You may be a student reading this blog right now, guess what! We got you some great news that’ll probably make your day. Academic years are the most challenging years of a student’s life. Not only mentally, but their lives become a roller coaster financially too.
There are many ways through which students can make a lot of money to pay for academic materials and take care of other needs. However, the most reliable ways through which every student can make lot of money and still maintain balance in his or her studies are side hustles. Side hustles give students the opportunity to maintain a regular income and also study effectively.
- Why Is Student Life Tough?
- Crazy Side Hustles for Students
- What Are Some Side Hustles For Students?
- What Are Some Good Paying Side Hustles?
- How Can I Make Extra Money For Tuition?
- How do You Hustle While Studying?
- How Can a Woman Make Money as a Student?
- How Many Students Have a Side Hustle?
- How do Teens Hustle?
- How Can I Pay For College With no Money?
- How Can I Earn as a Student?
- How Can I Make Money Without Going to College?
- How Can Students Make Side Income?
- How Can a Student Make Money on The Side?
- What Can my Side Hustle be?
- How Can I Earn Through Google?
- How Can a Full Time Student Make Money?
- How Can College Students Make Quick Money?
Why Is Student Life Tough?
A simple answer? Because they manage their mental pressure of studies along with their financial pressure of expenses. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with a silver spoon.
As much as they have a burden of paying educations dues, let’s not forget, that it’s an age of fun. Right? Who wouldn’t love to spend Saturday nights with fellas or combine study at cafes or, wait, what about those big university concerts by your favorite artists?
Read Also: Access College Grants for Students
Everything requires money (a debt may cover our present expenses but, they still have to pay it off later). We totally understand that it sounds no fun to be around your best buddies’ whole day and have nothing to pay for extra activities. Don’t worry; we got your back!
Crazy Side Hustles for Students
I bet you students badly need to know these care-free side hustles which, can save you from debt. You can easily earn a decent additional side income to pay off your educational expenses. Show the world how independent you are!
1. Photography Skills
If you got the skill of seeing things from magical angles, then this is for you! Capture everyday things and daily-life scenes in a captivating way and sell those crisp photographs to crowdsourcing photo companies. This side-hustle will let you earn while doing something creative!
2. Educate To Earn
You can easily earn by teaching other students who need help academically. Just think of the subjects you are good at and sign up on the tutoring websites to look for relevant opportunities. Or you can even ask around your locality and schools to find such students.
3. Take Up Data Entry Jobs
Managing data can be very tedious and time-taking. Most businesses prefer outsourcing these tasks and this is an excellent opportunity for you to earn a few bucks. Even though it can be a bit boring at times, you learn data management while earning side-by-side.
4. Be a Delivery Person
With such busy and fast-pace routines in this era, people love to get things at their doorstep. It is the reason why food delivery services are on the rise. Many job vacancies for delivery riders pop up these days, and you can easily apply to start earning.
5. Try Babysitting
Babysitting is the most common and simple way to earn, especially if you are good with kids. All you have to do is to find people with kids who have busy schedules or just need a break now and then. Handling kids is not that difficult as it seems if learn how to engage them in exciting activities!
6. Start Freelancing
Freelancing is the most feasible option for students to start as a side-hustle. Be it writing, editing, graphic designing, or coding; there are loads of people and businesses out there that need your skills to get their work done. Finding freelancing gigs has become easy with websites like Upwork and Fiver.
What Are Some Side Hustles For Students?
The online gig economy, through the Internet and mobile apps, offers opportunities for you to shore up your bank account. Instead of being a starving college student eating Top Ramen every night, take advantage of these flexible side hustles to put a real plate of dinner on the table.
1. Drive for a ride-sharing service
Whether you have a vintage record collection or way too many Nikes, you can sell some of your stuff on sales and auction sites (Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, eBay) or through smaller, niche providers. Smaller sites may target specific items, ranging from clothing (Poshmark) to electronics (Gazelle). Before starting, consider what you’re selling and the fees charged by each site. For example, eBay charges 10% of the final sale value (up to $750).
2. Take online surveys
Companies love market data. After registering with a survey provider, you build a profile that’s matched to consumer surveys. By completing surveys, you earn points that can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or an online gift card. Popular online survey companies include Survey Junkie, MintVine, Toluna and Nielsen Digital Voice.
3. Do data entry work
It may not be glamorous, but data entry is an in-demand option for students looking to earn cash from their dorm room. You can register for free with companies such as The Smart Crowd, Clickworker or DionData Solutions and sign-up for various tasks. Examples include data categorization, updating consumer information and proofreading.
4. Become a web searcher
Web searching options vary, from becoming a social media evaluator with Appen to a search engine evaluator with Leapforce. These types of roles generally require you to monitor companies’ social media accounts and provide feedback on search engine results.
5. Get paid to go shopping
If you prefer virtual stores to the mall, then online shopping with Bing Rewards, Swagbucks and Qmee.com could be right for you. Registering is free and tasks can include comparison shopping or providing consumer feedback. As you participate, you earn cash rewards that can be redeemed via PayPal.
6. Serve as a virtual assistant
If you have a knack for organization, then serving as a virtual assistant could be a solid side hustle. Virtual assistants may handle tasks such as email management, calendars and coordinating travel. These side jobs can be found on freelance networks (PeoplePerHour.com) and on professional virtual assistant sites (VA Networking, Virtual).
7. Sell old textbooks
Textbooks are expensive and usually don’t have a shelf-life after you leave college. Turn those old books into cash by selling via online providers like TextBookRush, Chegg, BookScouter and Cash4Books. After registering, you enter the book’s ISBN, get a price quote, sell it and ship it using free shipping labels from the vendors.
8. Review apps and websites
College students can make a little money by writing app reviews and participating in focus groups through sites such as Apperwall and UserTesting.com. Apperwall has users download and use apps for a specific period of time so they can write a short review. For each approved review, Apperwall adds a reward into your account that can be redeemed via PayPal.
