Having been a college student myself in the not too distant past, I know just how tight money can get. When you’re focusing on your grades, you don’t always have a lot of free time to make money in college.
However, I’ve learned that if you’re resourceful and look for alternative ways to earn and save money while you’re a student, you can comfortably get by — and even have a bit of extra cash to treat yourself every now and then!
Here’s how to make money as a student — my best tips to save money and make money in college. (They’re easier than you think.)
5 Easy Ways To Save Money In College
You don’t always have to spend to get ahead while you’re at college. There are a few ways to save a little money on the side, too.
Here are some of the most practical ways I’ve found to save money at college:
#1 – Borrow your textbooks.
There was no way I was going to pay hundreds of dollars to buy textbooks that I’d only use once. I borrowed as many as I could from my school’s library, or I used online versions that were available through sites such as Google Scholar. There are plenty of alternatives to buying textbooks for college. Just look around — you’ll be amazed how many books you can find without having to pay for them. You can even buy, rent, and sell textbooks on Amazon.
#2 – Use your student discount.
When I was in college, I never bought a thing without asking for a student discount first. There are thousands of places you can use your student ID to get a discount. You could literally save hundreds of dollars over your entire academic career!
#3 – Buy a coffee maker.
The cost of a Starbucks every day adds up. Buy yourself a single serve coffee maker, and make your coffee before you head out to class. If you add up what a takeout coffee will cost you, and compare that to the coffee maker — I bet you’ll be surprised.
#4 – Use the free facilities at college.
When I was in college, I never had a gym membership. What was the point of paying for one when there was a free one available to me on campus? Use all of the free facilities on campus while you can — such as the gym, child care, and library. Trust me, you’ll miss them when you graduate.
#5 – Ditch the car.
I left my car at home, and I’m so glad I did. I didn’t have to pay for parking or fuel while I was on campus. I wouldn’t have used it anyway — since I could bike, walk, or get public transportation to anywhere I needed to go. Here are the pros & cons of having a car on campus.
5 Easy Ways To Make Money In College
Of course, you can make a little extra money in college as well. Ditch the Saturday job at the local supermarket and use your skills instead. It’s much more rewarding and pays better, too!
Here’s how to make money as a student:
#1 – Edit and write resumes.
Resumes are another piece of writing that no one wants to do themselves. Graduating students need them, though. There are plenty of sites online that hire writers and editors who specialize in this. Here’s how to write resumes to make some extra cash while you’re studying.
#2 – Proofread other students’ essays.
Proofreading is mostly common sense, but many students just don’t want to do it. Take advantage of that and sell your proofreading services. You can do this by getting the word out to students at your college like I did, or through websites such as Scribendi or Assignment Help.
#3 – Become a tutor.
College students who know a particular subject inside and out can make good money this way. You can earn money by tutoring other students at your school in your subject. You can even get paid to tutor online from the comfort of your own apartment. You could also tutor high school kids to help them pass their exams.
#4 – Write for essays for other students.
If you’re good at writing essays, why not write for cash? There are plenty of professional essay writing sites that are always looking for more writers — like Essay Writing Service. It’s even easier when you have access to your university library for research. Plus, there are lots of magazines and media sites that will pay for your personal essays.
#5 – Create easy online tools.
If you’re handy with coding and website design, then a fun way to make money is by creating online tools that fellow students can use. This is a great way to turn your ‘hobby’ in a money-making venture. When you enjoy what you do, then it’s less like work!
As you can see, there are lots of ways to save money and make money while you’re at college.
Of course, these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Look around and see what other opportunities are available to you — both on campus and online. Just because you’re a college student doesn’t mean you have to eat ramen noodles every day!
More Ways How To Make Money As A Student & Save Money Too
- 50 Ways To Make Money Fast As A College Student
- 27 Money-Saving Tips Every College Student Needs To Know
- 100 Legit Ways To Make Money In College
- How To Make Money As A Student Without Really Trying
- 10 Unusual Ways To Make Money In College
- 25 Ways To Make Money In College Without Dropping Classes
- How To Save Money While You’re In College
- 8 Ways To Save Money As A College Student & Still Have Fun
Mary Walton was a successful frugal student, who managed to pay off her college debt a few years after finishing college. She started working on freelance while in college — which helped her earn money and cover the expenses. Mary also traveled a lot during that crazy time. Now she is an editor at Assignment Writing Service and she blogs at Simple Grad.
Always on the lookout for a good bargain, I consider myself a frugal person — but not cheap. And not afraid to spend money on the things that matter. I like to share good deals with others when I find them. One of my favorite ways to save money is to reuse items in ways other than their intended purpose — so I write a lot about outside-the-box ideas that most people wouldn't think of! When I'm not saving money or looking for good deals, you'll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
