Top 15 Easy Ways to Earn Extra Money for all college students can use a little extra money every now and then. You need coffee to get you through all you’re studying (and socializing), and coffee isn’t free. Neither are textbooks, food, or nights out. Luckily, there are a bunch of ways you can make a little extra money without committing to a campus job.
These side income ideas are things you can do in you’re spare time on you’re own schedule. Some of them require specific skills, while others will just take you’re time. If you’re looking for easy ways to earn some extra money, you can definitely find at least one side job that will work for you in this list.
1) Work as a Reseller
One of the best things about creating an online business is that you always have the ability to earn money without working too hard. But in order to do that, you have to figure out which is the best option to get such an approach. And that’s where the reseller business model comes into play.
What is the reseller business model?
Just like the name suggests, this is a business model where you are acting as the intermediary between the supplier and the buyer. Simply put, you create an e-commerce website and than contact suppliers that offer the type of products you’re customers will need.
The idea is to pick a supplier that will offer automatic delivery to you’re customer. However, if the supplier delivers a product to you’re customer for $50, you ask the customer $100, and that’s where you make you’re profit. You just have to create a connection between the buyer and supplier, all via a website that’s visually appealing.
Once you do that, you will be able to generate a steady source of income without having to do any major work, which is nothing short of amazing.
Tips to start a reseller business
1) Make sure that you work with a reputable supplier. The success of you’re business will rely on the speed and efficiency of you’re supplier. If you don’t work with a reliable supplier, you’re business is bound to fail.
2) Specialize on a specific type of product. Opting for a niche is better then just going for the generalized stuff. In the end, it will be a much better result for you if you become a reseller for a single category instead of multiple categories.
3) You should try to avoid sales pitches. Show people why they need these products. Make reviews that are meaningful and which are bound to entice leads to convert into paid customers.
Where can you start you’re own reseller business?
While the idea is great, the reality is that starting you’re own reseller business can be quite helpful. You just have to receive the right guidance and tools that will make you’re business world. If you are looking for something like that, you are in the right place.
ResellerSiteHub is a wonderful place where you will be able to kickstart you’re own reseller business fast and easy. The great thing about the website is that you can easily start getting passive income without a lot of effort. The site offers niche analysis, royalty free graphics, Free hosting, keyword research, supplier lists, high volume sales and a business that suits you’re interests, all in a single package.
Why should you use ResellerSiteHub?
Not only can you use it without any IT skills, but you won’t even need any web development or business skills either. All you need is common sense and proper communication skills. Once you do that, you will be able to get immediate access to the best passive income opportunities on the market. Don’t hesitate and make the most out of this outstanding opportunity right now. Start earning a solid passive income by creating you’re own re-seller business, only with ResellerSiteHub!
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2) Become a Virtual Assistant
If you’re detail-oriented and have some extra time, you can make extra money by working as a virtual assistant from home. Tasks will vary by client, but common jobs include data entry, online research, monitoring emails, managing social media accounts, arranging meetings, planning travel, making phone calls, and managing a calendar. Many assistants charge an hourly rate, but others charge a flat rate based on task or a daily/weekly rate. A lot of this work can be mundane, but that’s why someone is paying you to do it!
Tips
• When pitching yourself to a client, focus on how you can reduce they’re workload and help them make the most of they’re time. They want to know how you’re delivering value to them and they’re business.
• If you have specialty skills or knowledge (making videos, translating, writing press releases, etc.), advertise those. Some businesses are looking for simple administrative tasks, but others are looking for other skills (and may be willing to pay more for them!).
• Promote yourself! Share that you’re offering virtual assistant services on you’re social media profiles, and don’t forget about you’re LinkedIn connections. You can also reach out to local businesses or other personal connections. If you know the business, you can offer a more personalized pitch of how you can help.
• Don’t undersell yourself. It’s reasonable to expect an hourly rate of about $30 (or more), at least once you have a bit of experience under you’re belt.
Resources
• Upwork: Upwork is a great place to find a wide range of assistant jobs. Clients post jobs along with the time expected to complete them and the pay they’re offering. You can than apply to work that job, and the client will choose the best fit.
• Guru: Guru.com has 1.5 million members offering a variety of freelance services. You create a profile explaining you’re services and experience, and clients can come to you. Or you can apply to posted jobs.
