We have often explained that there are hundreds of different ways to make money, especially when you are a student, but people constantly postpone taking action by making excuses: I don’t have time for this or I don’t know where to start. So altitudementor.com decided to debunk some of these excuses and identified 77 creative ways to make money for students while being a student. Indeed, every item you will read in this list is well thought out. You may have heard of some of them before, while you may be encountering some of them for the first time.
I took care to sort the list from the most profitable businesses to the ones where you won’t make much profit, but all the items you will read here have their pros and cons.
Creative Ways To Make Money For Students
a) Ways To Make Money Online For Students
Being the boss of your own life is wonderful and can be an invaluable source of income for students or recent graduates. The methods you will read now are in this category because your will limits your income.
1. Opening a Blog or Website
If you want to make money online, you can open a blog or a website. You can earn a considerable income thanks to this occupation where you can do everything online and from your own home. Yeniisfikirleri.net, the website that allows you to read this article right now, is also a website that was opened when I was a student. And the number of monthly visitors is in the millions.
Taking the first step is not as difficult as it seems. What you need to do is buy a domain and create an affordable web hosting plan. If you wish, you can get professional support to take the first step faster.
2. Making Money by Writing Articles
Freelance writing is one of the easiest ways to make money.
Apart from blogs, many companies now seek help from writers in many different areas, from producing content to writing technology-related articles and creating brochures. If you want to write for companies, you can check out sites such as Fiverr and Bionluk, where you can find freelance jobs.
Another job that is common these days is being a proofreader. You can work as a proofreader for blogs, websites, and authors.
3. Virtual Assistant
Another way to make money online is to become a virtual assistant. Many companies now employ outsiders for tasks normally done by assistants, such as answering emails and performing daily tasks. If you want to do business online, you can consider working as a virtual assistant and earning enough money to cover your pocket money.
4. Designing Online
If you are an artist and interested in graphic design, you can create designs for websites and companies. You can prepare small graphics for advertisements or redesign websites. You can visit sites like 99Designs to get started. Here you can participate in design competitions and win money if you come first.
5. Making Money from Youtube
If you think you are talented at making videos, YouTube may be a suitable medium for you. You can earn money per ad that appears in your videos. Thus, the more people watch your videos, the more money you have the chance to earn. YouTubers generally earn money ranging from 10 to 30 TL per 1000 views.
6. Designing Your T-Shirts
Another way to make money with your design talent is to design t-shirts and sell them online. The best part about this method is that t-shirts are much more than simple pictures. Sometimes the nice words you write on it can also impress buyers.
You can sell the t-shirts you print easily via Printify via dropshipping on sites like Amazon.
7. Deciphering
If you can use your fingers quickly and want to earn money by listening and typing on the keyboard, sight-reading may be the job you are looking for. In many different sectors, there is a search for personnel who can decipher and transcribe voice recordings. For example, podcast owners love working with people who will transcribe each episode so they can also be shared as posts.
8. Making Money by Developing Applications
If you are skilled in programming, you can develop iPhone or Android applications and sell them on the App Store. Many people are finding great success developing both games and phone applications. The trick is to identify an unmet need and address it.
9. Establishing a Startup
If you don’t work to make your own dream come true, you won’t be hired to make someone else’s dream come true.
Thanks to the internet, if you want to start a new venture, you have almost unlimited options. As long as you have a computer and a healthy Internet connection, you can achieve the goal you set.
Since there are many different auxiliary applications on the market, you do not need to be very knowledgeable in technology. All you have to do is put in the effort and learn only what you need.
Another good thing about starting an online business is that you can run your business from wherever you want. You can work as little or as much as you want, assuming that no one will impose a schedule on you. It will simply become a choice of how fast or how successful you want to be.
Regarding the investment cost, we can say that you do not need very large amounts. Moreover, since there are many free services, it is possible to find jobs that you can enter without investing any money.
10. Teaching Online or Creating a Course
Are you a good teacher? Do you have knowledge that you can pass on to others or that can make a difference in people’s lives? You can focus on this topic, prepare a course and market it on the internet. Sites like Udemy enable people to create online courses and reach target audiences through this platform. There is a course on every subject you can think of, so when you think of a different subject, don’t dismiss it just because it won’t work, give it a chance.
11. Making Money by Translating
Do you know another language? Then you can be a translator. There is great demand for both oral and written translation. Thanks to many sites, anyone who speaks a language can create a profile and work as a translator.
