting on that conversation some 10 years later, having read an article recently about a father’s failed attempt to sell his kid in a Wall-mart parking lot. How far are we willing to go to support ourselves in a bum economy? Surely he could have sold a kidney or something. I found myself asking an odd question. Which is the better risk reward scenario, having a child or selling a kidney?

I’m a bottom line kinda guy so I’m inclined to use a balance sheet to get a clear picture of what we’re looking at.

According to ABC News the Department of Agriculture recently released a report saying that the average middle class kid born in 2008 will cost approximately $221,190 to raise from birth to 18 years of age. That’s a BIG investment. Factor in college costs and that investment can double, even triple. But here’s the good news. Kiplinger says that if you’re the average family, you’ll see a tax benefit of $2900 a year. Well, that’s something for the positive side of the ledger.

Let’s suppose that I decide to sell my kid instead. It is illegal to sell a child, so we’re talking theoretically, of course. Prices vary wildly when selling children. There’s the story of the guy who tried to sell an infant in Walmart for $30, a mother who attempted to sell her kid to the highest bidder on eBay, and a father who put his kid on Craigslist for $5000. Reportedly, he stated in the ad that his kid was one of a kind, a great kid. Hmmm. And you’re selling him. Are kids covered under lemon laws?

Okay, since he’s such a catch, let’s go with the $5000 kid. The child is reportedly four years old so we prorate the expense over that term. We divide $341,674 by 18 and we get $18,981.89 per year…times 4 equals $75,927.55. That’s our total cost to date. Factor in revenue of $5000.00 on our $75,927.55 investment.

Here’s our balance sheet:

• Estimated cost from 0-18 years old: $291,570 (adjusted for inflation)
• Est cost of tuition to a 4 year college: $50,104 (avg. out of state tuition per collegeboard.com)

• Total: $341,674
• Prorated over 4 years: $75,927.55
• Revenue: $5000
• Net Profit/Loss: ($70,927.55)

It doesn’t take a genius to see that this is not a good business model.

As an alternative, let’s sell a kidney. Apparently this too is illegal. Well, I was never one for rules so let’s continue regardless.

Just as with selling kids, estimates for kidneys vary greatly. In his article entitled How much is your kidney worth, John Stossel uses the example of a listing that appeared in the for sale section of a St Petersburg Fla. newspaper. “Kidney, runs good, $30,000 or best offer.” Thanks to the numerous after dinner martinis I’ve consumed, my kidneys are fermented. That ought to be worth something extra so I’m holding out for more.

There are harvest centers in some parts of the world where the trafficking of a kidney is an acceptable practice. In Israel a kidney can fetch as much as $80,000. Those numbers are much more enticing. Hell, for that price, take two. They’re small.

To get a proper revenue estimate we’ll have to make a few assumptions, Let’s say that I’m 30 years of age. That’s a typical child bearing age, one that is consistent with having a four year old. Let’s also assume that the average price of a martini where I live is $7.50. If I have one martini a day from the age of 21 until the age of 30, I will have spent $2,737.50 a year on the maintenance of my finely fermented kidney. Times 9 years, that would be $24, 637.50 total investment in my kidney over that time.

Here’s my balance sheet:

• Estimated cost of fermented kidney: $24,637.50
• Revenue: $80,000.00
• Net profit/Loss: $55,362.50

I’ve made a profit!

This appears to be a much more solid revenue source than selling the kids. While the Tea Party and Occupy folks argue about how to resolve the budget deficits experienced worldwide, it occurs to me that we may have hit on a realistic solution. Pardon me whilst I step out for a few…

It’s martini time.

Richard Rossi is a guest blogger, humor writer and illustrator from North Carolina by way of Syracuse NY. You can find his Childrens books at Amazon.com or Costco. Stop by and see him at his Orange sports and entertainment website where it’s always martini time.

The game had a lot of significance for me personally, but what I can’t stop thinking about is the kids that may have watched it and will now start begging their parents to take them to an ice rink to feel what it’s like to move their bodies so fast and fluid on a surface that most people are terrified to even walk on.

I equally look forward to the adult populations embracing the game as their own. See, about three years ago I had never set foot on an ice rink. I was a great fan of the sport, but didn’t know how to skate or anything else related to the game.  Maybe there is someone out there that was waiting for inspiration to hit before giving the sport, and Sunday was that inspiration. For you, I am going to recap what you can expect to pay to get yourself started down a career on the ice. (Please note: these are the costs associated with adult ice hockey – for youth ice hockey you are going to need to find someone with kids)

Equipment

There is always the debate of whether to buy used or new equipment when starting up a new sport. I would typically say go used, but hockey equipment can get quite funky and you want items that are the right size. Everything listed here can be purchased used, however I would stay away from used skates. They are far too crucial for you not to have something that perfectly fits and is molded to your feet.