• Amazon Mechanical Turk: Although it has an odd name, this website is run by the online retail giant and is gradually gaining popularity. Freelancers can search for “Human Intelligence Tasks” such as researching keywords and organizing data. These are usually small, quick tasks for low prices (usually a few cents each). You can typically go through a bunch of them in quick succession.
• Task Army: Task Army works similarly to Fiverr (also a good resource for virtual assistants), but it has a more flexible payment structure and a lot of data entry and virtual assistant jobs.
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3) Join CTFO Today
Whether you choose to consume it or not, cannabis and CBD oil is one of the fastest growing supplements in the United States with news stories appearing consistently about how it has been nothing but a benefit to those who take it on the regular. It is said to help those with depression, anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, seizures, and chronic pain, and with the recent legalization of medical cannabis, the stigma around it’s consumption and the culture it represents is drastically changing. Rather then being oppressed, more research is going into the benefits of CBD oil and CBD oil infused products and due to this, it has become the hottest, fastest, growing health and wellness trend that the United States has seen in decades.
With this said, you can benefit from this wellness trend by joining CTFO (Changing The Future Outcome), a free-to-join company that offers individuals interested in the CBD market, an accessible and affordable business opportunity. Beyond this, the CBD products are safe, reliable, and come with lab-backed tests.
Here is How You Can Benefit Economically as a CTFO Associate
By choosing to join CTFO as an associate, they’re are two major ways in which you can benefit from the company economically. The first is by selling the CBD products the CTFO offers they’re associates and customers. Due to the massive range of products that CTFO offers, you are going to be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t want to get they’re hands on one of these product types.
These products range anywhere from health-related products like creams for chronic pain and pure hemp CBD oil drops to anti-aging serums, wrinkle removers, moisturizing creams and lotions, facial cleansers and eye creams, as well as facial toners and skin rejuvenation options. If you are on the nutrition side of the trend, CTFO offers pure hemp CBD capsules, pain relief oral sprays, weight loss oral sprays, sleep, relaxation, and concentration sprays. CTFO even offers a few products for you’re pet’s wellness as well, with sprays and drops for pain, chew treats, and pet conditioning shampoo.
The second way you can benefit economically as a CTFO associate is by referring others to join you’re team. The great thing about having a team work together is that the compensation plan allows anyone to succeed. Their are
no purchases required for personal enrolment commissions and CTFO has some of the easiest qualifications in the industry for commission earnings.
Here is Why Everyone Can Benefit From Joining CTFO as an Associate
• The business is free-to-join and you automatically qualify for a 20% payout of all commission volumes on orders. These commissions are paid out on the Wednesday following the initial order.
• Their are no personal purchase requirements needed to receive the 20% commission.
• Their are no limits or caps on how much you can earn each qualifying week.
•Any CTFO associate OR customer who refers someone who purchases a product or package is entitled to earn the 20$ commission. This means that even if you do not purchase anything yourself from the company if someone you refer (associate or customer) buys something, you earn!
Did you read this article: 10 Simple Ways to Earn Money from Facebook
How CTFO’s Compensation Works and How You Get Paid
Their are four ways in which you get paid through CTFO’s compensation program. Here is what they are and how they work.
• Retail Profits: all products offered to you are offered at a discounted wholesale price. Retail prices are about 30% higher then the wholesale price, meaning every customer that purchases from you will do so at the retail price, earning you 30% on every sale.
• 5 Levels of Payment (Unilevel Pay): you receive a commission for every person you personally enroll as well as every person that they enroll. This goes down five levels deep with each level after the first (second, third, fourth, and fifth) paying out 4% of each commission volume.
• Regenerating Matrix Pay: to put this simply, they’re are twenty-one levels that you can get paid from through the matrix with levels 1-5 paying out 1%, 6-7 paying out 10% and 8-21 paying out another 1%. This ends up paying out 39% of you’re total CV commission amount. This is designed for teams to earn residual income and can generate large checks because of the profit sharing positions provided.
Profit sharing positions which are automatically generated for you through the profit sharing program. Every position is an additional income center that you will earn after you’re third referral. These positions are free to gain and are placed into you’re regenerating matrix, but the best part about them is that every PSP automatically qualifies for the same rank you are in pay potential. Plus, you get to keep them with no strings attached. If they stop ordering, you keep them and you don’t have to enroll more to stay qualified.