12. Virtual Call Center
Call centers are the lifeblood of many companies. What if you could work as a call center operator at home, from where you sit? This is now possible thanks to sites such as LiveOps and Bionluk. By becoming a member of such sites, you can start to make your name known in this field where demand is high. You may not be able to achieve this right away, but you will earn a little extra income.
13. Making Money by Doing Voiceovers
Voice acting is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the video and podcast world. If you have a beautiful voice and a microphone system set up at home, you can do voiceover work for others and companies.
14. Making Money from Social Media
Nowadays, social media has reached such a point that it is now indispensable for most people. We were promoted from the country that watches the most television a day to the country that spends the most time on social media. Thus, different doors of income were opened for many people.
We bet that once you discover money-making opportunities on social media, your life will never be the same again! Here are the ways to make money from social media:
15. Becoming an SEO Expert
SEO or search engine optimization is a great free-time job for analytically minded people. If you understand this business a little bit and can think analytically, you can earn 300 lira or even more per hour.
16. Making Money by Playing Games
What if we told you that you can earn money just by playing games? Sounds great right? Yes, you can have fun and earn money just by playing games. Moreover, you can even make a career in this field and make a living by playing games.
17. Making Money by Buying and Selling New or Second-Hand Items
If you are confident in price research and sales, you can make money by buying any product at a low price and selling it at a higher price. This could be a game console, phone, or any other item whose features you are familiar with.
A friend of mine was flying to Erbil and back every month because technological products like PS5 were half the price in Iraq. Since he could only buy a limited number of them, he was going again after selling what he had online.
b) Ways To Make Money by Renting Your Belongings
Renting out your belongings is a great way to earn extra income. Think you don’t have anything to rent? You can’t even guess.
18. Renting out a room in your house
One of the best ways to earn money while studying at university is to rent out unused rooms in the house. My friend, who rented out the rooms in his house, was able to cover his rent and bills with the money he earned, and in this way, he earned a considerable income until he graduated from university.
The founders of Airbnb were renting out empty rooms with inflatable beds to make ends meet when they were students. Thus, they laid the foundation of a billion-dollar company.
19. Renting Your Car
If you are one of the lucky people who have a car while studying at university, but you do not use your car very much because you spend all your time on campus, perhaps you can consider renting it to others.
20. Renting Unused Items to Others
Are unused items starting to accumulate? Maybe your bike is sitting there or that camping equipment you bought on a whim is gathering dust. Maybe your rooms are full of items you use but haven’t looked at in a long time. Instead of these sitting idle, you can rent out almost anything you own. What you need to do is to create a virtual shop for yourself and upload your products. People will contact you and pay you through the platform.
21. Renting a Drone
Drones have now become one of the indispensable tools in many promotion and advertising services. If you have a drone that takes quality videos and photos, you can rent it daily for very good money.
22. Renting Your Clothes
If you have an outfit that you don’t wear very often (a wedding dress or fancy trousers), you can rent it to people looking for affordable options. Thanks to some sites, people can rent their clothes online. In this way, you can make money quickly by showcasing your products.
23. Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
Do you travel a lot? Or, say, will you be away from home for a long time in the summer? During this period, you can rent your house or apartment and earn additional income. Airbnb is becoming more and more popular among both homeowners and vacationers.
c) Ways to Earn Money by Completing Tasks
Now, I would like to talk about methods that cannot be considered as work and that you will not come across on the internet. These are right in the middle, and I call them tasks you can perform to make money. Most of these methods appeal to Generation Y and university students who want to earn money by doing different things.
24. Search Engine Named Swagbucks
If you are already using search engines on the internet, you can change your search engine to Swagbucks. Thanks to this search engine, you can earn points called SB and later use these points as cash or gift certificates. There are multiple ways to earn SB and it can help you earn additional income every month.
25. Filling Out Online Surveys
Another thing you can do online is fill out surveys. You can earn small gifts for filling out many of these surveys. There are many sites where you can fill out online surveys:
- Survey Junkie: Earn cash and rewards by sharing your thoughts and ideas.
- Swagbucks Surveys: Swagbucks now has its survey section and you can earn $5 just by signing up.
- Pinecone 18-24: If you are between the ages of 18-24, you can earn $3 for every survey you fill out on Pinecone.
- Opinion Outpost: Earn money by filling out surveys.
- Springboard America: This site that allows you to earn cash is newer than others.
- mySoapBox: Share your thoughts and earn money.
26. Participating in Market Research
Market research is a fun way to make money. You may come across market research advertisements on campus. The purpose of this type of research is simple: to learn about the thoughts of college students. You can earn money or a gift card in exchange for sitting in a room for an hour and doing market research.
