A quirky new trend called hot bedding is catching on. Australian entrepreneur and reality TV star Monique Jeremiah gained widespread attention when she introduced the concept. Surprisingly, she revealed it's an easy way for her to earn extra money with minimal effort.

Hot Bedding Provides Income and Companionship

Sharing a bed with strangers might not be comfortable for some people. But if you're okay with it and want to save money on a place to sleep, hot bedding could be an option.

"It is the perfect avenue to save money, live simply, and of course not be alone," Jeremiah explained. "Hot bedding is excellent for people who are able to detach emotionally and sleep next to another person in a completely respectful and non-strings-attached manner."

Getting Creative and Facing Disaster

Hot bedding refers to a situation in which a person rents half of her bed, essentially sharing the bed for the duration of their stay. Jeremiah came up with the idea during the pandemic in 2020. "I suddenly found myself single; my thriving business of an international education agency and student accommodation collapsed overnight, and my teaching career suddenly became unfulfilling as education went online," she recalled. "My life was literally imploding beyond my control. I knew my only option was to innovate and think outside the box. That's how I decided to do hot bedding."

Hot bedding means that someone rents out half of their bed to another person, and they both share the same bed during their stay. This idea was created by Jeremiah in 2020 during the pandemic.

"I suddenly found myself single; my thriving business of an international education agency and student accommodation collapsed overnight, and my teaching career suddenly became unfulfilling as education went online," she shared. "My life was literally imploding beyond my control. I knew my only option was to innovate and think outside the box. That's how I decided to do hot bedding."

Jeremiah mentions that aside from saving money, hot bedding is helpful for people seeking closeness with someone else. "It is the perfect situation, especially if you are a sapiosexual, like myself, and you prefer companionship over the physical,' she said. "It takes two people who respect each other's space, values, and boundaries to do hot bedding."

While some folks might consider hot bedding "bizzare," Jeremiah believes it suits her. However, she emphasizes the need to set clear boundaries and adhere to them to guarantee comfort for both individuals involved.

"Being an entrepreneur is already a lonely journey as you build a company,' she explained. 'So why sleep alone when you can sleep with a companion, with someone with the same discipline and drive, while making money in your sleep?"

As odd as the hot bedding trend might sound, it's picking up steam, especially with the increasing cost of living. A study conducted at the University of Technology in Sydney surveyed 7,000 international students back in 2021. These students came from various countries but were studying in Sydney and Melbourne. Interestingly, not all of them were attending universities; many were enrolled in vocational colleges.

Regrettably, nearly 40 percent of students reportedly missed meals because they couldn't afford them. Surprisingly, 3 percent of students confessed to embracing the hot bedding trend to cut down on rent expenses. Among these students hot bedding, roughly 45 percent were female, and 4 percent were 18 years old. The majority, 42 percent, fell in the 22-25 age group. Intriguingly, around 35 percent came from countries with low incomes. Meanwhile, half of the hot bedding participants, 50 percent, hailed from middle-income countries.

The US Hit by Inflation

Not surprisingly, Australia isn't the only country dealing with rising living expenses. The United States has witnessed a steep rise in grocery prices, and in numerous areas, residents have been informed about upcoming increases in utility bills. A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that approximately 75% of Americans were worried about the expenses related to electricity and gas. Meanwhile, 60-70% of those surveyed stated that the increasing cost of living has significantly affected their budgets.

Over the past three decades, rent prices in the United States have more than doubled. According to the survey, the majority of households spend approximately 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments. When researchers examined data from the 1990s, they discovered that there was only one location in the U.S. where rent was high enough to consume about 30% of a family's income, and unsurprisingly, it was in the New York Metropolitan area.

While New York maintains the highest income-to-rent ratio among larger and more populous cities, areas like the San Francisco Bay Area witness significant surges in monthly rent or mortgage expenses, ranging from $4,000 to $11,000 per month. Meanwhile, Hawaii stands out as the most expensive state overall, with the average house costing around half a million dollars or even more.

Supplementing Income for Students

The research shows Monique Jeremiah isn't the sole individual resorting to hot bedding to boost income. While some criticize it, suggesting solutions like "get a bunk bed" or lamenting it as a sad living situation, others openly share on TikTok that they are already embracing the hot bedding trend.

"I'm a med student in New Zealand and my friend and I do this. ofc (of course) we weren't friends at first it was totally anonymous but decided to meet," shared one TikTok user.

Hot bedding might seem unusual, but it's a surprisingly straightforward method to save money or earn some extra cash, and who knows, maybe even find a lifelong friend. Sadly, the increasing cost of living worldwide is pushing people to think outside the box when it comes to making ends meet. That's why unconventional trends like hot bedding and selling feet pictures are likely to keep cropping up.