Kash Avena
College can be an exciting and challenging experience. For some, this challenge is not only intellectual but also financial. Learn the tricks and tips to earning a few cool bucks AND even building your resume while still focusing on the big picture: getting that diploma (not partying, silly).
So now you’re in college and only a few years or months away from graduation. That steady 9-to-5 and dazzling career are almost within reach. Meanwhile, you might be struggling with a limited allowance versus things you typically spend on: group projects, club activities,field trips, the occasional pitch-in for a block or barkada lunch, the rare movie date.
We’ve all been there. The awesome thing is, you live in a time when doing your classmates’ papers for a fee or being a working student are not your only options to earn extra money. There are a lot of things you can do to have a profitable raket without sacrificing your time or grades:
- Sell old stuff you don’t need – Remember that guitar from when you thought of forming a rock band, but realized it’s harder than Dubsmash? How about last year’s phone collecting dust in your drawer? Sites like OLX.ph and Ebay Philippines allow you to sell second-hand items, without a fee. Not only do you make some cash, you also help the earth and all that good stuff by getting your things reused.
- Put your freelance face on – If you’re a writing, marketing, design, computer development, or fine arts major (to name a few), you can put that learning to an early practical use through freelancing. Upwork.com and similar websites allow you to work on projects for a fee — be it writing articles, create marketing plans, helping develop a webpage or app, or even designing shirts. Another awesome thing about this is that it allows you to build your portfolio and gain experience while still in school.
- Turn that idle internet time into income – If becoming a freelancer is not your cup of coffee, you can still earn online by performing different tasks, be it answering surveys, to watching games and videos, to testing out new sites and apps. See our list of top websites to earn money through your online habits.
- Teach and earn – As your grade school values teacher probably said, teach a man to fish and he will be full forever (or something like that). Instead of being a hired-term-paper-writer or hired-math-problem-solver, why don’t you offer tutoring services to your academically-challenged schoolmates instead? This allows you to hit three birds with one stone (catch three fish with one hook?): review your lessons, make money, and help others.
- Earn the Old School Way – No matter how fast technology has become, there are still old school, offline goods and services that you can offer your community. Used to much younger siblings, or niece and nephews? Try babysitting for your kapitbahay’s kids. Love baking? You can offer to make cupcakes for your friend’s debut party for a modest price.
Now you know some tricks in making extra money the smart, legit way while still in school. Just remember that the above are only ways of having a side hustle and not meant to replace that awesome dream job. Keep your focus on your academics and you’ll get even better work once you get that diploma.
If the struggle is real and you’re thinking of ways to augment your tuition fee, you can read up on educational loans in the Philippines. Your mom or dad can also know more about it by going to Loansolutions.ph. Their team of loan consultants can help your parents find a good loan option for that upcoming semester.