If you want to participate in market research, you can try these two simple methods:
- Neilson Computer & Mobile Panel: Download the app and earn money.
- Mobile Expression: Download the app and don’t delete it for at least a week to save money.
27. Participating in Online User Experiments
Companies need a few people to test their new websites or initiatives when they launch them. Thanks to sites such as UserTesting.com, companies can place such advertisements and everyone can try their luck to take part in the trials. You can earn money for every attempt you make.
28. Taking Notes for Others
In addition to notes taken in school, people take notes on everything. For example, elderly people and people with disabilities may need help taking notes. If you have time and want to go to different parts of the city, you can earn additional income by keeping notes for those who need it.
29. Volunteering in Medical Experiments
Another way to earn extra income is to volunteer in medical experiments. Many studies are being conducted that require healthy volunteers to try different products. While some observe you in your sleep, others try different drugs on you.
30. Participating in Scholarship Competitions
Scholarships are a great way to earn extra income while in college. What most people overlook is that most scholarship contests have low participation because people don’t think they will win.
31. Recycling Cans and Bottles
Another easy way to earn extra income is to recycle. Many places will pay you to bring bottles and cans. It may not be a huge amount, but a bag full of tin cans can earn you 50 TL or more per bag. It also allows you to keep the environment clean.
32. Recycling Scrap Metal
Apart from bottles and cans, you can also recycle scrap metal. You can make a lot of money by recycling scrap metal, but finding scrap material to recycle can also be quite difficult. You can earn a significant amount of money when you take scrap copper or metal to a place for recycling.
33. Sharing Your Phone Information
Did you know that you can also make money by using your mobile phone and making it accessible to companies? For example, you can earn various rewards by simply downloading an app called Nielson Mobile Panel to your phone. With the app, the company takes screenshots of you playing with your phone and sends them to advertising companies that want to know about your age group. This application may be violating your privacy, but considering that there is money at stake, you can also consider this option.
34. Finding Faults in Programs
Are you a programmer? Do you have enough free time? You can spend this time finding bugs in new and existing software. You can check job boards or postings on your university campus.
35. Finding Errors in Websites
Just as you can find errors in programming, you can also earn money by finding errors and deficiencies on websites. For example, Google constantly pays people who find and report bugs in their systems.
36. Generating Names for Companies
The most difficult part for companies during the establishment phase is finding a name. I’ve experienced this myself. I can’t help but say that most company owners are not creative. Fortunately, there are many institutions that will ask for help in this regard, and you can earn money by applying to these institutions. Organizations such as NamingForce and SquadHelp organize naming contests and award cash prizes to the winner.
37. Answering Challenging Questions
Do you consider yourself an expert on any subject? Well, did you know that you can earn money by answering questions on this subject? Thanks to the site called JustAnswer.com, for a small fee, people who are knowledgeable on the subject provide solutions to the problems of people looking for answers to their questions. This way, you can both make money and help others.
d) Ways to Make Money by Selling Your Items:
Making money by selling your belongings is one of the easiest ways to earn extra income at university. Many students think they don’t have enough things to sell, but everyone has something to sell.
38. Selling Your Lecture Notes
The first thing you will sell when you are in college is the notes you took in class. You can do this in different ways. Some universities even have special units where you can sell your grades. You can also use channels that allow students to sell their grades online.
39. Selling the Essays You Wrote at University
In addition to the piles of notes taken in classes, students also deal with piles of articles they wrote in classes. Evaluate the homework you have done instead of throwing it away. Did you know that there are channels where you can sell the articles you write? For example, GradeServer is one of them. Thanks to this medium, you can sell your old articles. If you write more than one article every semester, you can create additional income for yourself with this method.
40. Selling Things You Don’t Need
If you have an item that you no longer use, but it is too big to sell online, you can consider the Letgo application. While you are at university, you may want to sell your furniture when you move out of your home at the end of the year. Selling your belongings for a few hundred pounds may be a much better option than moving them back to your family home or letting them sit. It is quite easy to create a profile for yourself on Letgo and upload pictures of your belongings.
41. Selling Handcrafted Products on Etsy
If you are engaged in handicrafts, you can sell the works you produce on Etsy. Etsy is a platform where many handcrafted products such as stationery, greeting cards, and household items are showcased. The best part about these types of products is that you can do them in your free time, at night and on weekends. They also don’t take up too much space, so you can easily store them in your dorm room.
