Your college years are probably not going to be the most financially comfortable of your life. College students often live on tight budgets from a lack of paid opportunities, and if you do work, it can be difficult to manage your schedule with classes that change every semester. Thankfully, technology has opened up a whole new world when it comes to working from home. One opportunity that’s perfect for college students: freelancing. You can use your writing or design skills to make more money during college than you could ever imagine. Utilizing these skills will expand your budget and could even help you pay off your student loans before you graduate.
Blogging
Starting a successful blog by yourself or with a group of friends can be extremely profitable if done well. Building a strong fan base allowed the guys at Barstool Sports to quit their day jobs in favor of a brand they had built by simply talking sports with friends. Blogging takes quite a bit of content creation; one article a day is a typical schedule. Keeping up with high-quality content is important, as is the layout of the site. Platforms like WordPress offer templates for websites as well as easy-to-use plugins for security, even some for backing up data. Once you have a site that’s user friendly, it’s time to start blogging and promoting your blog via social media. Money from sponsored posts as well as advertisements can bring in a healthy passive income for college students (or anyone for that matter). Websites like HubPages will also pay for blog content through advertisements.
Related: Student-Friendly Ways to Make Money in Your Spare Time
Content creation
English and Journalism majors—or anyone with decent writing skills—can make a consistent monthly income with content creation. There are marketing agencies, content creation companies, and corporate blogs that constantly need quality content. Using freelance platforms like Upwork or PeoplePerHour can be a great way to meet clients in need of your skills. These opportunities can be one-time deals or turn into full-time remote employment. Designers can make money revamping logos, websites, or designing infographics.
Virtual assistant
Too many executives and managers have trouble conveying what they mean in their messages. This leads to meetings where nothing profitable gets done because they’re only rehashing an email. Plus, spelling errors can make a top employee seem less professional or educated. That’s why some people hire virtual assistants to help them schedule meetings, send emails, and set up anything business related. A college student can easily do this a few hours a day, as many executives don’t need constant assistance. These types of opportunities could also potentially lead to a job right after college if you perform well. However, these positions are highly competitive, and you may need internship experience before you apply.
Related: Unique Writing Jobs for Students Majoring in English
Don’t sit around and let your student debt pile up. Have more fun and pay off those loans by using your extra time to make extra money. A few hundred dollars a month toward student loans can shrink them quickly over the course of four years!
Do you have other ideas for side hustles to share with other students? Reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to start a conversation!
