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Everyone knows about the struggle of living on a limited budget and no one is more familiar with this than college students. In these times, some extra cash can really help to pay bills, pay down debt, or just to keep in your emergency fund. Part-time jobs are the standard method to earn extra cash. But, many don’t have the time to go to the job and the hours and pay at these jobs can be low or fluctuate week by week. That, or maybe you are already working one job and still need or want to make some extra money on the side.
Regardless of your circumstance, we could all use some extra cash at times. That is why we compiled this list of the 10 best side hustles for college students that you can start today. Every side hustle on this list has been tried and approved by a member of our team.
Here is the list of Top 10 Side Hustles for College Students that you can start today.
1- Fiverr
Fiverr is an international freelancing company that has been growing in popularity by creating an industry-leading marketplace for freelancers to connect with buyers. Every day thousands of people and college students from different countries worldwide are working on Fiverr freelancing and getting gigs. Freelancing is what you make of it, you can accept a gig when you have the time, or grow it and generate significant income. Fiverr has many different freelancing categories including digital marketing, content marketing, SEO, website development, video editing, lifestyle, blog & article writing, and many more. If you have any of these skills, there is money to be made on Fiverr.
2- Teach English Online
The English language is notoriously one of the hardest languages to master, and the assistance from a patient, kind native English speaker could be just what curious foreign students or international students need. What’s nice about this side hustle is that experience teaching is not required; however, you could earn some good money. If you’ve got a steady internet connection and a computer and a laptop, you’re usually in good shape to start.
3- Dog Walking
Are you an animal lover? If so, this is the perfect side hustle for you. Dogs need to be walked, and often owners are too busy to walk their dog or are at work during the day and can not come home. That’s where you come in. You can walk as many dogs as you can handle at once and be paid in exchange for an hour or so of your time. With apps such as Rover and Wag, it has never been easier to find clients.
4- Help People Move
The effort of lifting heavy furniture and wrapping fragile items is so difficult that many are glad to pay someone to help move their furniture. Once again, thanks to social media, starting this side hustle has never been easier. Find and join Facebook groups for nearby communities and either offer your services or wait for someone to ask about moving services and comment on their post. Many people want help moving but do not want to pay the prices that most moving companies charge, which means there’s a good chance to earn some cash from this job.
5- Start a Blog
Despite what you may have heard, blogging is alive and well. It is still a popular means of earning money online for many people. You can leverage your unique viewpoint to gain a following and make money from ads on your website and sponsored posts. You can expand on the blog to create your own personal brand to include social media, a podcast, and a YouTube channel. Then, you can monetize those as well.
6- Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money while in college because it doesn’t require much time or risk. Basically, you are selling others products for them and charging a commission. If you have the time, affiliate marketing can be done anywhere with an internet connection! If you have a website, a blog, a YouTube channel, social media profiles, etc, just promote the product, put your affiliate link below. Several sites offer affiliate programs, including Clickbank, Amazon, Ebay, and Gumroad, that make getting started easy. If you want to get started with affiliate marketing, we recommend starting here.
7- Drive for Uber/Lyft
You have probably heard of Uber and Lyft. If you have a new enough car to meet their standards (Currently: No More than 15 model years old) and live in a busy enough area, this can be extremely profitable for you. Both Uber and Lyft allow you to set your own hours, work your own schedule, and make as much money as you can.
8- Start an Etsy Business
If you’ve got an artistic streak within you, Etsy is the perfect place to show and monetize it. Simply create a profile, and begin selling handmade card designs, knitting scarfs, or beautiful gift baskets – anything under the ‘arts and crafts’ umbrella. But, if you are not a creative person, you can still make a profit on Etsy with POD (print on demand). Several sites, such as Printful, will help you start your Etsy business with premade designs and they handle all printing and shipping.
9- Deliver Food and Groceries
Nowadays, there are hundreds of delivery apps including UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash, Shipt, and InstaCart. If you have a car (or, in some situations, a bike) it is possible to get started with any of these apps. Much like Uber and Lyft, these apps allow you to set your own hours and make as much money as possible. These apps are growing in popularity as many people have discovered the convenience of ordering groceries and food from restaurants. This makes delivering food one of the most lucrative side business options for students in college.
10- Edit classmate’s papers
When you’re in college, you are likely used to editing college level papers and writing. This is a learned skill for most and, if you are proficient at it, it is a highly sought-after market. Many students are great at writing, but bad at editing. An unedited, or poorly edited, essay will not get as good a grade as it could have. This is where you can offer to help. Offer your services to friends and classmates and ask for word-of-mouth referrals to increase your customer base.
Conclusion
Whatever your skills or financial situation, there are many side hustles that can earn you a decent amount of cash. This list is far from exhaustive, and there are money making opportunities everywhere. Find one that you like and are good at and get to work.
Need a little help working out your budget every month? Check out our article on the 6 Best Personal Budgeting Apps