College is different for everyone. Some students have the academic luxury of skipping class to go out with friends, while others skip going out with friends to attend class. Some students study from home, while others become permanent campus inhabitants. No student is like the other, and all students have their own battles to fight. However, there is one binding topic in any student’s life: money. Whether you were born with it or born without it, no college student ever seems to have enough of it. To try and combat this phenomenon, we will be listing the various ways in which students can make sure their month runs out before their money does.
#1: Good ol’ honest money:
You should have guessed it. Taking on a traditional part-time job like waitering or babysitting is a fool-proof way of making extra money. You can take on shifts that suit your academic and social schedule, and also build on your resume while doing so.
#2: Share what you know:
If you’re tight on cash but rich with academic knowledge, use that to your advantage. College students who struggle academically will pay a lot of money for some extra help. Offer to tutor your fellow scholars in a subject you feel confident with, or search for private tutoring jobs online. You can charge by the hour and schedule tutoring lessons according to your timetable. If you are fine working with small groups and want to capitalise on your time, take on group lessons. This will multiply your earnings and might make the social interactions less awkward.
#3: Become a brand ambassador:
No, we’re not suggesting that you rack up thousands of Instagram followers to start earning money. Many small brands look for student brand ambassadors to promote their products around campus. And they pay for it too! Your job could include handing out samples or flyers in and around campus or wearing a branded T-shirt to events. Although your payments will vary from one brand to the other, student brand ambassador jobs can make a huge difference in your monthly financials. Even if you just get free tacos for a month, that’s a month’s worth of dinners you don’t have to pay for, right?
#4: Earn money petting dogs:
Yes, it’s true. People will pay you to keep the company of their pets. Dog-sitting is the new babysitting, and people are willing to pay a lot of money for someone to keep their pet company while they are away for work or on holiday. In some cases, dog owners require their dog-sitters to move into their homes while they are away so that their beloved furries are not disrupted too greatly by their owner’s absence. Imagine having free Netflix, WiFi, a spacious double bed and a cute pup to keep you company while you earn an income. Can you think of a better way to make money? Because we can’t.
#5: Get a room(ie):
This might not be for everyone, but if you have a spare room in your house that is being used to store your dirty laundry and gaming gear, it’s time to clean it out and monetise it. You can convert it into an Airbnb or simply get a fellow college student to move in. There is a big market for student and holiday accommodation, so you could be in to earn some serious money. If you do not have a spare room to spare, you could opt to rent out your own room whenever you are away on holiday or visiting family over weekends. You would be surprised by the number of people who are willing to pay for your space. Just remember to check in with your landlord beforehand – a breach of contract could result in some harsh penalties, which could set you back further than where you started.
As you can see, for students to earn an income; it does not always have to be boring, inconvenient or overly time-consuming. So put your mind to it, choose one (or more) ways to make money and see what works for you. Who knows, you could be starting the next big dog-cuddling franchise. It’s 2022 – anything is possible.