• Ice skates – $80-$300 (if you are just starting out you don’t need top of the line skates, but not getting a really cheap pair can be worth the investment)
• Helmet w/ a cage – $80-$130
• Shoulder pads – $50-$100
• Elbow pads – $30-$60
• Gloves – $30-$100
• Hockey pants – $60-$100
• Shin guards – $40-$100
• Hockey Jock (for men or women) – $30-$40
• Hockey socks - $10
• Practice jersey – $20
• Hockey stick - $30-$150 (you will need to have two with you at all times as these expensive numbers do break. For me, I refuse to pay more than $80 a quality stick)

Miscellaneous items

• Clear tape – $3 a roll (this is to tap up your pads for a more snug fit, expect to go through a lot of this, but you can buy in bulk online.
• Cloth tape - $3 a roll (this is to wrap the handle and blade of your stick)
• Mouth guard – $20 (most people don’t wear one in recreational hockey)
• Water bottle - $5 or find one for free
• Skate sharpening – $8 (you will need to get your skates sharpened every few games at most or every few month at least)
• Hockey bag – $40-$60 (need to hold your gear somehow)

Ice time

It’s important to get out and practice often until you feel comfortable on your skates. There are three different types of skates you can go to for ice time.

• Public skate - $5-$8 (open to the public, can be pretty crowded and you aren’t going to be wearing pads or carrying a stick)
• Stick and puck – $10-$12 (this session is for hockey players that want to work on things like stick handling, shooting, skating, etc. without having to play in a game)
• Pick-up games – $10-$15 (you will actually have a chance to scrimmage at these sessions)

League fees

While the equipment is expensive, the league fees aren’t cheap either, but no athletic hobbies (golf, etc) are all that cheap. As a guy that plays on two teams and loves every minute of it, the cost is ABSOLUTELY worth it.

Expect to pay anywhere from $300-$550 for a full length winter season. The price will depend greatly on your geographic area. If you live in the north where there are more rinks, more available ice time and more competition, you can expect to pay a little less.

Be on the lookout for beginner leagues that may offer special rates if you have never played before. Also, don’t be intimidates. If you join a team you will make some great friends and likely you will be matched with people of a similar skill level.

Some other things to consider

If you have a family, there are significant time commitments to playing hockey. If your significant other works and you have kids, expect to pay for babysitters often.

One of the most often forgotten costs is that you will likely need to bring a case of beer once or twice throughout the season.  Think back to when you were a little kid and you brought orange slices to your soccer games.  Well, as an adult, its beer to drink in the locker room or parking lot after the game.

Lastly, be sure to have a spot in your apartment or house where you can put your gear to dry after each skate/game.  It’s important to air the gear out, it reduces the smell and makes the equipment last longer.

Is it worth it?

I spend over $1000 a year on hockey, and there was the initial investment of $1000 to get all of my equipment.  With a resounding YES, I can say that the investment was absolutely worth it.  I have never had more fun competing or working up a sweat in all my years of playing sports.  It’s a challenge unlike any other, and the camaraderie is unparalleled to anything else you can experience in recreational sports.  If you have the means and are thinking about starting your life as an adult hockey player, I can only wish you the best of luck and tell you that you will be glad you did.

For more information check out the following two sites and book:

• USA Hockey
• Hockey North America
• Hockey for Weekend Warriors (the book is ridiculously expensive right now.  If you are really serious about getting started, shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment and I can send you my copy)

Music metaphor not withstanding, it seems we rarely dance our way through life.  I know this past year for me, while successful in almost every way that is measurable, didn’t have a lot of dancing.  I am ok with that… for now.  I know things will have to change eventually and that change won’t be in the form of the “next promotion” or the “next job”.  Life is too short not to live it.

Its videos like these or stories such as The Mexican Fisherman that remind me of just how important living in the moment can be.

Click on the comic below to be taken to the first issue of each of our respective story arcs.  Be on the look out for references to other blogs and bloggers inside each of the comics.

Thanks for thinking of me Fred and I hope you guys are on the lookout for issue #2 upcoming!

For other reading, i am going to have to refer you to my fun and successful event from this week, The Spectrum of Personal Finance.  Please see all of the links below to check out the articles from the series.

Additionally, My Next Buck’s “Alpha Male Clips Coupons” article was included in the Carnival of Personal Finance hosted at Fiscal Geek.  Check it out!

However, I actually tried this experiment 6 years ago and wanted to give you my reflection upon it (as a guy with a gambling problem, I remember it vividly).

Out of 100 Scratch off Lottery Tickets the breakdown went like this:

16 – $1 Winners

5 – $2 Winners

1 – $5 Winner

1 – $50 Winner

In total I “won” $81.

In reality, I “lost” $19.

For those thinking of doing this at home, let me tell you it was not as fun as it sounded.  Over the course of an hour my hand became gray with all of that scratch off stuff on my hand.  It also hurt like hell to hold the quarter I was using to scratch off the tickets.  Additionally, there was a stretch of about 50 tickets that I went through without winning a single dollar.  There is nothing in this world that makes you feel any more like a loser than scratching off 50 lottery tickets and losing on each one of them.

Best of luck to J, and since the winnings are going to charity, I hope he wins a jackpot!