•Infinity Bonus Pay: provides you with a percentage of you’re entire team’s commission volume. With each higher rank you obtain, the infinity percentage goes up.
With how the CBD oil market is booming, there is a lot of potential to not only help people with they’re health and wellness goals but to gain economically from it. What makes CTFO different then other networking opportunities is you do not have to push people to buy, because they are going to get they’re CBD oil from somewhere, it might as well be from you! Sign Up For Free
4) Sell Crafts on Etsy
Is you’re favorite way to wind down from studying-induced stress with a craft project? If it is, you can make some extra cash from you’re hobby by selling on Etsy. If you haven’t heard of Etsy, it’s a popular site for homemade and vintage goods from individual sellers.
Items for sale include handmade jewelry, leather accessories, knitted hats and scarves, handmade clothing, antiques, unique decorations, and all varieties of artwork. If you have a creative streak, chances are you’re work would be welcome on Etsy. Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee, plus a 3.5% transaction fee and 3% plus $0.25 when you’re item sells. You have complete control over you’re prices and how many items you want to list.
Tips
• Good photography can make a difference in attracting buyers and giving them confidence in you’re products. Make sure that you take photos with good lighting and focus, and present a number of angles.
• How easily shoppers find you’re items will depend largely on which keywords you use. For each listing, think about popular key terms shoppers are likely to use, and include a few in you’re title and description. If you want to get serious about it, you can try using a tool like Google’s Keyword Planner.
• Choosing a price can be difficult. When deciding, make sure you consider the cost of you’re materials plus how much time you’ll need to put into each item. You want to make a decent hourly rate when all is said and done. You can browse through other sellers who are offering similar items to get an idea of what a competitive price is.
• Etsy is a popular site, which means you’ll have lots of competition. When creating you’re listings, you need to think about how you’re products stand out from those of you’re competitors. Do you offer higher quality? More affordable prices? A unique style? Something totally new? Figure out you’re differences and highlight those in you’re photos, branding, and descriptions.
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• Once you start getting you’re first sales, remember that positive reviews are going to be key to keeping those sales rolling in. You may want to gently encourage you’re customers to leave a review, either think about popular key terms shoppers are likely to use, and include a few in you’re title and description. If you want to get serious about it, you can try using a tool like Google’s Keyword Planner.
• Choosing a price can be difficult. When deciding, make sure you consider the cost of you’re materials plus how much time you’ll need to put into each item. You want to make a decent hourly rate when all is said and done. You can browse through other sellers who are offering similar items to get an idea of what a competitive price is.
• Etsy is a popular site, which means you’ll have lots of competition. When creating you’re listings, you need to think about how you’re products stand out from those of you’re competitors. Do you offer higher quality? More affordable prices? A unique style? Something totally new? Figure out you’re differences and highlight those in you’re photos, branding, and descriptions.
• Once you start getting you’re first sales, remember that positive reviews are going to be key to keeping those sales rolling in. You may want to gently encourage you’re customers to leave a review, either by sending them a follow-up message after they’re purchase or by including a small card with they’re item.
Resources
• Etsy has a helpful Seller Handbook, which is a good resource for advice and answers to most questions. A good place to start is they’re handy list of tips for starting an Etsy shop.
• If you’re having trouble wrapping you’re head around pricing, this fee calculator can help you figure out how much profit you’ll actually make for a given price once all the fees and costs are taken out.
• If you need some advice from fellow sellers, check out the Etsy community on Reddit. This forum is a good place to post questions, and they have a monthly discussion board where sellers can invite critiques of they’re shops.
5) Start a Blog
If you’re the kind of person who always has an opinion on something, a blog might be just you’re style. Lots of people write blogs just for fun or to keep they’re family and friends informed about what they’re doing, but with some effort, a blog can be a good source of side income.
The first step in any successful blog is to start writing about something you care about. Their are blogs for everything from study abroad stories to fashion tips. The key is to choose something that you can write about with a genuine, experienced voice. Than, once you’re getting some views, you can monetize you’re blog. Their are a number of monetizing options that work well with blogs.
Advertising is one of the simplest; you add pay-per-click or pay-per-view ads to the sidebar or heading of you’re blog, and you simply get paid when you’re viewers click on/view those ads. Many bloggers also make money by using affiliate links. This is when you get a unique link to a product from an online store. You include that link in a blog post, and if a customer purchases the product through you’re link, you’ll earn a percentage of they’re purchase. If you build up a substantial audience, businesses may also pay you to write reviews of they’re products.
