Being a student doesn’t necessarily imply that you need to take an oath of poverty and despair. If you’re tired of maggie noodles and empty pockets, it’s time to learn how to make money as a student.
Not sure about you, but there have been many times in my life when I wanted/needed those extra dollars to pass through the month.
The good news for us today is there are a wide range of ways to make money that weren’t around even a decade ago.
Luckily for many of us, we may already be very skilled in certain areas that could easily translate into a nice side income for us.
So potentially, someone who is willing to work hard could make considerably more than working traditional side jobs.
Though it can seem like a difficult and unachievable task, with a little bit of ingenuity and investigation, you can either find a job that’s glove fit with your school schedule, or it could even be the beginnings of a breakthrough successful business idea.
If you doubt it, check out these ideas now! And while you do, realize that other students have already figured out how to make money, and some of them are even making a lot of it. You could be one of them!
1. Online gaming
Gaming is one such segment that is enjoyed by humans of all age groups. So whether you are a college student or a young teenager, this hack will help you earn those extra bucks. Wealth words is one such gaming company that pays off heavily at every game won.
What’s better? They introduced a feature called Quick Picks that rewards the fastest player enormously and instantly. Wait no more, and start solving their brain teasers.
2. Use your specializations to help other students
No two people are the same even if they are the same blood. You probably have certain skills that others won’t.
All it takes is to access yourself and consciously look upon those skills and expertise you have that others lack.
For example, let us believe you’re really good at designing presentations or providing literature classes, you could be able to help other students with term papers and projects for a fee.
If you’re fluid with computers, you may also be able to teach or troubleshoot the technology for other students who are not as well versed as you.
Advertise your skill set in the school newspaper, website, or on your social media handles that will give you a word of mouth edge and you’ll start getting referrals from existing customers.
You’ll have plenty of income to keep your bank account full throughout your time at school.
3. Babysitting
If you like kids, babysitting is an option that can earn $15 to $20 per hour – often plus tips. You can register on different portals or check the local classified ads.
If you put up additional skills and showcase prior experience, it’ll give you an additive advantage and help you earn more. It’ll give parents a higher assurance that their children are in good hands.
What could add to your resume is a babysitter course and also earning the first-aid certificate. That will benefit you and help you to earn more money!
Parents feel so much safer with you looking out for their kids if you know how to act in emergencies.
4. Event organization
If you love events, why not offer to plan them yourself? You could offer a kids’ birthday party planning and management or someone’s anniversary celebration!
For organizing events, you can set up a website that you can then use as a portfolio and contact way for people to get in touch.
For those things, you don’t need a fancy blog. You can just create a website with a website builder, for example, wix.com.
5 . Online surveys
Now guys, this is the best hack that you could put to use!!
If you love experimenting then this is a classic way to make money as a student. Taking online surveys is such a good way for busy students to get some money in, even if it’s not thousands of dollars.
Researchers and big companies are always in need of people who can take surveys and help them build a comprehensive report.
6. Start a blog or website
If you really want to make money online, you could possibly try by starting a blog or building a website.
This is your home-base for everything that you do online and if done rightly, with the accurate niche, it could turn into a huge profitable venture.
Starting a blog for a set audience is easy, cheap and simple to get started with. Research in advance, know your audience, curate content that they’ll connect with the most.
With time and effort, you can be on your way to six figures per year.
7. Sell all your old CDs, games and movies
If you are looking to make a very quick buck, then selling your old bits and bobs that are cluttering up your room is a good idea.
The best thing about it is that you can rip all the songs and films onto your laptop or external hard drive before selling them.
Exciting right? You earn some extra bucks without really losing anything. You can earn anything from 10p to £20 per item, and the earnings can really add up if you have a large collection.
Whilst you’re at it, see if your parents have any ‘clutter’ they’d be happy to see the back of.
You can also sell almost anything for free on Amazon Marketplace and these sites will pay you instantly for sending in unwanted items.
8. Freelance work
Have you got the knack for writing, managing social media pages or doing a little bit of graphic design in your spare time?
