Man makes living by selling the shirt on his back

A T-shirt a day has kept unemployment at bay for an American man who is making about USD 85,000 a year by selling advertising space on his torso.

Jason Sadler, 26, a former marketing professional from Florida, founded his own company, www.iwearyourshirt.com, in 2008 with the idea to wear a T-shirt supplied by any company and then use social media tools to promote the firm.

For his human billboard service, Sadler charges the "face value" of the day so January 1 costs USD 1, while December 31 costs USD 365.

Sadler said this may not sound like a lot but it adds up to USD 66,795 a year if he sells out every day, which he did this year. He also sells monthly sponsorships for USD 1,500, adding another USD 18,000 to his income.

"I walk around, take photos, wear the shirt all day I blog about those photos, I put 'em up on Twitter, I change my Facebook profile and then I do a Youtube video," he told Reuters Television.

"I made about USD 83,000 this year."

The average US wage is about USD 615 a week or about USD 32,000 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sadler has already begun filling his 2010 calendar so, in true entrepreneurial fashion, he is expanding services by hiring another individual to wear a shirt a day on the west coast of the United States - and is doubling his price.