Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.Today, however, investing in knowledge is extremely expensive. Such inflated times are difficult for the cash-strapped college students torn between their student loan obligations and social life. The soaring cost of college education has rendered college life far from luxurious and comfortable. To stay afloat and pay the bills, students could cut back on the expenses or generate additional side income. As students already survive on minimum resources, generating side income is an effective way to afford college.
How to generate additional income?
It is said that money begets money but there are some easy and investment free ways of generating the moolah. All you require is some free time and an Internet connection. The Internet is the new source of income for enterprising students and is laden with great opportunities. The Internet might rarely provide a primary source of income but it definitely helps supplement income and generate side cash. The money you make depends on the time and effort you invest. Read on to know how you can make money online.
Blogging
For the closet writer in you who wants to write about certain niche topics, there is blogging. After hours of writing assignments, this is an easy enough task. If your blog has admirable content and followers, advertisement platforms like AdSense can be a good source of income from the blog. To make your blog gain traction, persistently publicize the blog for viewers using digital marketing channels.
Freelance Writing
High-quality writing is much in demand all over the world. If you have great writing skills, but find blogging tedious, there is an option of freelance writing. Brands and products need writers like you to communicate their message. Also, brands require freelance writers to write and manage social media content. You can take up freelance writing remotely and the timeframe is flexible. Websites like Elance.com, Constant Content can provide writing projects online.
Freelance Projects
If you are skilled, you might as well earn money from it. It can be anything like coding, consulting, event planning, proofreading, graphic designing, search engine optimization (SEO), virtual assistance, photography etc. You can easily find freelance coder jobs on freelancer.com and Upwork.
Buying and Selling
Classifieds websites and online stores let you buy and sell furniture, antiques, electronics and unique objects if only one can find the right sources. Sites like Craigslist and eBay are hotbeds of such product listings. You can also post ads on Facebook.
Selling Crafts Online
Are you an artsy student? If you have an artsy creative side, use it to earn some quick cash. Websites like Etsy are for you. You can sell custom made jewelry pieces, hand-painted pottery, authentically designed hand-knit clothes etc. All you have to do is make a profile and upload photos of your creations. Do not forget to spread the word about your art.
Online Surveys
Taking online surveys is an easy method of generating extra cash primarily because it doesn’t require any qualifications. Companies are willing to pay you for your opinion. Industry trends, customer likes, dislike, comments are requested by companies to improve their products or introduce technology and services according to customer wants. Sites like SurveyJunkey, Vindale etc allow you to sign up for free and fill out survey forms based on your profile. Points are allotted for completing surveys. Earning from such surveys depends on the smart selection of surveys according to time denoted and points allotted to the survey.
Online Tutorials
If you have a degree in a particular subject, you can get an opportunity to tutor in that subject. Virtual teaching is a noble deed where you get to help other students with a subject you have mastered. It is also a great opportunity to improvise on your teaching skills and offers you ample practice if you aim to go into the teaching field. Sites like Tutor.com, Tutorvista.com are genuine sites for teaching and earning from it.
Intern Remotely
If you are looking to get experience in a domain, a remote internship could be quite handy. It is an excellent opportunity for students in the engineering and sciences fields. You could work from the comfort of your home after class, perfect your skills and get some much-needed cash.
Renting Space
If you have some extra living space available, you could list the space online for rent. Or, if you’re going on an internship or a vacation, make some money from the empty space you’re leaving behind. Platforms like Airbnb let you list your space at a pre-decided rent.
YouTube Videos
YouTube is where all the action is. If you have skills and want to showcase it on a video, you could start a YouTube Channel and put your videos online. You can find everything on YouTube from DIY videos, cover songs, dancing, tutoring, make-up, entrepreneur stories, cooking recipes to motivational channels and what not. All you need is great content, great ideas, and a decent smartphone camera.
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and hustle a bit.
