8 Side Hustles To Bring In Extra Cash

By Ashley Paskill on May 25, 2023

This article is brought to you by GradGuard. We protect college students and their families from the financial risks of college life, like providing a refund for tuition or replacing a stolen backpack when your school may not. When the unexpected happens, GradGuard’s tuition insurance and renters insurance can help you get back on track.

College students notoriously have very little money. They have to put what money they do have towards tuition, books, food, rent, and other college expenses and things are expensive. College is a full-time job, especially if you are a full-time student. Many students have to work part- or full-time jobs to make ends meet. Besides money, many jobs have additional benefits that you can take advantage of. Here are a few ideas for side hustles if you are looking for some extra cash.

Babysitting

Babysitting is a great way for college students to make some extra money. You get to play with kids and work a schedule that works around your student schedule. While some babysitting gigs are regular, others are only as needed if parents are going out. Babysitting is a great side hustle if you are going into a field where you will be working with children, such as education. It is as fun as you make it, especially if you come up with fun games and activities to do with the kids you watch.

Barista

College students are known to love coffee, so why not make money working with something you love? Most college campuses have at least one coffee shop, so you will be able to have a chance to be a barista without even leaving campus. Some coffee shops allow employees to have a free cup of coffee during their shifts, so that is an added bonus. Barista jobs often allow your schedule to be flexible, especially if you work on campus.

Image: Porapak Apichodilok via https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-mug-of-cappuccino-373639/

Student researcher

If you are studying a field that has a lab, you may be able to gain experience and extra cash as a student researcher in the lab. Talk to your professors or check out your school’s lab research website to see what kinds of opportunities are available to you. This kind of position is great if you have related coursework under your belt, but you can still figure things out if you do not have any experience. Not only will this boost your wallet, but it will also help your resume, especially if you are planning on doing research after graduation or are getting a graduate degree.

Brand Ambassador

Many companies have brand ambassador programs for students to educate other students on the products or services the company offers. While some brand ambassador positions only offer free swag, you can sell these swag items to make extra cash. Other ambassador programs pay hourly wages and you get to make your own schedule. This also helps you get experience and boost your resume, especially if you plan on doing something similar to your job after graduation.

Writer

If you love to write, you may be able to write for a publication and get paid for it. Your school’s newspaper and yearbook may pay students to write articles for publication. Online websites like Uloop and College Humor also have programs where students can get paid for their writing. For those who are good with resumes, you may even be able to get a job as a resume writer. Even if you are not looking to get into writing or journalism as a profession, writing is an important skill in every field since writing well is a sign of being a good communicator. Writing for publications can showcase your knowledge of a particular subject and give you a sample writing portfolio.

Start your own business

Many students have ideas for things like products, apps, or services that are needed but do not exist yet. You may be able to start this while you are in college. They are a great way to do something to make money while creating something new. There are ways to make apps and products that do not cost a fortune. You may even opt to design t-shirts on sites like Redbubble where you do not have to deal with the actual production or product itself. If you want to write about a specific topic, you can start your own blog and monetize it with ads.

Ridesharing

If you have your car on campus and live in a busy town or city, you can drive for a ridesharing app like Uber or Lyft. These apps allow you to set your own schedule around your classes, student organizations, and even another job. You will get to explore new places in your city and meet new people who are using the apps. You get to decide how many rides you decide to do each shift so you are in control of how much money you make.

Delivery driver

There are apps such as GrubHub and Shipt that allow you to work as a delivery person. People use these types of apps to order food, groceries, or other things to be delivered to their homes or businesses. This increased during the pandemic, so there is a definite need now. Again, you get to set your own schedule and do this between classes and other things you are doing whenever you have time.

College students get a rep for being broke, but there are ways for you to make money around your schedule.

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