9. Rent out your parking space
Students in busy cities such as San Francisco or Chicago know parking is a premium. You can leverage your parking spot by renting it out whenever you don’t need it through sites such as SpotHero and Parking Panda. These sites match drivers who are looking for parking with your parking spot through their mobile apps.
10. Be a translator
If you can fluently speak another language, you can use your skill to earn some cash. You can find translator jobs through sites such as UpWork, Translators Café and Gengo. Translation services typically require you to pass a test before you can get matched to or approved for a job. Rates may vary by language, length and type of project.
What Are Some Good Paying Side Hustles?
Here’s our list of the best side hustles that you can do today to start earning more money.
1. Deliver Food And Groceries
Right behind ridesharing is delivering food and groceries. This has become one of the fastest growing trends nationwide, and as such, it’s also one of the best side hustles. If you don’t like people in your car, but still want to make extra money on your own terms, this is a great way to do it.
The only drawbacks are you can’t do it all the time (restaurants aren’t usually open at 2am), and you may make less that traditional ridesharing. However, it’s still a great way to earn extra money!
2. Ridesharing
Yes, everyone talks about ridesharing – some people love it and some people despise it. However, it’s our #1 pick for the best side hustle because it’s one of the few jobs that you can literally do anytime, anywhere. Want to earn some extra money at 2am? You can do it? Don’t want a set schedule? That’s fine!
With ridesharing, you can earn when you want, on your terms. It’s one of the only side hustles that is truly anytime, anywhere.
3. Start A Blog
This is my favorite side hustle (this blog was started as a side hustle), but it’s not an immediately income-producing opportunity. Starting and growing a blog does take time, but I estimate you can start earning at least $1,000 per month at the 12 month mark – if you do it consistently (e.g. 3x per week).
But, it does start slow, and it’s a lot of work. However, the growth potential of a blog is nearly limitless! So, if you’re looking for a long term side hustle, this could be it!
4. Tutoring
If you’re a teacher, or really anyone with a college degree, you can get paid to tutor kids online. One of the hottest growing areas of demand right now is teaching English as a second language online to children overseas.
One of the benefits of this is time zone differences. Our nighttime here in the United States is typically the day in other counties – meaning that this is the perfect side hustle if you’re looking for something you can do at home, on your computer, at night.
These companies require you be a teacher or have at least a bachelors degree. You should also be comfortable teaching over webcam at home – so lights, good camera and mic, and some technical computer skills.
Remember, you can also tutor any subject offline by finding students in your area.
5. Online Freelancing
There are so many ways to make money online freelancing. If you can read, write, program, make videos, or are open to learning a variety of skills, you can make money freelancing online. You could even do bookkeeping for other businesses online!
Some areas that are easy to get started with are online transcription work (think of all the podcasts that need thins), online virtual assistant services, and even online social media management.
The bottom line is that the potential is limitless if you are even a little tech savvy or have writing skills.
How Can I Make Extra Money For Tuition?
Finding money to pay for college during the summer can be difficult, but it is possible. Students will need to move quickly to get funds for tuition, commuting, housing, books and any other necessary supplies for school.
These tips on ways to find last-minute money to pay for college include finding a summer job and creating a budget, but often one of the best ways to fill the gaps in financial aid is to communicate with the financial aid office and ask for help.
Sometimes students who committed to a school back out at the last minute, a phenomenon called summer melt, which can result in extra financial aid becoming available to incoming students.
Apply to late-deadline scholarships.
Most scholarship deadlines are in the spring, but there are still a few options for both national and local scholarships with deadlines in the summer months. In fact, many experts say students should be applying for scholarships year-round. Examples of a few late-deadline scholarships include the Korean American Scholarship Foundation scholarship and the David Hudak Memorial Essay Contest for Freethinking Students of Color.
Consider asking for family support.
Students can ask family members to help offset the cost of college by contributing to a tax-advantaged college savings account known as a 529 plan or by paying for supplies and necessities directly. A 529 plan allows individuals to invest and save for qualified educational expenses, and various family members can contribute to a plan with the student as the beneficiary.
Learn how to budget.
Living modestly to raise money for college is one way for prospective students to increase their funds. Students can set up a budget and look for ways to cut costs. Textbooks are one college expense that can be unexpectedly costly, so use these tips to find inexpensive textbooks to save money.
Try crowdfunding or a side hustle.
Get creative and try using crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe or launching a side hustle to make a little extra money for college. Students can make YouTube videos, start a blog, open an online shop, drive for ride-booking services like Uber and Lyft or simply spread the word about their fundraiser on social media.
Look for a job to help pay for college.
As the cost of college tuition has risen, it’s become harder for students to finance their education with a summer job or part-time job during the school year. Still, finding work can help students pay for books and supplies and earn some spending money while at college. Consider fast-food jobs or other part-time jobs, like some in the delivery and banking industries, that offer tuition assistance programs.
Ask about college payment plans.
Payment plans can help take the sting off of a large college tuition bill. “Payment plans are set up through the individual college or university, in most cases they use an outside vendor to administer such plans,” Alex Bickford, a college finance consultant at Bright Horizons College Coach, wrote in an email. “These plans allow you to spread your costs over six-10 months interest free with a relatively small enrollment fee.”
How do You Hustle While Studying?
Students nowadays can try out various non-traditional ways. These ways help in earning money online in India without letting the students miss out on their studies.
Blogging or Vlogging
Some people are good at learning while some have good oratory skills, but if you love writing and are good at it, then this option is best suited for you. Who had ever thought that expressing yourself could be a good source of income if you think you are good at it then here is your first option on how to make money in India for students.
Vlogging
With vlogging you don’t need that expensive equipment, all you might need is a smartphone or an affordable DSLR but smartphones can do the work. And some basic knowledge of editing but these days you have apps that can do half the work for you.
You can start your vlogging career with youtube and earn money by posting related ads on your videos, or through some sponsored content.