Tips
• Find a niche. When it comes to blogging, bigger isn’t better. The most successful blogs usually appeal to a relatively small target audience. So think about what makes you’re blogging voice unique and what audience you want to connect with. Remember that not only you’re content, but you’re style of writing, will help you appeal to readers.
• Use pictures! Attractive pictures can help give life to you’re stories and will draw readers in. If photography isn’t you’re thing, take some time to brush up on you’re skills. You don’t need expensive equipment to take simple, nice shots.
• To build up you’re views, it helps to get involved in the blogging community. Look up forums and other blogs that are related to you’re blogging topic, and leave comments that link back to you’re blog without promoting it directly. You can also offer to write a guest blog post on other blogs, or host a guest writer on yours. All of these steps help you to build connections and ultimately bring more people to you’re blog.
• The best way to maintain a steady stream of income is to diversify. Try different methods, such as pay-per-click ads and affiliate links.
Resources
• WordPress.org: WordPress is the most popular blogging platform out there, and for good reason. It’s free, highly customizable, and easy to use. You’ll pay for hosting and the domain name if you want an independent site, but it’s extremely affordable.
• Blogger: Blogger is another free blogging platform, this one owned by Google. The designs aren’t quite as polished as WordPress’s, but you can connect it to Google Adsense for free.
• Canva: If you want to come up with some snazzy graphics to go with you’re blog posts, Canva is a good place, where even total beginners can create decent graphics that might convince people you know what you’re doing. It’s free to use, with a solid collection of free images you can use, but they charge for some of they’re nicer stock images and “elements.”
• Google AdSense: This is you’re best resource for monetizing through ads on you’re blog.
• Amazon Associates: If you want to include affiliate links in you’re blog posts, Amazon Associates gives you the widest variety of options.
6) Start a YouTube Channel
If you’re a film student, you may have already considered sharing you’re filmography talents on YouTube. YouTube isn’t just for video experts, however. If you’re charismatic, funny, or have a talent to share, a YouTube channel could be a fun way to make a little extra money.
Content on YouTube includes a wide range of material, from casual diary-style vlogs, to product reviews and “unboxings,” to video game walkthroughs. Getting started on YouTube is straightforward. Sign up with a Google account, and simply record and post you’re first video.
You can use a phone camera or webcam, although you’ll have better results with a higher-quality camera. Once you have an account established, you can enable you’re account for monetization and than have individual videos approved. Videos that include any copyrighted materials (such as background music) aren’t eligible for monetization.
You’ll be able to choose from different kinds of ads: text ads on the bottom of the video, video clips before you’re video, and sidebar ads. YouTube charges advertisers and than gives you a percentage based on impressions. You won’t make a fortune immediately (unless you get lucky and go viral), but you can start making enough to cover you’re daily coffee as you build more views.
Tips
• Consistency is key! If you want to build an audience of subscribers, you’ll have to post new videos regularly. At least once a week is a good rule, and 2-5 times a week can be even better. Just don’t lose quality as you work for quantity.
• Titles are going to be a big factor in whether people click on you’re video, so make sure you think of catchy keywords to include in each video’s title.
• Before you start making too many videos, spend some time on you’re channel page. You’ll need a logo and a cover image (a lot like the banner on Facebook). You’re logo can just be a picture of you, and the cover image is often you’re channel name, with or without some extra decoration.
• Viewers on YouTube connect with people who come across as genuine, so do you’re best to be yourself. It’s okay to make small mistakes or laugh at yourself; that can make you more approachable.
Resources
• YouTube has created a helpful Creator Academy, where you can search for information and tutorials. This is a good place to help you get started and clear up any technical questions.
• Sharing you’re videos is a key way to get more views. Websites such as Buffer and Hootsuite let you post you’re videos (or any other social media content) across all you’re social media profiles.
• YouTube isn’t the only option out they’re for videos. If short videos are more you’re style, Vine may be you’re best option. If you’re a video game enthusiast, you can create streams and tutorials on Twitch.
• Patreon is a paid subscription website for video channels that have an established audience. If you’ve developed an enthusiastic fanbase, they may be willing to support you financially.
