Making money as a student is easier said than done. With a jam-packed schedule full of learning and studying, it can be hard to find the time to squeeze in a job. But making money doesn’t always have to be time-consuming, and you don’t have to choose a job that has a rigid work schedule either.
Having money as a student makes it much less of a hassle to pay for books, housing, and other expenses. Keep reading to learn about 5 clever ways that you can make money as a student.
- Take Paid Surveys
Your opinion is more valuable than you may think. Many companies have turned to paid surveys as a way to get feedback about products, services, and marketing campaigns. The feedback you provide is then used to better shape products and services, making them more consumer-friendly.
By joining a paid survey site, you can quickly take surveys and earn money for them. Surveys typically take 10-15 minutes to complete, which means you can knock out a few in-between classes, during lunch, and even when you’re lying in bed at night.
The one thing to note about paid surveys is that they don’t pay a ton of money. Most surveys pay $0.25-$5.00, though some sites offer surveys that pay as much as $50. Paid survey sites are also an effective way to earn legitimate free gift cards. Some sites used a point-based system in which points can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite retailers.
To get started, join sites like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, MyOpinion and Vindale Research.
- Become a Tutor
Students just like you are always looking for someone to tutor and mentor them. If you excel in a certain subject, consider spending some of your free time working as a tutor for money. As a student, you may find it’s more convenient to work as an online tutor since you don’t have to worry about transportation.
You can find online tutoring jobs on websites like Tutor.com and Chegg.com. Most require that you have expertise in a certain subject along with the ability to provide tutoring services for at least five hours a week.
What’s fun about tutoring is that you can be paired with students of all ages. Some tutoring services offer help to students in kindergarten all the way through college. This is a great way to gain experience, especially if you’re a student looking to become a teacher one day.
- Work Online
Online jobs are abundant these days, and no matter your skill set or interests, you’re sure to find a position that interests you. Many people have turned to online work because it’s flexible and convenient. As a student, you can earn money from the comfort of your dorm room or anywhere on campus where there’s an internet connection.
Some of the most common freelance gigs include:
- Content creation
- Proofreading/editing
- Graphic design
- 3D modeling
- Virtual assistant
Another perk of working in the online world is that some freelance gigs can turn into part-time and even full-time jobs. With enough clients, you could easily become the boss of your own business and be on the path to making a serious profit.
- Sell Old Textbooks
Textbooks are expensive, and for students, they often feel like money wasted because they’re used for a single course and then they sit on the shelf collecting dust. Thankfully there are ways to recoup the costs of your books so that you can have more money in your pocket.
Instead of letting textbooks sit and go unused, you can sell them for cash on various websites such as BookFinder, TextbookRush, Cash4Books, and BookScouter. This is a great way to make money while also decluttering your dorm room.
Don’t have many textbooks to sell? The internet accepts anything and everything! Online you can also make money by selling clothes, shoes, accessories, and even electronic devices.
- Use Your Car
Owning a car can be expensive, but knowing how to use it to your advantage can help to offset those costs. There are all sorts of ways to earn money by simply driving your car.
Don’t mind transporting strangers from one place to another? Consider becoming an Uber or Lyft driver. Don’t mind grocery shopping for someone else? Try working a gig with Instacart. Know your way around local communities? Become a delivery partner with Amazon Flex.
Using your car is a great way to balance out the cost of gas and repairs, while also hopefully putting a little extra in your pocket each month.
Conclusion
As a student money, can make all the difference in your college career. Keep these five options in mind if you’re looking for ways to make money without interfering with your school work and study time.