Blogging
Writing a blog can also be used as a passive income generating stream. You can create your blog with a click of a few buttons using popular forums like blogger, WordPress, etc. these forums can help you write/ post blogs, all you need to do to be a blogger is to possess basic computer skills, and start earning by setting up a Google AdSense account wherein the advertisements appear on the blogger’s website.
To start a blog you first need to find the target audience who would be willing to read your blog, once you’ve decided about who is to be targeted, then the need for a domain arises which is fulfilled by forums like WordPress, Blogger, etc. we can freely host on these forums and then you can start writing blogs, once after writing about 30-40 articles you can expect to have a good amount of traffic on your blog. This option is a bit time-consuming but is worth the wait and is best for earning.
Earning through Survey Sites
I can expect that you might be done with your exams and that now have loads of time to waste upon. So why not use that time and do some surveys for the companies and earn some money online?
Well yes, you can earn money online by doing surveys, many companies need the user’s opinion for the client before they launch their product. This profile is best suited for students and housewives and can be a good source of online income.
You can earn up to $5 per survey completed and even more if you are the targeted audience.
Machine Learning Expert
It is another way through which you can learn how to make money in India for students and earn money online. You need to create bots and code them with some algorithms to make them perform tasks that would apparel the client’s needs.
All you need to do is register yourself as a designer or a coder on websites like Upwork and look for clients who need bots for various platforms like for their website, a discord server, or even for some personal projects. This could be a means to earn part-time and are good for students for covering up their pocket money.
Become an Online Tutor
You can help people learn new skills in return you can also earn. Well, Chegg India is one best example for such means as you can help as an expert in subjects like Business strategies, Engineer, Science, Mathematics, etc with each subject having its own sub-branch, in this way you can help other students learn as well in return you can earn up to ₹ 500 per lesson.
These websites not only help you teach but also help you to learn as well. Thus, it could be considered to be an option to earn money online while you are learning the same language and have others practice it as well giving you an advantage.
This is also a budding option as it aims at teaching new skills to others as well as help you earn a good amount of money. Chegg is an online platform that gives knowledge to hundreds of students outside the classrooms. Thus they put their students first and takes care of their online tutors or should I say subject matter experts too.
Chegg pays their subjects matter experts according to the number of answers they provide. It not only helps the students but also the subject matter experts. As a subject matter expert, it broadens your knowledge horizon.
You get an active income according to the work you have done. Thus it becomes a very attractive option to earn money online in India for students. The registering to it is very simple and can be done easily.
How Can a Woman Make Money as a Student?
1. Sell your books, CDs, games & videos
We all have old textbooks lying around, maybe from school or university, or just books your aunty gave you for Christmas that you never read, or what about those CDs, DVDs and videos that you never use any more. So why not sell them?
It might sound like too much hassle, but We Buy Books has made it nice and easy. All you have to do is enter the ISBN, they will value your books for you, you print off a pre-paid postage label so you don’t even have to go to the Post Office and they will pay you when they receive your package.
Rather than throwing your CD’s, games and videos away, why not turn it into cash through Music Magpie. All you have to do is enter the barcode, they will then give you an instant price for your goods, box up all your unwanted inventory and send for free to receive payment once the items are received.
2. Become an Extra
You can earn around £60-80 for being one of those background people on second rate TV, which isn’t too bad given the fact you are effectively a living prop. Using sites like Be On Screen can get you on set and well on your way to getting your 5 seconds of fame (well, not that much fame). If you want to mingle with some Z-list celebs and get paid for it, this could be your ticket to more money.
3. Sell Your Notes
Put your hard work to good use; your built up hours of note taking and detailed charts and diagrams could gain you more than just a good grade. Sites like Notesale allow you take your notes and put them online for any students who need some a bit of extra help.
The way it works is that you put up your notes and set a price and get paid through the website. So if you’ve worked hard and want to get a little something from it, by all means give this one a go.
4. Tutoring
Another great way to make money as a student is to put your academic expertise to good use and become a tutor. This money maker can be quite profitable, with the earning potential being about £25-35 an hour. If you like the idea of collecting the cash, you need to advertise your talents on job boards for locals to see or use tutoring sites like Preply.
5. YouTube
YouTube can be more than just a distraction filled platform teaming with cat videos and funny lip syncing parodies, it can also grab you thousands of pound. You probably didn’t know that you could earn some serious dosh as a YouTuber; for 1000 views you can earn between £1 and £5, meaning that if you get 50,000 views a month you’d be taking around a £100, and that’s just per 50,000.
Getting into YouTubing is easy; get an account and start uploading videos, although being good at it is an entirely different kettle of fish. Being original isn’t even all that necessary, although unique content has more value. Remember that some of the big YouTubers are getting over a million hits a day and taking in over a million pounds a year.
How Many Students Have a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is a great way to make extra cash – whether it’s to help pay student loans and other bills or just for extra spending money – though some can even turn into full-time gigs.
Working in the gig economy can offer an array of different opportunities for extra revenue. More than one-third (39%) of young people (age 18 to 24) have a side gig, according to a CareerBuilder survey.
So, where do you start?
The first step is to figure out what your skills are and then brainstorm ideas from there, Chris Guillebeau says in his book, “Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days.”
A good place to start is by doing a Google search, said Stacy Francis, a financial advisor and founder of Francis Financial.
“Start by asking yourself, what is my specialty?,” Francis said. Then do some searches around that to figure out what opportunities there might be. Maybe there are jobs already available — or maybe it gives you an idea to create your own.
That’s exactly what Brittany Bygrave, 3-year owner of Noia Butters, did when it came to starting her own business.
If creating your own products and selling them online isn’t your thing, there are a ton of other options for side hustles – you just have to think about what skills you have and what appeals to you. Arizona State University identified 9 best side hustles for college students to take advantage of while still in school:
1. Dog walking
2. Start a blog or vlog (video blog)
3. Test new apps and websites
4. Virtual assistant
5. Help people with their task list
6. Sell your clothes
7. Become an online tutor
8. Take surveys
9. Freelance work
And, there’s no reason why you can’t try more than one of these ideas – see what you like the best and what makes you the most money.
