Making money during college can be difficult. You’re swamped with class schedules, assignments, social life, and the feeling of not knowing what to do with the rest of your life. It can be daunting trying to find a job, as most require full-time work, and you don’t have the time. How can you earn an income?
There are several ways to earn an income in college. Applying for part-time jobs, considering freelance work, donating plasma, pet or house-sitting, and job shadowing are just a few of the options. Still, there are plenty more ways to make money on your off time.
So, how do all these methods work? How can you get started? It’s as simple as following the advice below. See what works for you and your personal schedule.
Apply for a Part-Time Job
You may feel that working a regular job is off the table in college. It can be difficult and time-consuming to have a set schedule out of your control because school and school activities can get in the way. Here are some of the benefits of a part-time job:
- Regular and stable pay that you can count on
- Fewer hours than a full-time job
- Businesses may be willing to work with you on scheduling
- Some companies offer work-study programs to help pay off school costs
- You will receive job experience for the future
As you can see, there are many benefits to working a part-time job. It is more secure than other money-making options in this article. You may feel that this is too much for you at this time, however. In that case, there are different ways to make money during your time in school.
Take Care of Someone’s Pets or House
In this period, it’s easy to find pet and house-sitting jobs. These jobs are great for young college students because they offer a flexible schedule on your time, and you can sign up for one job at a time so you don’t get too overwhelmed. So, what is “sitting” all about?
Pet sitting often includes going to someone’s house to feed their pets and give them water. It can also include cleaning their litterbox, playing with them, and taking dogs on walks.
House-sitting is similar, but it primarily includes cleaning someone’s house, keeping up on yard work, watering plants, and similar activities. Both can be done at the same time.
You can find pet and house-sitting jobs on the below websites:
- Rover.com offers pet-sitting and boarding opportunities
- TrustedHousesitters.com offers house-sitting jobs
- Housesitter.com is another house-sitting job
If you’re looking for something easy and flexible, check out a website or app that allows you to connect with people who are looking for your services. You can even set your own schedule through most apps, allowing people to see when you’re available for them.
Drive for a Delivery Service
During the pandemic, it has been more critical than ever for delivery services to exist. People who are quarantining or working at home haven’t been able to go out and buy their groceries or make dinner.
For this reason, more people than ever are ordering food and grocery delivery. A study done by PDXScholar shows that Instacart, a popular grocery delivery app, has increased sales by 500% since the pandemic started.
Many delivery services exist (probably more than you think!), such as:
- Uber Eats
- Doordash
- Instacart – Grocery Delivery
- Postmates
All you need to drive for most delivery services is a valid driver’s license, a car that is not too old, and car insurance and registration. If you already have these things, this might be the perfect job for you.
Those who drive for Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash report making over 100 dollars per day. Not bad pocket money!
Donate Plasma
If you have the option in your area, donating plasma is a great way to get money each month if you don’t have a lot of time. Many plasma donation centers offer upfront money incentives to start donating. You have to qualify for their program, as they cannot receive plasma if your blood is not quickly drawn.
Red Cross Blood states that donating plasma is for a great cause. Almost 10,000 people per day need a plasma transfusion, and your donation can help. This includes burn victims, people with Cancer, and people with blood disorders. Your donation can earn you money and save a life.
The great thing about this option is that you can donate more than just once. If you become a member of a Plasma donation center, you can come back and donate again when the time has elapsed, where it will be safe for you. They can pay you each time you donate. Some centers even pay as high as 300 dollars per donation, though $40-60 is more common.
Try Out Freelance Work
Suppose you’ve got experience in a particular field. In that case, you may be able to find Freelance work online in your area of expertise. The most common Freelance jobs include:
- Graphic design
- Photo editing and photography
- Freelance writing
- Short-term customer service jobs
Try out the Upwork and Freelancer websites for more information. This could help get you more experience in your degree in college. If you’re going for a degree in Media Arts, you could try out Freelance work for graphic design or voice talent.
Another option for Freelance work is market research and surveys. Many websites on the web will allow you to take surveys for points, which you can exchange for gift cards, and even Visa debit cards. Although you can’t make a lot of money with this option, you can save up your gift cards for a special night out after class.
Gain Experience While Job Shadowing
You can gain even more experience for college by job shadowing, a career option where you work alongside an expert in a specific field to gain job experience and references. Not every job shadow position pays money, but some do!
Job shadowing is an excellent option because:
- You gain experience in your specific area of study in school
- You can qualify for work-study points or money
- You gain valuable references for future jobs
- You will learn more about your field than you might from reading a textbook in class
The Junior Achievement organization states that 90% of students in a study claimed that job shadowing gave them more awareness of real-life career options in the future and what kind of job they want to have.
This job opportunity can also lead to full-time work after college. If you’re unsure about your major, this can be an excellent way to find several job opportunities and learn more about your interests.
Conclusion
Earning money in college doesn’t have to be so hard. There are plenty of career options for you during school, and there are even more than are listed here. Search online for temporary jobs or jobs for students in your area. Sometimes your University will even have its own job availability website.
You can also try your hand at budgeting with some of our other articles or invest in stocks and bonds if you’re interested in finances and investments. There’s a world of opportunities out there for you, and it’s not all inside the classroom.
College can be difficult, but gaining money doesn’t have to be. You will earn valuable life skills by working a job or gaining money in college, and maybe you can save up enough money for that car you’ve been eyeing and more nights out with your friends.
Sources Used
https://www.trustedhousesitters.com
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1576&context=cengin_fac
https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/benefits-of-plasma-donation-.html