We all know that university with all its benefits comes with its difficulties, particularly financial ones. With the semester nearly over, it’s certainly becoming harder to make our student finance last until our next installment. So, we’ve put together a few ways to make extra money alongside your studies, with some short term and perhaps longer term options you may want to try.
1) Sell Clothes
Personally, I think this is one of the best options to make extra cash when things are tight. I do it all the time. Selling old clothes, or objects you’ve been hoarding for a long time, is really convenient since it never has to stop! You always find yourself cleaning your wardrobe out, most likely every season, and so it’s perfect to free up space and make some cash doing it! Personally I use an app called Vinted, which is perfect since they don’t charge you for selling products. Depop is a great alternative, especially for designer clothes and trainers for example. With that being said however, this winter it would be even better to donate your clothes instead and perhaps make cash from selling electronics like old laptops and cameras,
2) Sell Old Textbooks
This is perfect for students since we all have a bunch of old textbooks that we won’t be using anymore. They may be as old as GCSE and A-Level textbooks or even first or second year books you used. All of them can be sold online on sites like ebay or particular bookselling sites. But you can also do this in person and help out younger students or anyone you know that’s taking a course or module you did. It depends on you how much you want to sell them for so definitely give it a try if you need to make some space in your room!
3) Download STINT
Many KCL students have started great jobs to do on the side of their studies, using STINT. It’s an app which our fellow London students have set up to help students financially. Just download it on your phone, sign up (with no CV required) and literally just put in your availability and skills. You’ll be contacted when there’s a job ready for you and the best part… you get paid more than £9 an hour instantly through the app!
4) Become a Christmas Temp
This is a perfect option if you’re able to work during the holidays (while still juggling your social life and studies of course!). It’s a temporary option which typically lasts no more than two months, and there are plenty of jobs that understand the needs of any student that might be revising during the holidays so you can still have a range of contracts pick from depending on you! If you’re not busy on Christmas Eve or on the New Year, you’ll even get double pay which will be a great boost for your wallet during the holiday time, perfect for starting the new term!
5) Become a babysitter
This is a really great option for students since it is completely flexible and dependent on your own time and commitments. KoruKids is a great company that hires student nannies with a great pay of £9 per hour, or £11 if you’re happy with looking after two families’ children. It’s really rewarding and a great option for making some extra money, let alone a great job to add to your CV. They also provide training so no experience is needed!
So that’s five recommendations of ways to make some money alongside your studies, perfect if you need a little extra cash for that christmas party outfit or to just tide you over until the next student finance payment.