Being a college student and having money are two things that do not go together. Little do people know there are dozens of ways to save and make money
as a college student. Although all of these ideas may not make you a millionaire, it can help you have a little bit more money to go out and have some fun, or at least buy something other than ramen noodles for dinner.
Buy Used Textbooks or Rent

This seems self-explanatory, but many people don’t utilize this option or even know that it exists. For GCC students, the Barnes and Noble store located on campus does have the option to rent certain textbooks. A lot of textbooks have the rental option but as they start to get taken off the shelf there are fewer options. I would recommend getting your textbooks as soon as possible so that you can utilize all of the options. Even if you can’t rent – try purchasing used textbooks. It can cut the cost in half saving you more money.

Freelancing

You may not know what freelancing is, but it’s a great way to utilize your skills to earn some cash. There are tons of websites out there that allow you to post jobs and get paid. Or you can start your own business. There are so many options to take your skills and turn them into money. Some examples include: making a YouTube channel, a blog, an Etsy shop, or just selling something you’re good at making.

One interesting student business I heard about was being the “DD” or designated driver. A friend didn’t have a car and he wasn’t 21 years old, but when his older friends went out they would pay him $25 to drop them off and pick them up a nightclub, and he drove them using their car. It was not only easy money, but also was the right thing to do.

So get clever. Notice a need and fill it. And, I definitely recommend taking the time to research the hundreds of options.

Work Part Time

Again, super self-explanatory, yet so many people think it’s not possible. Today there are so many options for creating your schedule. There are night classes, online classes, and if you sign up as soon as possible you can most likely make a pretty flexible school schedule to fit your liking. Another way is to use time management, this is not only a great skill to have once you’re done with college and begin working, but also for school and work. It is possible to have a part-time or even a full-time job if you utilize all the scheduling tools as well as manage your time so you don’t fall behind in school or work.

Save Your Change

This is something I do, and I love it. Really all you do is take your change (I also take my singles) and put them in a separate place; whether it be a jar, box, bag or some hide-away. Store your change somewhere separate so that you don’t get the urge to spend it. After your savings jar starts to fill up just turn the change in for cash and you have an extra $20+ to spend or save!

Take Advantage of Student Discounts

I’ll keep this short and sweet because again you may already know about this option. Students have no idea just how many student discounts are out there, most people just don’t ask. Don’t be afraid to ask for a student discount and have your student ID with you. Here’s a list of student discounts for college students. 

Sell Things

Clean out your closet, pick up your room, and sell your old stuff that you didn’t even remember you had. I’ve made a couple hundred dollars with this method. It’s super easy and helps declutter your space. There are so many different websites and apps that can be used by anyone to sell really anything. Some apps I use include Ebay, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, LetGo, OfferUp and Craig’s List. That’s only a few of them, there are so many options!

Say goodbye to crying about being a broke college student, and say hello to the new things you’ll be able to buy, and the things you’ll be able to do. Let me know if you try out any of these tips, and which one you like the most. Thanks for reading, until next time!

“Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don’t give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm and genuine people.”

-Tena Desae

-Danielle