42. Selling Your Hair
Since we’re talking about your body, let’s continue from there. Did you know you can sell your hair too? Whether long or short, even men’s hair has its buyers. BuyandSellHair.com is the largest international hair marketplace. By creating a profile for yourself on the site and uploading a picture of your hair, you can wait for buyers to contact you. Or, if you want, you can sell to hairdressers in your area who buy hair.
43. Selling Your Unused Video Game Accounts
Here is an opportunity that game lovers cannot miss. Once you get to college, you too will find that you spend less time playing your favorite video games. Why waste the wonderful characters you’ve created and the rewards you’ve earned? You can sell them over the internet to other people playing the same game. PlayerAuctions.com allows you to do exactly that. You can purchase video game accounts, characters, and even rewards obtained in the game. Depending on what you sell, your earnings may reach hundreds of lira.
44. Selling Junk Instagram Accounts
Believe it or not, there is a company that wants to buy your junk Instagram accounts. It does not matter whether the account is newly opened. If you want to create as many accounts as you want and sell them for 5 TL, you can leave a comment on our article.
45. Selling Products You Make at Home
If you have a garden or a space to grow vegetables and fruits, you can grow various products to sell to your friends and neighbors. You may not become a millionaire this way, but you can at least earn a regular income.
46. Sell Your Idea or Invention
Do you have a great idea in mind but don’t know how to bring it to life? Then you can upload the thoughts in your mind to the site called Quirky. Here, your idea is evaluated and if they like it, they either develop the idea themselves or collaborate with a larger brand. You also receive a small commission from the final product. While some inventors only made $1,000, others earned $100,000 through the platform.
47. Selling Your Artwork
If you are an artist and constantly produce new paintings, drawings, computer animations, and anything visual, you can sell your products online through sites such as Deviant Art. On this site, users create a profile and upload images of their works, and they can choose to sell these images either as prints or as different products. And from each product sold, the author earns a commission of 20% of the sales price.
48. Selling Your Old Textbooks
It might be a good idea to sell your textbooks after you’re done, rather than gathering dust in a corner. You may not make a lot of money this way (although some enterprising students have found a way to profit from used textbooks), but you’ll still pay for the books you have to buy each semester.
e) Ways to Earn Money by Working Part Time:
Of course, the best way to make money is to work. There are many job opportunities that you can fit into your course schedule and summer vacation while studying at university.
49. Babysitting
If you’re a responsible person, babysitting is a great way to earn extra income. Babysitters usually earn 50 lira per hour. If you have neighbors with children, you can offer them the opportunity to spend a night alone.
50. Pet Sitting
Just as people need to leave their babies with someone when they go out of town, sometimes they need someone to take care of their pets. If you love animals, pet sitting can be a great way to earn extra income and spend time with your furry friends.
51. House Cleaning
Another profitable business for college students is house cleaning. You can easily do this job, which takes a few hours, while you are at university because no experience is required for this job. You can hire an experienced cleaning company or start your own business.
52. Providing Food and Beverage Service on Weekends
Food and beverage service companies always need help because they never run out of work to keep up with. Most of these companies work very little during the week and need a large team on the weekends. This opportunity is a blessing for university students who want to earn their pocket money.
53. Computer Repair
If you understand computers, you can earn extra income by bringing other people’s broken computers back to life. You can install software, remove viruses, and more.
54. Repair
If you are good with tools and understand repairs, you can earn extra income by solving other people’s problems. While you’re in college, you can help your landlord or notify a friend or friends who needs repairs.
55. House Painting
One of the best jobs to do in college is painting houses. Companies like College Pro House Painters connect college students in need of money with painting companies. This way, you can earn extra income during the summer months.
56. Working in Stores
Working in stores is an ideal job for college students because the hours are often flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate students’ schedules. Many stores have a shortage of staff to work nights and weekends, and this position suits university students best. You also need to have a regular income.
57. Barista or Waitress
If you want to work in an interesting job where you need to be faster, you can consider becoming a bartender or waiter in a restaurant. You usually have to work at night, but if you work hard you can collect a significant amount of tips.
58. Assistant to Your Professor
Many professors hire 1-2 students each semester to grade papers, prepare course plans, and even do research on their behalf. If you want to specialize in a certain field, it is useful to knock on your professor’s door.
59. Extra
TV shows and movies are on the hunt for extras to fill the scene. Maybe you’ll earn 200 lira or more per day, but at least you’ll have fun while making money.
60. Shipping
If you are a strong person, you can join a moving company and help people move.
