College is hard. Not only that, but it can also be expensive! As a college student, you spend a lot of time either in class or studying. The reality is that you might not have enough extra hours to hold a part time job. In some cases, your part time job might not be enough to cover your needs and you find yourself wondering what else could be done. In other cases, you might want to earn a little extra money to cover your weekly Starbucks runs or to go out for a nice dinner. Whatever your case may be, we have some great ideas for college friendly side hustles.
Why a Side Hustle?
Side hustles offer a variety of advantages. The most obvious one is that you will be able to make extra money. This money can be used to cover your needs, wants or simply to build your savings.
Picking up a side hustle can also offer you the opportunity to explore a passion that you have, being able to gain experience while also earning some extra money. Side hustles also have the power to give you more flexible job opportunities, where you could possibly choose your own hours or work on any downtime you may have.
Side Hustle For Those With a Car
Rideshare Driver (Uber, Lyft)
If you enjoy spending time on the road and sparking up conversations with new people, this might be the side hustle for you!
Food Delivery (Doordash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc.)
Ordering food via Doordash, UberEats is very common, especially amongst college students. This could be a great way to earn some extra money.
Help People Move (TaskRabbit, Facebook Advertisement)
If your vehicle has enough space, you could offer to help others move. This idea has the potential to be extremely successful at the start or end of each semester when students are moving in/moving out of their homes.
Virtual Side Hustles
Become a Virtual Assistant (TaskRabbit, Upwork, etc.)
If you are service-oriented and highly organized, this can be a great fit for you.
Become a Translator (TaskRabbit, UpWork, etc.)
If you speak more than one language, you could be hired to proofread or translate information/brochures.
In Person Side Hustles for Anyone
Sell Your Old Textbooks (Amazon, BookScouter, etc.)
If you have textbooks from past courses laying around, this is a great way to get them off your hands!
Coach High School Students On College Admissions Tests and Essays
If you love helping others, this side hustle will help you share your knowledge and experience with incoming college students!
Keep First Things First
Side hustles are a great opportunity for college students to make extra money on their own time. However, it is very important to never lose track of what comes first. Please make sure that your needs (necessities to survive) are always covered before any wants (things you desire but don’t necessarily need to survive). It is also vital to practice proper time management, to ensure that your side hustles don’t heavily or negatively interfere with any prior commitments such as your studies or other part time jobs. There are so many different side hustles out there, so make sure to check out all of your options. Good luck Bobcats!
Author:
Melissa Rodriguez
Bobcat Financial Coach
Melissa is a Bobcat Financial Coach alumna at the University of California, Merced. Read more about her here!
