Photo Credit: Fabian Blank
By Ashleigh Brown
Being in college takes a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. It’s also essential between your classes to gain some valuable life experience and make some money. One of the biggest things that employers are looking for are graduates who have outside working experience. Making extra cash on the side in school can definitely make anyone’s financial situation a lot better. The extra income can go towards the essentials such as tuition or for leisure.
Students are well into the semester and college can bring a lot of changes, including financial ones. Not only do they need to be focused on attending class and keeping up with their grades, but many students also have to work for a living. They’re also possibly no longer dependent on their parents for money and need to find ways to stretch their budget. According to CNN and the U.S. Census Report, 71 percent of the nation’s 19.7 million college undergraduates work outside of school. Of that number, one in five undergraduates were working at least 35 hours a week year-round. Among undergraduates who weren’t full-time workers, more than half of them clocked in more than 20 hours a week.
Here are some ways to make money or save money to maintain your budget while still being a student.
Apply for Federal Work Study
Federal work-study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. It allows them to earn money while going to school to help pay for education expenses. The federal work study program encourages work related to the student’s course of study.
Erika Gutierrez, 21, a Psychology major works as a receptionist in the mathematics and computer science department when she’s not in class. “It works with my school schedule. I like that I don’t have to make a work schedule around my job and it’s good for extra money.” Gutierrez also works in the performing arts building on the weekends. “I like that I can still make money while going to school. And also, both jobs are flexible with my school schedule.”
Ebates For Cash Back On Purchases
Ebates is a free cashback website and app that acts as a shopping portal offering coupons and a percentage cash back from over 2,000 online retailers such as Macy’s, Amazon and Puma. Ebates earns a commission when a shopping session is initiated through their links and shares a percentage of the commission with its members in the form of cash back quarterly though a check or PayPal. Ebates also offers a $10 bonus after your purchase included in your check.
Selling Unused Textbooks
There are many economic and environmental reasons why selling used textbooks back to bookstores or other companies are important. Another way students can make extra money is to resell their used textbooks that are just taking up space. Websites like Chegg, Amazon and Barnes & Noble use simple ways to make it easy to sell your unused books. Upload the ISBN number to the website to get a quote, print the shipping label and receive the earnings in a few business days.
UNiDAYS For Student Discounts
UNiDAYS is a savings network app for student discounts. They offer discounts from music, technology, clothing, beauty, fitness and more. Several brands that they team up with are Adidas, Apple and Urban Outfitters After you sign up for a UNiDAYS account using a York email account, verify the account and hundreds of discounts of major brands are in access.
Start A ‘Side Hustle’
Earning an income as a full-time college student can be a challenge when you’re loaded up with 12, 15 or even 18 credits in a semester. Thankfully, taking on a side hustle is a way to make money without spreading students too thin. They are essentially part-time jobs that are freelance based, easier to commit to, and work around the school schedule since the hours can be set.
Simone Soloman, 22, a social work major started her online store ‘Shop Unsaid’ from her love of fashion. “Entrepreneurship isn’t easy.” Soloman said, “If you really believe in yourself and your brand, it’s possible.” Soloman mimicked other designers and brands to figure out which techniques they’ve done that could be used to start up ShopUnsaid.bigcartel.com.
