5 Side Hustles Perfect For Any Schedule
Whether you’re in college or fresh out, we are always in search of a way to earn money on the side. This struggle can especially be understood by the collegiate age. Our schedules are constantly changing based on the activities we are involved in, which makes it hard to find time to make money on a consistent basis. Having been in college for a few years now I have found some rather simple ways to earn money if you are willing to commit some time to it.
1. Work On-Campus
While on-campus jobs aren’t known for their record high pay, they often provide the most flexibility to students who have time constraints. Jobs may include working for the campus recreation center or spending some time in the library. So, if you are willing to commit some of your week to working and don’t mind where you are assigned, you will be able to find a consistent check coming in to support your collegiate lifestyle. Furthermore, working for the university gives you an opportunity to broaden your horizons and meet new people. It also fits nicely on a resume.
2. Do Household Chores for Members of the Community
People in the community are constantly looking for well abled people (that’s you college students) to do tasks like lawn care, helping to move, or if you’re lucky: walk their dogs. The pay from these chores is often good compared to other jobs college students work. The only downside is that the work is inconsistent and is dependent on the help people need. To find these jobs you can often look in local newspapers, coffee shops’ bulletin boards, or on a site like Craigslist. My school has a newsletter that you can sign up for that sends out email alerts when people are looking for help and includes their contact information. Another way would be to look around facebook for groups where people post about help they are looking for, much like an online classifieds.
3. Freelance Work
If you are more creative than you are suited for physical labor you can put your skills to the test by doing freelance work for people online or for people in the community. If you have a skill for writing articles or have a knack for designing web pages, people are looking for your services. While Craigslist or Facebook may have opportunities, there are also sites specifically designed to match freelance workers with employers. One of my favorites is Fiverr. This marketplace does a really good job connecting freelancers and those seeking specific work with jobs that start at $5. Other good sites include SEOCLERKS, GigBucks, and FiverUp.
4. Offer/Utilize a Skill
This idea came from a friend of mine who told me how he would buy shoes for cheap, redo the cloth on the shoe to give it a new look, and then sell it for a profit. He can also fix and repair baseball gloves which is a constant need for baseball players, one for which they are willing to pay for. These are such simple ideas that he ran with and it earns him a solid amount of money whenever he decides to work. So basically if there is something you can do well or learn to do that is crafty or in demand then you may be able to make money from it. Tutoring is a great option for college students if you are above-average in a certain subject. So take notice to what people buy or services they need that you think you can do and run with it.
5. Drive for Those Unable to Drive
College nightlife is not only an opportunity to make memories, it is also a golden opportunity to make money from those looking for rides places. Some college towns may have apps like Uber or Lyft, so you may have to sign up to drive for those companies which makes the overall process much less of a headache. My school doesn’t currently have either app so we rely on what we call “beepers,” to do the driving. This is simply a Facebook group where you post your number to it if you are planning to be available for driving and then let the calls (and cash) roll in. This is a surefire way to make money and allows you to make your own schedule if you’re willing to drive inebriated college students around at night.
All in all, there are plenty of ways to make money when you’re in college outside of getting an hourly job with a business, but you need to be proactive. Yes, finding the initial job is always the hardest, but after that it becomes much simpler. Go out and find your way to provide for your college lifestyle.