College is one of the most fun times in a person’s life, but it can also be one of the most stressful. This time can be especially difficult if you’re worried about money, which is the reality for most students.
Finding balance between academics and having a social life without going broke can be exhausting. Are you looking to find a side hustle that will help supplement your time while in school?
Check out these seven clever ways you can earn extra money while in college.
1. Drive For Uber or Lyft
If you have a car, you’re already well on your way to becoming your own boss with rideshare. With companies such as Uber and Lyft being as popular as they are, becoming a part-time driver is one of the easiest ways you can make money.
Uber and Lyft drivers control how much they work and make their own schedules. You’ll never have to worry about your job interfering with your class schedule or social life.
You can complete a few rides before class, drive for an hour or two after class, or work on the weekends. If you attend school in a big city with a high demand for drivers, you’re likely to make even more money.
But no matter where you live, chances are, someone always needs a ride. For more info on driving for Uber or Lyft, check out this guide from Ridester.
2. Become a Tutor
Is there a math class you’re acing? Do you love talking about 18th century English literature? Chances are there are students out there who aren’t as excited about that subject as you and need some help. Regardless of your talent or personal passion, you might be able to make some extra money as a tutor.
Check with your college advisor or employment office to see if they have a tutoring program. They may be able to match you with students who need help understanding a particular subject.
If your school doesn’t offer tutoring services, consider starting your own small business. You might want to start with a few friends or fellow students from a particular class. Or you can hang flyers around campus or post about your services on social media as a way to build your client base.
3. Sell On Etsy
If you love to knit, craft, or create jewelry, look into opening an Etsy shop. Etsy can become quite a profitable side business. Not only can you make money, but you can make money creating something you love to make.
Check out the Etsy seller handbook for more info on how to open up your Etsy store.
4. Become a Dog Walker
Whether you consider yourself to be a dog whisperer or just love playing with puppies, this is the job for you. Platforms such as Rover and Wag! are great places to start if you want to become a part-time dog walker. All walkers must complete the training and application process, but once you’re all set you’ll be dog walking in no time!
5. Sell Your Clothes
Personal style evolves over time. If you moved to university with all your favorite clothes from high school, it might be time to part with a few things. Seasonal items aside, if you haven’t worn something in six months, you’re probably not going to wear it again. For anyone looking to make a few extra dollars selling their clothes, there are some easy ways to do so.
Plato’s Closet is a great place to sell your old or unwanted clothes. They’ll decide what items they think they can resell in their store and they’ll pay you for those items. Any items they don’t think they can sell are returned to you.
They love brand names, so if your closet is full of recognizable labels, you’ve got a good shot at making a quick buck. As for the things they return to you, you can always donate them to your local Salvation Army.
ThredUp is another service that makes it easy to make some extra money (and clean out your closet). Once you receive your large ThredUp envelope, place your unwanted clothes in and ship it back.
They’ll decide what they want to keep and resell. The things they don’t want to resell will be donated. For the items they do keep, they offer you money for each item.
6. Become a Babysitter
Were you the go-to neighborhood babysitter in high school? Then consider being a babysitter while you’re in college, too. Care.com is a great service where you can easily connect with families who need a sitter.
The more complete your profile is, the better you look to parents. Parents everywhere rely on Care.com to help them find local babysitters that they can trust.
If you want to take your babysitting skills to the next level, consider becoming a nanny for a particular family during the summer. It requires a great deal of responsibility but it can be a fun job and a great learning experience.
If you’re lucky, you might even find a family that will pay to take you with them on their summer vacation!
7. Become a Brand Ambassador
Is there a certain brand that you love? Look into becoming a brand ambassador and you might be able to get paid for repping them on campus.
The amount of money you can make varies depending on the brand, but it’s an excellent opportunity. If you do a good job for the brand, it just might turn into an internship or a full-time job after you graduate. Start your research by checking out Reppr.com to see a list of current opportunities.
Making extra money while you’re in college isn’t hard if you know where to look. A side hustle that you do on your own time and your own terms are perfect if you’re looking for flexibility.
From driving for Uber to babysitting for a local family, there are tons of fun and easy ways to make money as a student.
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