7) Put You’re Instagram Skills to Good Use
Instagram isn’t just for the Kardashians. If you have an active account and a large number of followers, you may be able to make money by promoting products through you’re posts.
Their are a couple of ways Instagrammers can make money, the most popular of which is by serving as a “brand ambassador.” If a business feels you’re a good fit for they’re brand, they may pay you to create a post promoting they’re product. Generally this includes an attractive photo of the product plus a caption that links you’re followers to the product or brand. Some businesses will pay with free products, while others may pay up to hundreds of dollars per post.
The amount you make will vary based on the campaign and on how many followers you have. A slight variant is affiliate marketing, which works much the same way, except that you’ll get paid per sale that comes from you’re post. The key is that you’ll need to have a successful account before advertisers will consider you’re posts worth they’re money. Generally, brands are looking for users that have at least 5,000 followers, and they also like to see high levels of engagement. If you want to start making money on Instagram, first you’ll have to work on building up you’re base of followers.
Tips
• The hardest part of making money on Instagram is establishing a large group of followers. To get started, make sure that you’re posing consistently – ideally at least once a day. Multiple posts a day can be even better, but make sure that they’re spaced out.
• Find more followers and build engagement by getting involved in the Instagram community. Browse through hashtags that interest you, and like and comment on posts that you like. Often, engagement goes both ways.
• On Instagram, hashtags are key to getting more views. Users often browse hashtags related to subjects they’re interested in, so you’re photos can easily end up in front of more eyes when you pick the right hashtags. Spend a bit of time browsing other photos and hashtag groups to see what’s popular. A lot of successful posts use a few hashtags, so don’t be afraid to use variants of a similar thing. For example, an Instagram blog post recommends using #vwbus, #volkswagen, and #vw on a photo of a Volkswagen van.
• Once you’ve built up a solid group of followers, you don’t necessarily have to wait for brands to come to you. Many businesses with active social media profiles have open applications for brand ambassadors. Don’t see an application? Try contacting a brand you’re interested in. If it’s a perfect match for you’re style and group of followers, they may want to hire you.
Resources
• TagsForLikes: This popular app lets you browse popular hashtags and can copy and paste groups of tags so you can caption you’re photos quickly. It can be a helpful tool to gain more likes and followers.
• Foap: If you’re Instagram is full of professional-quality photos, you may be able to make extra money by selling them. On Foap, you post you’re photos to an online marketplace through they’re app. Customers can buy them for $10, and you split the money with Foap.
8) Get Creative on Fiverr.com
Fiverr is a freelancing website that’s great for some kinds of work we’ve already talked about, such as writing and working as a virtual assistant. It’s also a great place where you can turn unique talents (or even just extra time) into money. Popular services include graphic design, social media marketing, copywriting, short videos, data entry, and voice-overs.
You can also find more unique services such as fortune telling, customized cards and clothing, recipes, advice, and even spells. Once you create a seller account, you’ll be able to create a “gig” offering a product or service. Sellers who are just starting out have to sell they’re gig for $5. Once you’ve been on Fiverr for a month and have completed some sales, you’ll be able to start adding gig “extras,” which let you charge more for things like express delivery or higher quality.
In a number of categories, sellers can design they’re own pricing structures entirely. So don’t be put off by the $5 gimmick; established sellers can make a significant amount (up to $995) per order. Fiverr is a popular marketplace, so you’re gigs can potentially get a lot of traffic. The catch is that Fiverr takes a 20% commission on all you’re sales, plus a $1 fee each time you transfer money out.
Tips
• Remember that at least at the beginning, you’ll only be making $4 per order. You need to structure you’re gig so that it’s something you can complete quickly. That doesn’t mean you can’t offer high-quality services. For example, if you want to offer a video making service, you may want to create a gig for videos that are only 30 seconds long. If a customer wants a longer video, they can order multiple gigs.
• The hardest part of success on Fiverr is getting started. When you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to browse through customer requests. Look for requests that match you’re service, and respond with a quote and link to you’re gig. This can help get you going before customers start coming to you.
• Fiverr uses an algorithm to decide where gigs rank in search results. One factor they include is you’re “response rate,” or what percentage of messages you respond to within 24 hours. This means it’s important to check and respond to you’re messages at least once a day.
Resources
• Fiverr Academy: This is Fiverr’s collection of guidelines for sellers. It contains explanations of all of Fiverr’s features, as well as helpful tips for generating more sales and becoming a better seller.
