Whether you work a part-time job at university or not, there will always be times when you will need extra money for some purpose. You might need money for concert tickets, a weekend trip, a trip back home, spring break, or summer vacation. It’s often hard to come up with the extra money to save for major events such as these out of a part-time paycheck. It will be easier if you can find ways to raise cash, so you can keep your paycheck for other purposes.
Here are six ways to do that.
1. Sell Anything You Don’t Need Or Want Anymore
Most people, even students, have an inventory of items that they no longer need, or hardly use at all. You may be able to sell these to raise some quick cash. Inventory everything you have, and if you aren’t using some things too often, they should be candidates for sale. This can include entertainment equipment, computer equipment, sporting equipment, or even DVDs or CDs.
Related: Where to Sell Your Textbooks for Cash
You could try to sell any of these online, through eBay or Craigslist. Even though you think that an item you have doesn’t have much value, it will be worth putting up for sale to see how much money you can get for it, and you may be surprised. As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. You may be sitting on some treasure right now, and not even be aware of it.
2. Help Other Students In A Subject You’re Strong In
Tutoring works well on several fronts:
- You’ll the teaching subjects that you’re naturally good in.
- You won’t have to work nearly as many hours as you would for a part-time job.
- The pay is usually a lot better than what you can earn in a job situation – typically $25 per hour and up.
- You can work as little or as much as you want.
- You can build up a clientele and use it as an ongoing business.
Finding students to tutor is often as easy as contacting various schools in your area, including your own university, and providing them with a simple flyer to advertise your availability.
3. Check Craigslist And Other Sources for Odd Jobs
Check out Craigslist and other publications in your area – either community newspapers, or school publications – to see who may be looking to have odd jobs done. There can be simple jobs, such providing retail coverage during a holiday or vacation season, or doing some filing work. There may be more complex arrangements, like someone looking for someone to troubleshoot a computer, or helping with a major writing project.
Related: Part-time Jobs Have Benefits Beyond Making Money
Take a look at what is available, and if your skills and abilities match any ads, respondent and see how you may be able to help them, and pick up some extra money for a few days work.
4. Participate In Focus Groups And Research Studies
All kinds of organizations are looking for people to participate in focus groups and research studies. These can be one shot deals or ongoing arrangements. You may get paid $50 or $100 for participating in a group for just a few hours on a Saturday. Or you can pick up extra money on a steady basis by participating regularly.
Check local newspapers, including your school paper or newsletter, to see what’s out there.
5. Referee For Children’s Sports
Do you have a background in one or more sports? If you do you may be able to referee children sporting events on the weekends. I know high school student who makes anywhere from $15-$30 per game refereeing recreational girls and boys soccer games. The games are held almost exclusively on the weekends (usually three to five at a time – you can do the math), and last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour each.
Check with local recreational leagues, or even local schools, and see what childrens sporting activities are going on in your area. Chances are they’ll need referees, and you can usually fit the bill as long as you’ve played an organized sport at the high school level.
6. Give Up A Couple Weekends To Do Some Dirty Work
People are sometimes looking for help doing major jobs, such as painting a house, cleaning out a basement, or even moving furniture. If you’re up to doing such work, you might be able to pick up $100 or $200 for working one or two days over the weekend.
There are always jobs like this floating around out there, and people are typically looking for university students to do them. If you put yourself out there to be available, and you pick up such a job once or twice each month, it can provide you with extra money to do whatever it is you need to do.
What do you do to make some quick cash in a pinch?
