This is a guest post from Mike Collins, owner of WealthyTurtle.com
My nephew and his girlfriend are both college students and at a recent family dinner they were complaining about the lack of part-time jobs available. They’ve both applied to all the usual retail and food service positions that students typically go for but there are just far too many applicants for a limited number of jobs. In these uncertain economic times, many employers are hiring fewer workers than in years past. And many of the jobs that are available are being filled by more experienced workers who have been laid off by their old employer.
Though they were understandably frustrated at their lack of success, I tried to encourage them and get them to think outside the box when considering ways to make money over the summer.
After brainstorming a little we came up with four ways they could earn money on their own. Maybe one of them will work for you too:
Tutoring
I know, I know…you deal with enough of your own school work. The last thing you want to do is deal with someone else’s homework. But tutoring elementary or high school aged kids is a great way to make extra money. You can have a flexible schedule and if you line up a few children to tutor you can really rake in the cash. And there’s a good chance it could turn into a long term gig instead of a one-time tutoring session.
Babysitting
As I mentioned in my recent review of SitterCity, there’s a tremendous demand for responsible young people to serve as babysitters. Parents need a night out for themselves once in awhile and having a reliable babysitter to call upon gives them piece of mind. If you don’t mind playing board games, watching movies, and perhaps changing a few diapers then babysitting could be for you. Once you start getting referrals and begin babysitting for multiple families the income will really start to add up.
Dog Walking/Pet Sitting
If children aren’t really your thing but animals are more up your alley than you should consider a pet-related side gig. Busy dog owners who work all day need someone to take their canines for a walk during the day. When they go on vacation they’ll need you to drop in on their pets several times a day for walks, feeding, and litter box cleanings. They might even need someone to spend a few nights at their place taking care of the animals.
Blogging
Blogging is a great way for college students to earn some extra money. Starting a blog costs doesn’t cost much and it definitely has the potential to turn into a full time gig. But you need to have realistic expectations of your earning potential. If you’re expecting to write a half dozen articles and then kick your feet up while the profits come roaring in you will be sorely disappointed. In fact it will probably take three to six months before you see any income at all. But if you enjoy yourself and stick with you can go a long way.
What other side gigs can you think of for college students looking to earn extra money?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Youngandthrifty/~3/JP-djC246v8/
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