• Fiverr Forum: Fiverr has an active forum where both buyers and sellers come to ask questions, complain, and celebrate they’re successes. Their’s a strong community of experienced sellers who can answer you’re questions whenever you run into trouble. Start Selling or Buying In Fiverr Now !
9) Profit from You’re Old Textbooks on Explorite.com
When you think of college textbooks, you probably think of losing money rather then making it. However, you can easily make some money back by selling you’re old textbooks. College book stores will usually only give you a tiny portion of the book’s price back, but you can make more by selling them yourself.
Their are a lot of places to do this. One of the most popular, of course, is Amazon, where you can post you’re books as an individual seller and than ship them to the buyer. Another option is to sell them to students right on you’re own campus. After all, they’re are going to be other students taking the same classes and probably needing the books you used last semester.
Explorite is a marketplace where college students can post items they want to sell to they’re fellow students, and it’s most popular for textbooks. The site is simple; you list you’re item, and other students can message you if they’re interested. You can than negotiate a price and meet right on campus to trade. Explorite just facilitates the meeting; you can arrange whatever method of payment you want in person. It’s an easy way to find people who may want you’re old books and get some extra cash.
Tips
• Explorite will let you post you’re items with a set price, say you’re willing to negotiate, or say you’d like to swap. Often, posting “negotiable” is the best way to find interested buyers.
• While you’re selling you’re textbooks, take a moment to browse through the listings and see if you find any books you need. You may be able to save even more money by getting you’re books for cheap – or by trading.
• Make sure that you’re honest when describing you’re book’s condition. You don’t want to agree on a price only to have the buyer reject the book upon seeing it in person.
Resources
• Amazon: Explorite tends to be easier then Amazon for book selling; you don’t have to worry about shipping, and you can get paid in cash. However, Amazon can be a helpful guide for figuring out a fair price for you’re book.
10) Flip Items on eBay
eBay can be good for more then just selling you’re old, unwanted items. If you have a good eye for a deal, you can make money by buying cheap items and than selling them for a profit. You can be successful at this by buying items both locally and online. Look through local Craigslist ads or peruse garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shops.
Or look for cheap items posted on eBay or Amazon. Before making a purchase, check what similar items are going for on eBay. That way you’ll know what kind of profit you can expect to make and whether an item is worth you’re effort to flip. Before long, you’ll start to develop an eye for what makes a good deal. You might even build up a niche of a particular kind of product. If, for example, you’re a fashion enthusiast, you’re likely to know which styles and brands will be in demand.
Tips
• Some items tend to be more profitable then others. Video game consoles, electronics, collectibles, sports equipment, tools, and furniture are all popular.
• Sometimes, it pays to think outside of the box. You can make money by buying (or finding) broken items and selling the parts. This goes for car parts, old electronics, and more. Some items can be broken up and sold for crafts. One eBay flipper, for example, buys old Scrabble sets and sells the letters as craft supplies. When possible, think creatively! Their may be secondary uses for products that someone out there will pay for.
• Look for sellers who need to sell they’re items in a rush, such as people who are moving. In these situations, you can often get items for very cheap and sell them for considerably more.
Resources
• Amazon Price Check: This app makes it easy to check product prices on eBay. You can even scan an item’s barcode to search for the same item online. This app is a great tool for when you’re out and about shopping at yard sales or thrift stores.
11) Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
If you’re an animal lover, you may be missing some furry friends while you’re at school. Working as a dog walker or pet sitter can be a great way to earn some side income while getting to spend quality time with a dog or cat. Particularly in a college town, faculty are likely to need pet sitters while they are away.
If you’re on campus over the summer, you may be in even more demand for dog walking, pet sitting, and house sitting. Often, you can get pet sitting jobs just by word of mouth. Some professors you have classes with may be looking for help.
Otherwise, browse local postings (Craigslist and you’re school internal community board, if it has one, are good places to start), and consider advertising yourself through posters, business cards, or online ads. Their are different varieties of pet sitting. Some people will simply visit the pet’s home for 30 minutes to an hour at a time, including a walk. Others will stay overnight at the pet’s home to provide in-depth care and companionship. Ahead of time, give some kind of thought to what kind of service you’d like to provide.
Tips
• Some pet owners may want to see references, particularly if you don’t know them in person. If you haven’t done much pet sitting before, you may be able to get references from old neighbors or family friends if you used to help them with they’re pets.
