Earn While You Learn: Top Side Hustles for College Students

Studying is the most important task of a college student's life. We can go as far as to say that it's the only purposeful task that the student is required to do in the upcoming 3 or 4 years of his life.

However, not all students can spend their college years just studying. The reason behind this can either be the poor financial condition of the student's family or the student's desire to achieve self-dependence at an early age.

So how do you side hustle during your college years? Let's look at some tips.

The Value of Your Skills

If you are good at something, never do it for free.

• Monetize Your Talents: If you have some talent or ability, monetize it. Be it graphic design, writing, tutoring, or any other form of skill, there is money to be earned by offering those services.
• Job Opportunities: Proficiency in something can be one's ticket into a job doing that particular work. People looking for jobs search for those skilled and experienced professionals.
• Independent Work: If you are performing well in any particular field, you can seek independent work by showing off how good you can do it and attracting clients towards you. In this case, you can either build a portfolio or showcase the work you are doing.

Platforms for Side Hustling!

Freelancing Sites

• Upwork: A great platform where students can offer writing, graphic design, web development, and other services. It is ideal because thousands of jobs are posted every day.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is the same as Upwork. Here, users can sell their services starting at $5. It is a good site for creative professionals in graphic design, writing, and digital marketing.
• Freelancer: Another common freelancing site that connects students with clients in need of services ranging from programming to writing and design. The website has various categories of jobs.

Selling and Reselling

• Etsy: For crafty students who can make something by hand or sell some vintage items. It is the best platform for creative skills.
• Mercari: This is a marketplace where one can sell old clothes and electronics. It is an easy-to-use application that enables students to de-clutter and make money.
• eBay: A very popular site to sell new or used items. Students can auction their items or sell them at a fixed price; it is very flexible.

Tutoring and Teaching

• Chegg Tutors: A platform where students can find others who require help in a variety of subjects. It is a very flexible way to earn money while sharing knowledge.
• Wyzant: Another tutoring website, where students can set their own rates and schedule, which makes it perfect for the busy college schedule.

Task and Gig Services

• TaskRabbit: Provide local gigs in the areas of cleaning, moving, or handyman work. The students can choose the task based on their availability and skill sets.
• Rover: Pet lovers have an option through Rover where they get connected to people for pet-sitting and dog-walking services in their location.

Content Creation

• YouTube: The student can create content about any subject he is passionate about and, with ads and sponsorships, earn significant money over time.
• Blogging: Students can start a blog and share their interests, and they can earn money through ads or affiliate marketing. Platforms like WordPress or Medium can be helpful for this.

More Options

• Affiliate Marketing: Students can promote products through affiliate links on their blogs or social media and earn commissions on sales generated through those links. Amazon Associates is a popular choice for beginners.
• Virtual Assistant Services: Fancy Hands connects students with businesses that require administrative support and offers flexible hours around classes.

The above platforms do not only offer the opportunity to earn extra income but also build valuable skills that can enhance their resumes after graduation.

The Importance of Location in Side Hustles

Place is not an issue when you are working independently. However, if you are an employee somewhere like a store or hospital, then you might have to be a bit picky about the location.

• Proximity to Resources: A quick tour of the library from your workplace can save a lot of time and energy. Since you are a college student, the library would be a common visiting place, and if your working location is near your college or a library, then it will be beneficial for you in the long run.
• Employee Discounts: Employees working in a supermarket or restaurant generally get a discount on groceries and other food items, so if you are going to work in one of those places, then make sure to reap those benefits. As a student and a part-time worker, you need to make sure you save as much money as you can on things like food or travel.
• Access to Educational Materials: If you work in a library, then you can get a crack on some of the latest books brought to that place. Many times, the important books related to student's courses are very few and not in everyone's hands. You won't be facing such a problem while working in a library and will be able to benefit yourself in both finance and academics while working there.

Pay and Working Conditions

If you are going to save some of your precious time from studies and give it to part-time jobs, then make sure you are getting decent pay in return. The last thing you can do is to ensure that you are getting paid minimum wage while working in places such as markets or food chains.

• Wage Expectations: The money you will earn is mostly meant to help you in your college years and remove some burden from your parents regarding your expenses, so there is no need to aim for sky-high pay in a part-time job.
• Safe Work Environment: Working conditions in your job are just as if not more important than pay. You need to make sure that the place you are working has proper safety measures for the employees.

A good-paying and healthy work environment that provides a job will not only help you financially but will also motivate you to participate in more activities like this. You will develop a positive work attitude after having a great first workplace experience.

Balancing Work and Studies

• Avoid Overcommitment: There won't be any benefit from spending excessive time doing side hustles since you would be deviating from studies, which is your main objective in these years. Not only your studies, but your health will also wear down with all the workload you will put on yourself.
• Health Considerations: Remember that studies are your college life's main goal, not earning. You need to find a perfect balance between work and studies if you want to achieve both quality education and great work experience. If you cannot find such a balance, then always prioritize your studies.

Conclusion

Starting a side hustle is a decision that most students make themselves in their college life. It is a sign that the student is becoming mature and truly growing up.

Side hustling is not enjoyed by every student, and not everyone is capable of managing time for such activities due to some personal life issues. However, everyone should try to work and earn at least once during their college due to the numerous benefits that arise from it such as

Monetary benefit.

Learning the true value of money.

Motivation arising from self-dependence.

Gaining work experience, which would be helpful in the long run.

Socialization.

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