How do Teens Hustle?
If you’re entrepreneurial or like a more flexible schedule, there are plenty of side hustles to dive into as well. Some jobsand side hustles may only be open to older teens, though: “Most side hustle platforms require freelancers to be 18, mainly because that’s how old you need to be to sign a legal contract,” says Kathy Kristof of Sidehusl.com. And even younger teens have options.
Here are five side hustles that experts say are ideal for teenagers.
Social media manager for local businesses
Younger people are often seen to have more social media savvy than most adults. “Teens are perfect for social media manager positions and can make money doing something they enjoy doing,” says side hustle expert Daniella Flores. “They can find these gigs by following local small companies on Instagram or TikTok and reaching out to those that look like they need a hand.”
Can a local ice cream shop be doing a better job presenting its delicacies? Can a local barber shop be using better hashtags to get the word out about its services? Start following local businesses’ social media accounts and taking note of the ones that may not be making the most of those platforms, then reach out with a strategic offer for how to improve on their activities.
Social media managers make an average of $16 per hour, according to PayScale.
Sell crafts on Etsy
If you’re creative and have been making unique jewelry, pottery, or even digital tools like “planners, stickers, social media templates, [or] photo presets,” says Flores, consider opening an Etsy shop to sell your items.
“Etsy is open to any artist over the age of 13,” says Kristof, so even younger teens can sell their creations. Sellers between the ages of 13 and under 18 must follow specific guidelines, however, so make sure to read the site’s policy carefully to ensure you’re following its rules.
When pricing, keep in mind the price of materials and shipping costs. Some handmade jewelry on the site is going for as much as $60 per necklace, while some stickers are selling for $10 each.
Sell your stuff online using sites like Poshmark or eBay
If you’re 18 or over, consider starting a side hustle selling some of your old clothes on sites like Poshmark or your old toys on sites like Mercari or eBay.
Even young sellers can be wildly successful on these platforms. Aleah Mazyck started selling her old clothes on Poshmark during her freshman year of college and has since grossed more than $30,000 on the site, and Matthew Fiore started selling used LEGO on eBay as a young teen and has since grossed more than $30,000 on the site.
Go through your closet to see what items are in good shape that you could potentially sell, then see how much like products are going for on the sites and price accordingly. Remember to consider the cost of shipping and shipping material. When you’re done with your own items, see if friends or family members might need help selling theirs.
Walk dogs or pet-sit
If you’re 18 or over, look for side hustle apps and services for “anything related to fur-kids,” says Vix Reitano, who built her digital content side hustle into a six-figure business. People adopted 1.6 million pets last year, so “pet care, vet care, overnight sitters, you name it, there’s a need for it,” she recently told Grow.
Sign up to walk dogs or pet-sit on sites like Rover, Care.com, or PetSitter.com. Dog walkers make an average of $20-$40 per hour and pet-sitters make an average of $25-$30 per day, according to Thumbtack. Because you’ll be interacting with strangers, it’s also smart to let your parent know when you’ll be picking up a job.
Offer your services on Nextdoor or Facebook
There are also numerous sites to find one-time or ongoing jobs in your neighborhood. “Teens can find jobs on the neighborhood site Nextdoor by simply stating what they want to do,” says Kristof. This can include tutoring, walking dogs, or yard work, she says.
You can list your services on neighborhood Facebook groups and let your parents know to spread the word to friends that you’re looking for babysitting gigs, housesitting gigs, and so on. Google to find the typical rates for these gigs and include them in your pitches online and to family friends.
The average hourly babysitting rate, for example, is $17 for one child, according to UrbanSitter, and the average rate for an overnight housesitter is $50 to $100 per night, according to Thumbtack. Again, if you end up working for strangers, it’s smart to keep guardians in the loop.
“Amid the current labor shortage, teens can find opportunities for which they would not have been eligible in the past and receive higher than usual compensation,” says Pollak. “In addition to being attractive now, that experience can look good on their resumes and help them get better jobs in the future.”
How Can I Pay For College With no Money?
The average cost of college ranges from $25,890 per year for in-state students at a public school up to $52,500 per year for private colleges.
If you don’t have this kind of money saved for college, paying for it might feel impossible. But don’t worry — there are options that could help.
- Apply for scholarships
- Apply for financial aid and grants
- Negotiate with the college for more financial aid
- Get a work-study job
- Trim your expenses
- Take out federal student loans
- Consider private student loans
How Can I Earn as a Student?
For students, it can be challenging to manage a part-time job to make some money while studying full time. However, there are several mobile apps available to help students earn some extra bucks easily in their spare time. Here are 5 best money making apps for college students.
1. Notesgen app will help you learn and earn
Notesgen is the perfect app for students to make money. All they need to do is to share or upload their notes to help other Notesgen users to start earning some pocket money for their efforts. The platform allows students to upload handwritten notes on various courses and subjects or for competitive exams. It is currently available on the web, Android, and iOS too.
2. GigIndia is another useful app for college students
“GigIndia Pocket Money, Part Time Jobs for Students” is another great money making app for college students in India. They can make money online by working with popular brands and companies and performing easy gigs, part-time jobs, and work from home jobs. They can also apply for paid internships on the app. The app is currently available only for Android.
3. Students can get Paytm cash using SquadRun app
SquadRun is another useful Indian app using which students can earn rewards called SquadCoins for completing various tasks. The company says they convert business activities of large companies, including Flipkart, Snapdeal, Ola, etc., into small missions that are completed by users. The missions include giving feedback, tagging images, categorizing products, etc. SquadCoins can be sent to users’ Paytm wallet or redeemed for PayUMoney points.