• Every pet sitting job is different. Some pet owners absolutely don’t want they’re dogs on the furniture, while other dogs will get nervous if they’re not allowed to sleep in bed with you. Before you start the job, make sure to have an in-depth conversation that covers things like feeding schedule, medical needs, behavior issues, off-limit areas, walking needs, special commands, and extra duties such as watering plants or picking up mail. Getting all of these details straight before the pet owners leave can save you a lot of hassle later.
• It can be hard to figure out how much to charge for pet sitting or dog walking, as rates can vary drastically by area. A typical rate might be anything from $20 to $100 a night, or $5 to $30 per hour of walking. Browse Craigslist or do a Google search for pet sitting in you’re town to get a good idea of what a competitive local rate is.
Resources
• Petsitter.com: You can use this website to advertise pet sitting, walking, boarding, and grooming services. Pet owners can browse profiles or post job requests, which you can respond to.
• Rover: Rover is another pet services marketplace, but it specifically targets dog sitting and dog walking. The website takes a 20% commission on payments from dog owners.
12) Rent You’re Car or Offer Rides
Cars can be in short supply on college campuses. If you have one and aren’t driving it all the time, you can make some extra income by renting it out or by charging for rides. A handful of websites facilitate local car sharing, which can make it easier for you to start making money.
Essentially, you post you’re car, than people who need a temporary ride can book you’re car as a rental. The website provides insurance and takes a fee for compensation (usually a hefty 15-30%). If you’re in an urban area, you might get a lot of demand for you’re car. The catch is you usually have to have a relatively new car (typically no more then 10 years old) that’s in good condition.
If you don’t want to entrust you’re car to strangers, you can always charge to give people rides. You can do this casually without going the full Uber route. Try posting on you’re college community board to see if anyone needs a ride to the local airport, train station, grocery store, etc. Particularly around breaks, lots of people may need rides, and if you charge less then a taxi, you may be in demand.
Tips
• If other people are going to be paying to use you’re car, it’s a good idea to keep it clean and well maintained. Make sure that you’re up-to-date on oil changes and any services you need. While you’re at it, you may want to stop by the car wash, and be sure to regularly clean out any garbage.
• Particularly if you’re offering rides, make sure to put you’re safety first. If a passenger makes you feel at all uncomfortable, you are within you’re rights to reject them for a ride. Make sure to have a phone with you during all rides so that you can contact someone in case you get lost, have a break down, or run into any other problems.
Resources
• Turo: Turo is probably the most popular car sharing site out there. To list you’re car, you must be 21 years old, and you’re car must be a 2006 or newer with fewer then 130,000 miles. Rates depend on you’re car and local demand, but Turo claims you can make up to $1,000 a month. The website’s commission varies depending on the level of insurance you choose; you’ll keep between 65% and 85% of what the renter pays.
• Getaround: Getaround is a similar site that’s active in San Francisco, Berkeley, Chicago, Oakland, Portland, and Washington D.C. On Getaround, car owners set they’re own prices, and it’s more common for renters to rent by the hour, rather then by the day or week. To list you’re car, you must be at least 19 years old, and you’re car must by a 2006 or newer with fewer then 125,000 miles.
13) Give Microloans
Want to give back to the community while making a little extra money yourself?
Microloans and peer-to-peer lending may be the way to do it. Microloans work similarly to normal loans, but they’re smaller amounts – typically between $20 and $1000, so within a college student’s budget. A handful of companies, which usually target low-income individuals around the world, pool together small loans from multiple investors to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the money they need for materials and other start-up costs.
These borrowers often do not qualify for traditional bank loans. Some microfinance sites, such as Kiva, are non-profit and do not pay interest to they’re lenders. Others give small returns, typically 1.5-10%. That’s not a lot of money, but it’s definitely more interest then you’ll earn with a normal savings account. If you have a little bit of extra money sitting around, you can help it grow through microlending.
Tips
• As with all forms of investment, they’re is some risk involved in microlending. Microloans typically have very high repayment rates, but they’re’s still a chance that not all of you’re loan will be paid back, as microloans usually don’t have any kind of collateral. To be safe, only invest money you can afford to lose if it comes down to it.