61. Gardening
If you know plants, you can also manage your friends’ and neighbors’ gardens. Even if you don’t want to do it every week, you can clean up the gardens, cut down trees, or work on them once in a while.
62. Pool Cleaning
If you are experienced with pools, you can help your acquaintances who have pools. You can clean the pools and take care of the chemicals needed. It is not an easy job, but you can fill your pocket with the increasing demand in the summer months.
63. Asking for a Raise
Are you currently employed? Maybe what you need to do is ask for a raise. You can easily increase your income this way. Many employees do not negotiate their salaries. Not negotiating your salary can keep you from making more money.
Many employers give bonuses to students just because they sign the contract.
64. Manicure and Makeup
If you are good at applying nail polish, you can start this business and apply your friends’ nail polish and make-up on special nights. You can even expand your business, post an ad, and earn money by doing this job occasionally.
65. Street Artist
Gaining fame as a street artist is quite a difficult task. But people who do this job really well can earn up to 500 – 1000 lira per day. It can be a profitable business if you do it a few days a week.
66. Selling on the Phone
Making sales by calling random numbers from the directory is still a valid business, and companies need employees who can sell by convincing people on the phone. Many companies hire full-time employees, but some companies need employees who can sell over the phone. If you’re okay with spending several hours a day on the phone and are okay with the phone hanging up on you frequently, this may be a job for you.
67. Collecting Signatures for Campaigns
Did you know that people who stop you on the street and ask for your signature earn money for each signature they get from you? Contrary to popular belief, they do not want to get signatures because they care about the issue they want signatures on. They are trying to get your signature because they earn 10 – 20 lira for each signature they get.
68. Car Wash or Interior-Exterior Cleaning
There are few things more relaxing than getting into a spotless car. People also want to have their cars washed and cleaned for this feeling. If you love cars and cleaning the interior and exterior is an easy task for you, you may consider doing this job for money for others.
69. Doing an Internship
By doing an internship, you can meet the business world and gain experience while also earning income. Although internships generally begin in the summer months, some companies also offer long-term internship opportunities where you can work throughout the academic year.
70. Personal Trainer
If you are closely interested in the world of fitness and sports, you may consider personal coaching. Many people need someone they can trust, work out with, and get in shape with. This is where personal training comes into play.
71. DJing
If you are interested in music and have a playlist suitable for every event, you may want to consider DJing. You can DJ and work at parties on the weekends. Buying the necessary equipment is not cheap, the money you first buy may go there, but the money you earn later will compensate for this loss.
72. Organizing an Event
Do you love organizing people, tasks, and work? Then party planning might be the job for you. You can make money by planning events.
73. Giving Private Lessons
This is another great way to make money while studying. If you think you are good at any course you took at university, you can help your friends who have difficulty in this course. You can paste a notice on the classroom door or create a group on Facebook. In this way, you can easily gain customers and increase your income by offering reasonable prices.
74. Making Money by Doing Homework
Did you know that you can also earn money by helping others with their homework? For example, if you are confident in math, countless people around the world will pay for your math skills. If you have some knowledge of a foreign language, you can start earning dollars by becoming a member of sites created specifically for homework needs.
75. Modeling
Modeling is another way to make money while at university. There are many ways to enter the modeling world, but you can usually take the first step by signing up with an agency. Thanks to this agency, you can earn hundreds of lira for every photo shoot you do. A popular way to break into the industry is to use sites like Instagram to promote your work and allow others to access your portfolio.
76. Carrying Cargo for Others
Have you watched the TV show “Cargo Wars”, which has a short screen life? In this show, people were trying to offer cargo services to others. This show has come true, and applications like Glovo bring together people who want to send something somewhere and drivers who can do this job. If you own a motorcycle, you can choose your working hours and earn up to 25,000 TL per month.
f) Ways To Make Money with Passive Income:
Now that we have read about many different ways to make money while studying at university, we can take things a step further and look at ways to earn passive income:
77. Investing
Once you have some money, you can deposit it somewhere. The goal here is to turn your investments into a passive income stream that will keep some money aside throughout your life. It is not a difficult thing to step into this business. Thanks to free investing applications, you can start with small amounts such as 1 lira. When you add 100 lira to this every month, your investment will grow over time.
78. Reinvesting
Finally, if you want to continue earning money after university, create different income sources and you can reinvest some of the profits elsewhere. How much can you earn every month by advertising your company? Why not hire an assistant to take care of some tasks so you can focus on other tasks? Reinvesting in your company is a smart move for making money while in college and beyond.