4. Lemonop app offers well paid gigs and internships
Lemonop is another good app for college students and freshers to find part-time gigs, short-term internships, and work from home projects and get paid. They can find opportunities in their areas of interest like food, travel, blogging, marketing, content writing, photography, music, hosting, fashion, coding, and graphic designing among others. The app is currently available only for Android.
5. With mCent Browser, make money just by browsing internet
mCent Browser is a “recharge browser” app students can use to save on their mobile recharges/bills and data. Users can earn credits by simply browsing websites without any complicated steps. They can surf the Internet, watch/download videos, read news, use Facebook, shop online, or use Google Search like they normally do on the app to receive reward points that can be redeemed for recharges.
How Can I Make Money Without Going to College?
While getting a higher education can lead to many job opportunities, it isn’t the only way you can earn an income. There are plenty of other ways to earn money without having a degree. Whether you are a student or simply want a different type of career path, it is possible to earn money with the skills you have rather than a formal education.
Here are a few ways to make money without a degree if you are a natural-born entrepreneur:
1. Invest in the stock market
If you are someone who is financially savvy, it’s possible to make money in the stock market. While some people like to watch their stocks grow, other people opt to do day trading. When getting into the latter, you can spend your entire day trading short-term stocks, making this a full-time job.
2. Start your own business
Many people enjoy being their own employer, which is one reason they choose to start their own business. If you are an entrepreneur at heart, start thinking of different products or services that might be profitable.
3. Sell stuff online
Along with getting rid of clutter, selling your old stuff online is a great way to make some extra cash. Those who are really savvy at online sales even start their own eCommerce shops. While a background in business might be helpful, you can do a lot of self-teaching online.
4. Rent out your property
There are all kinds of companies you can partner with to rent out your property. Many people who travel often or have an additional property can make good money by letting people stay by them. This is especially true if you live in a high tourism or urban area. Before renting out your property, do some research to see if this is allowed in your jurisdiction.
5. Start a consulting service
If you have marketable skills and knowledge to offer, consider starting your own consulting business. For instance, if you have a life-long love for wellness and fitness, you could market your services to people who want to learn how to live healthier lives.
6. Take stock photography
There are companies that want to buy high-quality stock images from skilled photographers. If you are someone who has experience snapping photos, you might want to look into this money-making option. When deciding to sell your photography, make sure you understand what kinds of images companies are looking for.
7. Start a blog
Starting your own blog is a great way to work on your creative writing skills while also earning some money. As you gain a large following of readers, you can convince advertisers to partner with you for affiliated blog posts or purchase ad space on your website. Get started by writing about a topic you know quite a bit about.
How Can Students Make Side Income?
As a student working part time, you should also be willing to sacrifice certain things like your social life with friends. As they often say, no pain, no gain. If you are a cash strapped student, or just want to supplement your income to lighten your parents’ burden, here are some useful suggestions on the type of work available.
1. Use Your Skills
Online micro job boards are on the rise with several internationally acclaimed websites available including places like Freelancer.com and Upwork where employers look for both short term projects or long term commitments. The good thing here is that many employers are from overseas and they offer payment rates in currencies that trade higher than the Ringgit.
So if you have specialized skills like web design, writing, research, data entry, graphic design and more, head on over to these sites and fill up the required information. Usually you get jobs by ‘bidding’ with other potential employees for a certain project and if your portfolio profile is interesting and qualified enough, you’ll get the job.
One important thing to note here is that you will require either a Paypal account or a valid credit card in order to get paid. You don’t have to worry about the legitimacy of employers here as they are all screened and approved by the website’s administrators. On home ground, try advertising your skills on sites like Kaodim and Mudah.my, you’ll be surprised how these sites can actually draw in clients to you.
2. Sell Products Online
You can start humble and small by selling your own second hand items that are not needed anymore, especially things like textbooks, stationery or clothes. Online sites where you can begin to sell stuff include Lelong, Mudah and Lowyat. Otherwise you can set up a Facebook page to increase your sale exposure.
Apart from selling second hand items, there is a demand for hand crafted items like artisanal soap, toiletries, gift packs especially as door gifts for certain events. You could also look into the corporate gift sector where you produce small items to promote a certain company like printed T-shirts, pens or umbrellas.
Of course this requires you to spend some time procuring producers for these products but once you’re done, the rest of the business does not take up much time. In order to sell your items at a higher price, why not go to international portals like Ebay or Amazon? Not only will your target audience be wider, you’ll get premium prices for your products too!
3. Work Part Time In Restaurants Or Shops
If you’re able to travel, you may want to consider working part time in fast food restaurants like McDonald’s or KFC, or even as a pizza delivery person for Pizza restaurants. These jobs pay anywhere from RM4 to RM8 an hour. The pay may be considered rather low for some but it can be used to supplement an income generated from other work or an online business. The shifts you work can be at night and on weekends.
The downside is that you may have to give up your social life and relaxation time. On the plus side, you’ll be exposed to the food and beverage industry, which will look extremely good on your resume after you graduate. In addition to the fast food industry, try local cafes and restaurants, or even shops like twenty four hour convenience stores (think KK Mart or 7-11), stationery shops and the like. You can always try negotiating with your employer so that your shifts don’t coincide with classes.
4. Give Tuition Classes
This is one of the most common and easiest ways for an undergraduate or Grad student to earn money as it doesn’t require much brawn or physical energy. The upside of giving tuition is that the rates are pretty good, ranging from RM30 to RM60 an hour (and rising because of inflation). If you have a car and can travel, you’ll be able to reach more students and get more clients.
In order to start, you can sign up at online home tuition agencies like GradTutors, Tuition Plaza, Tuition Job and My A One Learning. Note that if you go through an agent, you’ll probably have to pay an agent’s fee which is usually 50% to 60% of your first month’s earnings. The current rates for one on one tutoring is at RM20-30 per hour for UPSR level, RM30-40 for PT3, RM40-50 for SPM and RM60 per hour for STPM or A levels.