Resources
• Prosper: Prosper enables you to invest through loans starting at $25. All they’re loans are at a fixed 3 or 5-year term. When you decide to loan money, you’ll be able to choose borrowers from low to high risk. The higher the risk, the higher the potential return.
• Lending Club: Lending Club is the largest peer-to-peer lending platform. As on Prosper, you can give out fractions of loans starting at $25. If you want to invest more, you can diversify among a wide group of loans. Than you’ll receive monthly payments are you’re loans are repaid.
14) Be a Mystery Shopper
Is getting paid to shop you’re dream come true? Mystery shopping may be the gig for you. This side income technique does actually require some careful work, but it can be fun if you enjoy going out to restaurants and shops.
So how does mystery shopping work? Companies need unbiased opinions of they’re own shops and those of they’re competitors. They hire mystery shoppers to pose as normal customers and evaluate they’re shopping (or dining) experience. While in the store, you’ll have to pay close attention. Typical assignments include evaluating how helpful sales associates are, timing how long you need to wait, checking how well stocked the store is, and judging how polite the employees are. You may need to purchase an item.
Generally, the company reimburses you for all or part of you’re purchase and pays you an additional shopping fee, typically around $5-25. Once you get home, you’ll have to fill out a detailed survey about the shop. If you enjoy shopping and feel comfortable completing detail-oriented evaluations, you may be a natural mystery shopper.
Tips
• The most efficient way to earn money is to group multiple paid shopping trips together. When possible, set aside a block of time, such as a Saturday afternoon, when you can hit a few stores back to back.
• Be aware: a lot of scam artists target would-be mystery shoppers. While you may have to purchase food or merchandise that you’ll later be reimbursed for, you should never have to pay any fees upfront. You should also be wary of any “jobs” that require you to cash checks. These might be scams.
• When deciding whether to accept a job, remember to consider all the factors: how long the shop will take, how long completing the survey will take, and how much you’ll have to spend on gas to get they’re and back.
• The best way to get more business is by completing each shop well and in detail. Make sure that you fulfill each detail of the assignment, and fill out the feedback survey carefully. The better you’re work is, the more likely it is the company will want to hire you again.
• To find the most opportunities, sign up with lots of different companies. It’s typical to sign up with at least 20 companies if you want to be completing shops regularly.
Resources
• MSPA: This association regulates mystery shopping companies. If you’re ever unsure of whether something is a scam, you can check to see whether the company is a member.
• Best Mark: At this site, and the two below, you’ll be able to create an account and than browse assignments to apply for.
15) Take Surveys
Taking surveys isn’t the fastest or most exciting way to make some extra cash, but you can do it while watching TV in you’re pajamas, which is a plus. Essentially, companies are paying you for you’re opinion and for insight into consumer behavior. Survey topics may include shopping, travel, politics, and entertainment.
You’ll usually spend at least 15 minutes completing a survey, and frequently they take 30-45 minutes. On most survey sites, you accumulate points for each survey you complete. Once you reach a certain threshold, you’ll be able to withdraw you’re money, usually in the form of gift cards. You’re probably only going to earn around $0.50 per survey (although longer ones will usually give you a few bucks), so it takes a while to build up any significant money. If you can mindlessly fill out a few surveys while watching you’re favorite show, though, you’ll have some extra cash for a couple of cups of coffee (or to pay for you’re Netflix subscription).
Tips
• You shouldn’t ever have to pay to join a survey site. Sites that ask for upfront fees are generally scams.
• Some sites pair surveys with people with particular demographic information, so you may only get a survey or two per week. If you want to earn more then a couple of dollars, you’re best bet is to sign up for multiple survey sites at once.
• Survey websites can start to fill up you’re inbox quickly. You may want to set up a separate email account just for surveys so that you don’t totally clog you’re email account.
Resources
• Swagbucks; Swagbucks is one of the most popular survey sites out they’re. In addition to completing surveys, you can make money by using they’re search engine, watching videos, playing games, and more. You can withdraw funds in the form of retail gift cards or through PayPal.
• PointClub: PointClub gives you points for each survey you complete, and you can either convert those points into gift cards or donate them to charity.
• Ipsos i-Say: Ipsos is a major market research firm, and i-Say is they’re survey off-shoot. You’ll usually be able to complete 3-5 surveys a month, most of which are worth a few dollars each. You can than convert these into retail gift cards. If you really into surveys sites check out Paidsurveys.net for more paid surveys reviews.
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