The Millennial Hustle- Earning Money While in College
Almost everyone has a side hustle these days so what are you waiting for? Movie tickets don’t buy themselves and neither does eating out every weekend. Do you think hefty bank accounts grow overnight or are being funded by an endless resource of gold? The short answer is- nope.
If you are in college then you can start earning money before you even think of applying for a 9-5. Thanks to this age of technology, it is safe to say that you can either create your own job or find one. A big part of this is knowing what you are good at, but the best part is even if you don’t know, there is still something out there for you.
Side Hustles You Can do From Anywhere
It is true that you can sit in your dorm room or be hanging out with friends while making money. At times this requires no investment because there are a plethora of ways available.
Teach online
There are literally hundreds of companies that want people like you to teach for them
Social Media
You already spend a lot of time on Facebook, Wechat, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest etc., so why not just make some money while you’re at it. There is also YouTube or YouKu and if you don’t want your face on social media then you can still do it. Your videos can just include your hands baking a cake or sketching or whatever else it is that you want to do.
Freelance
This can mean creating and selling your own music on Sound Cloud, writing books and publishing them on Amazon or Smashwords among others, creating an online blog, graphic design or computer programming- there is something out there for you.
Your Own Business
Thankfully, you do not need a loan for this one. You can literally create an online business using a website like WordPress that allows you to sell your products and services.
Campus Bucks
Set up Shop
Back in my days, I bought and sold cupcakes but of course you will need a vendor license for this or some sort of permission. If you are really cute, you will find yourself selling all your cupcakes in an hour. And it doesn’t have to be cupcakes, it can be candy or whatever cheap stationary is trending at the moment. I usually get my stuff dirt cheap from a big factory or supplier then sell them to make twice and sometimes triple my initial investment.
Tutor
If you are good at Math, English or whatever you are studying then start using that knowledge to your advantage. It not only benefits the student but solidifies what you know, plus it looks great on your resume. Hand out flyers or post on bulletin boards or school groups about your service. Be sure to use a new email just for that purpose and decide how much you want to charge per session. Word of mouth works too. You will be surprised how many people need help and how much you can earn.
Work on Campus
Another great option is working on campus. These openings are few but if you are lucky enough, you might just be the face everyone sees when they enter the administration building.
Weekend Dollars
Company Promotions
Sometimes companies want fresh faces to promote their products and services and this is where you come in. It can mean standing for hours or introducing a new product to potential customers. Better to waste your weekend making money than doing nothing at all. It also presents the opportunity for you to network. This is why some of us have jobs lined up before we even finish college!
You can also take on part-time work in a regular store or company or check out seasonal jobs.
Whatever you decide on, just know that it is totally possibly.