If you’re tutoring University level students, you can negotiate for up to RM80 per hour. Apart from one on one home tutoring, you can watch out for tuition centres that are always keen to hire University students as teachers. The rates are more or less the same as those stated before, except that you’ll just have to handle more students in one class.
5. Become A Mystery Shopper
This is one of the most fun jobs you might ever come across. You’ll have a chance to evaluate how businesses perform and how employees in the customer service line behave. Usually you’ll be given a briefing on how to conduct these visits and what to look for. Each visit is paid for in cash or vouchers, or cash back on the money you spend there, based on your receipt.
The going rate for one assignment starts from RM30 all the way to RM150 depending on how much you are expected to observe and record for the benefit of the evaluators. In the end, your observations and feedback will be channeled to the marketing executives of these conglomerates, which will help improve customer service, product presentation and overall performance.
To begin, you can contact Cardas Research or Popular Bookstores. There are also International mystery shopper agencies like Helion Research which pays you in USD.
How Can a Student Make Money on The Side?
1. Online selling
From selling items you no longer need, to creating bespoke pieces like jewellery or artwork, online selling can be a great way to boost your income. The great thing is that you’re in the driving seat and can make it work around the needs of your course. You could keep it small, for example selling old textbooks to other students via social media, or you could sow the seed for a whole new business!
Think about what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. For example, if you love photography, how about selling prints of some of your pictures online? Harness the power of your social platforms and spread the word about your new ventures.
2. Modelling
If you’re looking for something a bit different to the classic customer service job, perhaps student modelling could be the answer. Not sure if it’s the right fit? You could do some trial shoots – university is a great place to look for opportunities to build your portfolio, for example with Fashion students seeking models for their latest projects or Photography students looking for subjects for their pictures.
If you’re hoping to get on an agency’s books, make sure you do your research in advance. Consider what type of modelling you’d like to get into and check out potential agencies’ terms and conditions to make sure everything is above board.
3. Market research studies
Get paid to get opinionated! Market research focus groups and surveys can be a quick way to make some extra cash. You could be giving your insight into anything from household products to video games.
Online Surveys: To take part, you simply sign up to research sites and wait for them to email you surveys. Rewards for completing surveys are usually done on a points system, with points being converted into cash or vouchers.
You’re probably not going to make mega-bucks, but Money Saving Expert reports some savvy survey-takers earning £200-£800 a year. With surveys lasting anything from under a minute to 45 minutes, it’s something you can easily ramp up or down to suit your availability.
Focus groups: According to Money Magpie’s analysis of three UK focus group sites, you can expect to earn anything from £10 to £350 per project. Focus groups pay more per session than online surveys but you’re limited to a few a year. They typically happen in-person and last around one to two hours but, due to the pandemic, some are now happening online or via the phone too.
4. Pet sitting
If you’re missing your fur babies, or have always wished you had a pet, getting paid to look after someone else’s could be the perfect set up! There are now a number of organisations specialising in matching up pet owners with sitters, as an alternative to boarding options like catteries and kennels.
With different types of pet sitting gigs available – from looking after pets in your own home, to visiting furry friends in their homes – do some research to find the best option for you. Be sure to check any current coronavirus restrictions in your area to make sure this would be a safe side-hustle for you to pursue.
We recommend lining up any pet sitting gigs through official apps or websites so you know that jobs are legitimate and can check out their policies. For example, you want to see whether, if you’re booked through that site, both you and the pet will be insured. It’s worth doing your homework so you know you’ve ticked all the boxes before you get started.
Once you’ve created a profile and matched with a potential client, you may be asked to attend an initial meet and greet to make sure it’s a good fit for you, the pet and the owner. For safety, always let a trusted friend know where you’ll be for any sitting jobs.
Earnings will vary, with some sites letting you set your own rates depending on your experience. As a rough guide, sitters on a popular cat-sitters site are currently charging around £8-£20 per day for a drop-in service (visiting the pets at home once or twice a day).
5. Transcription
Transcription work is another flexible, at-home option you can fit around your course. Jobs involve listening to audio recordings and converting them into typed reports. Recordings can be from several different sources, such as a lecture, a conference call or a podcast. Typical skills transcription websites are looking for include:
- Strong command of the English language
- Excellent grammar and spelling (there, they’re and their, anyone?)
- Listening skills
- Research skills (to look up words you’re unfamiliar with)
- IT skills
- Accurate and fast typing speed
Rates vary depending on the complexity of the recording and how tight the turnaround time is. For example, if the audio has several voices, or is poor quality, the price will be higher. Rates are usually calculated per minute of audio transcribed, so the faster you can type accurately, the more you can earn.
As a rough estimate, transcriptionists disclosing their pay on Indeed report currently earning an average of £9.46 an hour. You can earn more for transcripts requiring specialist knowledge, such as legal or medical insight. So, if you’re studying in those areas, it could be an extra bonus!
What Can my Side Hustle be?
If your goal is to bring in extra cash while you grow your full-time career, go to school or make it to Hollywood, then a traditional gig on the side is probably what you’re looking for. Ideal hustles are flexible enough that you can do them when you are available and have time.
But not every side hustle is scalable. Some simply serve the purpose of giving you more money in exchange for a little more of your time. The following side hustles are ideal if you just want the extra cash, but you aren’t worried about starting a future entrepreneurial empire.
Make food or grocery deliveries
If you have a car and are looking for something that’s pretty much guaranteed to be available during COVID (so long as you live in a municipality large enough to sustain it), then consider becoming a food delivery driver.
While not the most glamorous side hustle idea, you can make legitimate cash driving for a company like Uber Eats or Instacart. The convenience of delivery is an in-demand service, especially in 2021 (who doesn’t want their groceries to just show up?). In a large city, chances are this can be a solid stream of income.
The downside to making deliveries is that you do need a car available (or a bike in some cases). But unlike taxiing people around, you don’t have to keep it spotless for passengers. You’ll also need stellar time management skills because the faster you deliver, the more money you can make.
