Maintenance Loan not stretching quite far enough this month? We’ve all been there. Not to worry – there are loads of ways students can make money which don’t require missing lectures or dropping the ball on coursework. Having a part-time job at uni is very common, the trick is to find one that works for you.
Here’s a list of five ways students can make money for those looking for both short- and long-term solutions.
Tutoring children
Being a private tutor is an extremely flexible part-time job that students can fit around their lectures. Tutoring sessions can go from anything from £15 to £40 an hour depending on your level of expertise and experience.
Tutors are mostly sought out for specific academic subjects like Maths or History, but if you’ve got good knowledge in a completely different area there’s no reason not to capitalise on that instead. Foreign language tutors are also highly sought out, as are music teachers.
What’s more, you don’t need any qualifications to become a personal tutor. All you need are good communication and time management skills, as well as some knowledge of revision skills and exam technique.
Sell old clothes, books and electronics
Have a declutter AND make some money in the process! eBay is a great place for selling almost anything, from clothes you no longer wear, to old phones, iPods and other electrical gadgets you no longer use.
If you live in shared accommodation and have two or more microwaves, kettles, toasters or any other larger kitchen electrical that people tend to buy when they start uni, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to flog these. It’s also a great place to sell books, including university textbooks.
You could also sell your old uni textbooks to first-year students during your induction weeks. You could even make a little side hustle out of this every year by buying up books at the end of each academic year and selling them on the year after!
Completing online surveys
A super-easy and a stressfree way for students to make money is by completing online surveys.
Marketing research companies always want opinions on new products and services. This is a great way to make money quickly as all you have to do is fill in some forms in return for rewards or cold hard cash. Toluna and Swagbucks are popular choices, but there are other options out there that are only one Google search away!
Freelance work
There are loads of different types of work you can do as a freelancer, all you need is an internet connection. This is a great option for students doing a degree in something creative or in a subject requiring a lot of essay-based coursework (which is most of you!).
You could try your hand at a little freelance graphic design if the arts are your thing, or copywriting if words are more your jam. Managing social media accounts is also a top shout (especially if you already have a decent following of your own).
Freelancing is also a great way to build-up contacts that could be useful once you leave university, so this is definitely not one to be sniffed at.
Setting up your own website
Setting up your own website could be great for your CV and for your bank account. It’s a really easy way to generate passive income and make money from anywhere in the world.
First off, choose your Content Management System (ie. website builder) to host your website. WordPress is a very easy CMS to get to grips with and has themes that are available completely free of charge.
Then decide what you want your website to focus on. If you decide to write reviews, a good way to make money from this is adding affiliate links to the products you’re reviewing. That way, when someone buys a product off the back of your recommendation, you’ll make a profit too.
You could also write content about a hobby you have. For example, if you love baking you could start a blog about cakes and promote various bits of kitchen equipment you’ve used or an extra special delicious ingredient. The possibilities are endless!
This post was written by Jessica Azskenasy, Lead Editor at SaveTheStudent.org.