There are so many freelance jobs out there that require simple skills or just time that someone else might not have.
The best thing about freelancing is that it gives you the comfort of working from anyplace and anytime.
If you have an internet connection then you can work for companies across the world whilst developing valuable skills.
A great place to start is with the leading freelance site Upwork.com.
9. Become a consultant
Do you think you have an expertise in a particular skill or niche? If yes, you can sell your advice and knowledge to people across different platforms.
You don’t have to be a super expert in one domain to become a consultant or teacher, you just have to be better than your students or clients.
The greatest tip of acquiring content marketing skills is by working with a lot of startups or business experts for free for the start.
Once you have achieved the right skill set, you can earn a good figure and climb the ladder of success.
You can help companies and startups in making a content marketing plan which will help them get more business by running better marketing campaigns.
If you are a legal or finance professional, then you can make your website, and start attracting clients online and grow your scope.
10. Recycle scrap metal
Recycling is always a good idea as it not just helps you earn money but also takes you a step closer to helping the environment and the society.
Isn’t it a win win situation? Beyond just bottles and cans, you can recycle scrap metal as well.
There’s a lot more money to be made with scrap metal recycling, but it’s also harder to find the stuff to recycle.
If you find scrap copper or metal, you can get paid a significant amount for it. So in our opinion, you must give this one a shot!
11. Sell your artwork
Are you an artist or someone who has an eye for artistic things and appreciates art? Do you consistently create paintings, drawings, computer animations, or anything else visual?
In that case, you could sell your artwork online on different sites that allow users to upload images, and they can elect to sell those images as prints or even special projects.
Whenever an item is sold, the artist will receive a fixed percentage of the purchase price.
Higher membership levels earn higher royalties in few cases. Depending on the models, different sites have different schemes.
12. Dog walking & sitting
We know not everyone is fond of babies. So, if babies ain’t your thing, then maybe canines are! Dog sitting is a big business with a great scope of growth in the coming era.
Students especially are likely to have free time during the day when others are out at work and worried about their pets at home.
You could bag around £8 an hour per dog, and it’s also a great way to keep fit.
Register at websites specially created for this role and work with them by walking dogs around and taking care of them while their owners are away.
13. Proofreader
Do you find yourself easily catching errors when reading? Do you cringe when you see grammar mistakes? If that’s you, you would make a great proofreader.
Proofreaders are in demand all the time! How much can you earn you may ask? People make upto $43,000 a year proofreading part-time in college! You’ll have to check out your capability and apply as a proof reader accordingly.
If you want to learn the skills needed to start your own freelance proofreading hustle or see if this is the right career for you, check out a few free introductory workshops or try doing it for your immediate circle and take instant feedback to improve.
14. Video editor
You can be extremely successful and could be earning well enough if you like to make videos. Have you played around and edited some Youtube or Instagram videos before?
Since everything has gone digital, there are still so many people who have no clue how to record and edit videos.
We see a lot of people looking for people who have the skill set to edit videos and surprisingly these people are willing to pay a hefty price to get the task done.
They are willing to pay even more if you can convince them with something engaging and entertaining while conveying the right message to the audience.
15. Start a YouTube channel
The entire world is seeking information online. With the help of different channels like Facebook, YouTube, Google etc, people are willing to pay a few bucks here and there to receive the right information.
If you think you have a speciality and have in-depth knowledge in a particular segment, why not pass on the information to the audience in need and earn by just sharing? You could further host sessions and workshops which could be chargeable.
You should be mindful of the platform that you choose. While there are numerous ways to earn money online, some of these might be fake.
Also, do not expect to earn a huge amount quickly when using online avenues to earn money. It is a gradual process and once you get a hang of it, you could turn the opportunity into a money making business.
Whether you’re looking to make some fast cash, or you’re after long-term, more sustainable income-producing results, there are certainly ways you can make money online today.
The truth is that making money online isn’t as difficult as most make it out to seem. It just requires some discipline.