Complete online surveys
It’s highly unlikely that anyone is going to become a millionaire from filling out online surveys. But you can absolutely make a little extra cash in your downtime if you dedicate it to sharing your opinion with companies looking for it.
Online surveys don’t provide a lot of extra income, nor are they consistent or scalable. But they’re a popular way to make money online because they can be done while you’re waiting in line, sitting on the train, or watching the latest bingeable show on Netflix.
Most surveys only take a few minutes of your time, and those that take longer usually pay a tad bit more. This side-gig is easy to get into. You simply head to a site like Swagbucks or Toluna, fill out a profile and wait for them to send you surveys that are looking for someone like you.
Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for Uber or Lyft isn’t the perfect side hustle for everyone. But if you enjoy driving around and have regular access to a vehicle to pick up and drop off passengers, it can be a great way to bring in extra money.
What makes rideshare driving such an appealing gig is that you only have to work when you want to. Drivers create their own schedules and make money at times that work best for them. There are people who chose to make operating a rideshare car their full-time income.
Unfortunately, this option isn’t available unless you live in a large city that allows services like this to run. In Canada, cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary allow for rideshare drivers, but not all of those with smaller populations allow for more modern transportation options.
You also have to have access to a vehicle that meets the requirements of the rideshare service that you want to drive for. While this varies depending on the company and city, they often require a newer vehicle with at least five seats that are damage-free. However, there are a number of tax deductions you can take when you’re running a sole proprietorship like this.
Sell or flip used products
Chances are, there are a ton of things in your house right now that you aren’t using. They’re tucked away in a box or on a shelf, gathering dust instead of making you money.
Savvy side hustlers use platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and even Amazon to offload used merchandise for a pretty profit. This isn’t restricted to items you already own either—you can scope out products that you can buy cheap and flip online for a higher profit. Or even use Amazon’s Filled By Amazon program to resell inventory.
The beauty of selling secondhand goods is that you can work in any niche you’re interested in, from books and clothing to kitchenware and vintage furniture. While this is mostly a part-time, off-hours gig, there could be potential to scale if you get savvy with it.
The downside to a side hustle in secondhand sales is that there is a lot of heavy lifting involved. You need to source, store, and market your products. You’re also restricted to the rules that the platform you choose to use has which could include the type or quality of the item.
Tutor online
If you’re knowledgeable about a particular subject (or several subjects), offering to tutor can be a great option to bring in money. Tutoring can pay via session or hourly, and you can easily bring in a few hundred dollars a month.
You can take on private tutoring clients on a local or international level through an online platform like Skype. Or you can connect with a company like VIPKID or Brainfuse that pays an hourly or contract rate but help you obtain clients.
Teaching English is a popular tutoring gig for those who want to work and travel. The online experience could potentially lead to in-person jobs in other countries if that’s something that sounds appealing to you. However, there are often specific requirements to teach English.
Tutoring is not a great option if you’re looking for future scalability simply because tutoring usually happens in a one-on-one or small group setting. Unfortunately, we have a finite amount of time available, and we simply can’t create more to take on additional people.
Provide pet services
If you love pets, providing pet services is definitely on the table when it comes to side hustles. The potential is definitely there, from running a little pet daycare to overnight stays and grooming and walking services.
Services like walking or overnight stays are bound to be a little less flexible when it comes to your schedule because most owners will ask for a set time (or a window of time) where they want the task performed. However, something like grooming services can be booked on your schedule.
This is definitely a side hustle where you’ll want to look into the specific insurance required to watch and groom pets. But it could be a fun part-time way to make money for those that could use a little cuddle time with pets.
Host with Airbnb
Using Airbnb to host a space for a little extra cash can be a good source of passive income for those who want to keep their time free but want to make extra money. Of course, you need a space to host—a room, house or apartment space where people can stay. But if you have one, you’re golden.
You could absolutely cut Airbnb out of the deal and list your space privately, but there are some serious benefits of using sites with a big reputation. Marketing, for one, is a tad bit easier. Guests searching for somewhere to stay have a much greater chance of coming across your platform.
Plus, there is also the added benefit of damage insurance which the company provides, the convenience of using their platform to collect deposits and payments, and customer support access.
Take gigs on Upwork
Upwork is a popular place for people looking to make some extra money online. Whether you can write blog posts, enter data, edit audio, create social media posts or proofread, chances are there is someone on the platform looking for you.
What makes Upwork a great side hustle for people with full-time careers is that there is plenty of work to be done for almost any skill or experience. You bid for projects you’re interested in and breeze past ones that don’t interest you. And, best of all, you can complete projects on your own schedule.
The big downside to Upwork is that they take a pretty significant cut of your pay. While the exact percentage they take depends on how much work you get from a client (the more you do, the less they take), Upwork freelancers just starting out can expect to see 20 per cent go to the platform. They also charge a fee to transfer the money they collect on your behalf to you.
You also need “credits” to bid for jobs on Upwork. While you get credits on a monthly basis, you can pay for more. Freelancers also receive additional credits for getting “interviews” or replies to proposals they send.
Similar sites to Upwork include Freelancer, SolidGigs, and Toptal. You can sign up for an account (in some cases, you need to be accepted) and start looking for contract work you can finish on your own terms.
How Can I Earn Through Google?
You can connect a Google AdSense account to your custom search engine to make money on contextually-relevant ads placed into the search results. Advertisers compete for placement in the search results, and when someone clicks on one of their ads, you can make a portion of the revenue.
Once you’ve joined AdSense, you can make money off of your search engines by associated them with your AdSense account.
Associate your custom search engine with Google AdSense:
- From the control panel, select the search engine you want to edit.
- Click Setup from the menu on the left and then click the Ads tab. Only owners, not administrators can access this tab.
- Click the Search Engine Monetization button to turn it ON. Your AdSense publisher ID associated with your Google account will appear on the page in a moment. Now, your search engine is associated with your AdSense Account.
