When it comes to funding your college education, it can really pay to think outside the boxy loan office. Sure, working your tail off during the summer is a great idea, as is keeping a part-time job during the school year. But why not put your social networking and creative problem-solving skills to the test? Who knows?! You might just get more than an “E” for effort. Instead, you might just earn enough to go back next semester and graduate on time! Here are some creative ways to make money while on campus.
Cut Hair, Not Corners
Instead of doing without the little luxuries that make college life fun, you can make a little money on the side by cutting hair. For guys, this may be as simple as buying a good set of clippers. For girls, it may mean getting a few friends to volunteer to let you color and cut their hair for free and maybe watching a few videos on YouTube, but especially if your campus is far from urban, you can advertize easily in student housing and will likely receive many mobility-challenged customers eager to save a buck or two—and give you some extra spending money, in the process!
See a Dumpster, Take a Dive!
Come May, the dumpsters around student housing, everywhere, are overflowing at a rate that rivals a frat house during a pledge-hazing party. Instead of trashing your stuff like most of your peers, you can stay around and do some “shopping.” All you need (besides some throw-away clothes and maybe a nose plug) is a camera and a computer, and you can likely make hundreds of dollars by selling items on Craigslist or even eBay. If you have storage available back home, you could also offer to store items for a fee. That way, everyone wins—you, your fellow students, the environment—well, everyone, perhaps, except for Wal-Mart. But that’s okay.
Start a Campus-Specific Website
Even if you lack funding and html experience, you can still seriously do this! Starting a blog on WordPress or Blogger is simple and free. You can write articles about collegiate-friendly businesses near campus, post pictures of your favorite haunts, and provide—through Facebook or Twitter—a place for your fellow students to connect regarding textbook needs, student organizations, or whatever you think that they’ll want. You can also scour Craigslist in your area and re-post items for sale and job potentials you think might be of interest to your fellow collegiate. Once you gain a couple dozen followers, you can start soliciting advertizing from local businesses and clubs—besides, of course, mainstays like Amazon’s affiliate program and good ol’ Google Adsense. And you never know, your website might become your school’s new Online hub.
Even if these three entrepreneurial ideas don’t appeal to you, other business ideas might be coming to mind. Can you fix computers, edit papers, or create custom study guides? Whatever your personal skills may be, you can use them to make some extra money while you’re earning your degree.
Recent Comments