- Note: If you do not see Search Engine Monetization button, then it means that either you do not have an AdSense account or your AdSense account is pending approval.
Note that if you create a new AdSense account, you’ll receive a confirmation email that you can use to activate your account. You won’t start making money until you have completed this activation process.
How Can a Full Time Student Make Money?
1. Get a part-time job close to campus
If you’re unable to get a job on campus, you should consider looking for a part-time job off-campus. Luckily, in a college town, there are often many of these jobs available. Popular part-time jobs for college students include cashiering at supermarkets and preparing pizzas at local pizza shops. Even small business owners, like your favorite downtown bookstore, are usually open to hiring college students for part-time work – especially if it is the busy holiday season.
When applying for a part-time job off-campus, be sure to be upfront about your status as a student and let potential employers understand that your schedule includes schoolwork on most weekdays. This will help you and your employer prevent any scheduling issues that may otherwise arise.
2. Take surveys online
It’s easier than ever to earn some spare cash by taking surveys online. And the good news is there are tons of legit survey sites to help you earn some extra cash – especially when you have some downtime.
What’s involved? Most surveys take anywhere between 15-20 minutes up to an hour. And the majority of sites pay you in “points” which represent a dollar value. The key is building up your points so you can cash in the points for cash.
A word of caution though: not every survey site is equally reputable, nor as profitable as others. I can say that Swagbucks, MyPoints, and Fetch Rewards are good options to check out. The payout for each survey is typically only a few dollars, so the earning potential for these websites is fairly limited.
That said, it can be a great way to earn a little extra income in your spare time, whether you’re using the extra cash to pay rent or just for your pizza and beer fund.
3. Sell old textbooks
Textbooks are expensive, and if you’re a college student, odds are you’ve accumulated a few during your studies. Luckily, you can sell your old textbooks to make a few extra bucks.
To do so, check with your campus bookstore first. Many times, you can count on them to buy back the books that they sold to you. If your’s doesn’t buy back used copies, or you don’t like what they offer to pay, I recommend posting your textbooks on local buy/sell boards. Not only are other students likely to be selling their used books in the same place, but many others will be looking to purchase them.
If you would rather sell your used books online, check out buyback platforms like BookScouter, eCampus, and the original used bookseller, Amazon.
4. Sell gently used clothes
Have you been meaning to pare down your wardrobe? It’s easier than ever to sell gently used clothes online to make a little extra money on the side. Not only is selling old clothes a great way to make money, but it also helps to recycle old items and give them new life rather than just throwing them out.
Sites like Poshmark, thredUp, and Tradesy are popular platforms for selling online. You can also sell your clothes in-person at thrift and consignment stores. Or, at my college, students frequently used Facebook Marketplace to sell their clothes to other students on campus.
5. Walk dogs
If you love animals and are looking to spend more time outdoors, dog walking is a great choice to make some extra money. It’s also a low-key and relaxing option if you’re an introvert or looking for a job where you don’t have to deal with people. Best of all, for college students, it is an easy job to fit in between classes and study sessions. You may even find that you keep off the “Freshman 15” a little easier.
You can offer dog walking services on your own, or apply to work for a dog walking company in your area. Just like with babysitting kids, a great place to offer up your service is around campus.
6. Offer tutoring services
Are you a really good writer, a whiz at organic chemistry, or a history nerd? Chances are you can offer your services to your peers as a personal tutor. If your college or university has a tutoring center, look into applying to work there as an official tutor. If that’s not an option, you can also offer private tutoring services for students who need a little extra help. In fact, you might make even more money by offering your tutoring services privately.
You can let your peers know about tutoring in person, post flyers around campus, and even advertise your services online. If you’re interested in tutoring younger students, many public schools hire college students to tutor students or to help with homework after school.
7. Get a paid internship
Internships are a valuable opportunity to develop work-related skills and launch your career. Not all internships are paid, so be sure to look for internships that offer compensation, not just college credit.
Read Also: Student Loans For International Students
Internships are also a great time to make connections within the industry that you hope to pursue a career in. If there’s a company that you’d love to work for, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to them directly, even if they’re not currently hiring. Many small companies and startups are happy to work with interns, even if they don’t have established internship programs already set up.
How Can College Students Make Quick Money?
The following ideas are all legitimate ways to start earning decent money right away, doing work that doesn’t require more experience than a college student is likely to have.
1. Rideshare Driver
If you’ve got a car on campus, you can make good money driving for Uber, Lyft or another ridesharing platform. You’ll have to meet the minimum requirements — Uber, for example, requires that drives under age 23 have at least three years of driving experience, and in some states you’ll have to get your car inspected every year — but once you’re up and running on the app, you can drive whenever it’s most convenient. Some drivers are on more than one app.
2. Delivery Driver
Sign up to deliver everything from mail order packages to groceries and restaurant meals in the local area around your school. Popular delivery driver apps include Amazon Flex, Postmates, Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, Caviar, Deliv and Instacart. You might earn less making deliveries than you would as a rideshare driver, but you can combine the two to minimize downtime and maximize your earnings.
3. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants perform administrative work for busy professionals. The work might involve managing email, maintaining records and managing social media. You’ll find VA gigs on a variety of freelance platforms, but often, you’ll face stiff competition. An alternative is to work with a platform like Time etc., which pays a flat fee and lets you work as much or as little as you want, with no bidding.
4. Babysit
Babysitting wages are no joke, averaging around $15 an hour. Not bad considering you’ll likely have at least part of the evening free to study after the children are in bed. Platforms, where parents list sitter positions, include Sittercity, Uloop, College Natties & Sitters and Care.com.
5. Pet Sit/House Sit
If you don’t mind staying in strangers’ homes — while they’re away, of course — pet sitting and house sitting could be easy ways to make extra cash. In addition to walking and caring for the pets, you’d be responsible for keeping up the home and yard. HouseSitter.com and House Sitters American are two platforms where you can register to get jobs.
