Studying isn’t cheap, plus you need money to live with! Yet finding time to balance your studies with work and your personal life can be tricky! That’s where side hustles come in. In this post, we share 7 ideas for side hustles for students.
What is a side hustle?
You may or may not have heard the term side hustle used before but essentially this is a job undertaken alongside a full-time role or in your case, alongside your studies, to provide a supplementary income.
This is often based on something you’re passionate about or that you wish to pursue in the future if you aren’t able to fully commit to it yet. Though it could just be something you enjoy or know you’re good at.
A side hustle can be a great way to earn some extra cash, without having to commit to a full or part-time role.
Why should you start a side hustle as a student?
Side hustles for students can serve a purpose far beyond just earning a wage, so we’ve put together a list of some of the key reasons you might want to start your own side hustle, below:
- You’ll earn money and can begin saving – as we’ve said!
- You can start building a professional network and making contacts
- It provides you with work experience
- It can look great on your CV, especially if it is related to the industry you want to work in
- You can improve your skills and learn new ones whilst studying
- You’ll get to grips with the working world
- It can give you the chance to study overseas
Now we’re going to take a look at some of the best student side hustles for students that you should consider if you’re hoping to make some extra money while you study.
1: Sell stuff online
Gone are the days of waiting for a car boot sale or posting an advert in the local paper, now there are websites and apps galore for selling your secondhand items! And guess what? You’d be surprised how much you can actually make, especially if you’ve got a lot of stuff kicking about that you no longer need.
From cars to clothes, you can sell pretty much anything online, so go through your belongings and see what you’ve got. For example, if you’ve got lots of old textbooks, these can be a gold mine for students starting your course in the coming term.
What’s more, this is not only a great way to make some money but it can also help you to declutter your room/home.
You could sell items online on the following platforms:
- Amazon seller central
- Vinted – Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories
2: Become a virtual assistant
In today’s digital world there are plenty of flexible opportunities to become a virtual assistant. Essentially, you’ll work for a company handling basic administration tasks like email management, calendars and coordinating travel.
You can find these jobs advertised online and they can be done from the comfort of your halls, home or cafe – pretty much anywhere you enjoy working and have an internet connection.
3: Choose a flexible delivery service
If you’ve got a car (or even a bike in some cases) then you’ve opened yourself up to a whole host of delivery opportunities. From your classic pizza delivery to delivering parcels for Amazon or Hermes, you can make this side hustle fit around your lifestyle.
You might choose to give up two or three days a week or perhaps just drive in the evenings. Either way, you can find a delivery role that’s right for you.
If you choose to work with courier services, often your wages are determined by how many parcels you can deliver each shift, so it’s really flexible and you can pick up extra work easily during your free time.
4: Become a Freelancer
Are you studying (or just really good at) graphic design, freelance writing, photography or any other creative role? Then why not become a freelancer and pick up jobs in your spare time?
There are lots of job boards and websites out there that can help to get you started and this can be a great way to build a portfolio whilst making money. This might be the better side hustle to choose if you’re hoping to turn this into a business once you’ve completed your studies.
Alternatively, you might just love writing or taking photographs. If so, then why not get paid to pursue your passions and hobbies.
5: Become a Tutor
Whether in person or online, becoming a tutor can be a very rewarding and fruitful side hustle. You could teach a language, for example, teaching English to people online, or tutor younger students.
You just need to make sure you’ve got enough time to dedicate to helping them and completing your own studies. But as tutoring tends to be just a few hours a week, this can be a flexible way to earn a wage. Not to mention it can give you a great sense of fulfilment and the opportunity to share your knowledge.
You could either sign up for learning platforms online and sites like People Per Hour or advertise your services privately. This might depend on what it is you want to teach.
You can also apply to become a tutor here:
- My Tutor – apply to become an online tutor
- Tutorful – Join the UK’s fastest-growing community of tutors
6: Become a brand ambassador
In the era of social media, lots of businesses are offering financial incentives to those who would like to be an ambassador for their brand. This is particularly true in industries like health and fitness, pets, food and clothing.
So if you fancy yourself a bit of an influencer, then why not sign up to ambassador programs for businesses you’re passionate about. Then you can share your experiences online and get paid to do it, rather than just posting selfies for free like all your peers.
7: Offer your babysitting or childminding services
Babysitting doesn’t just mean staying in on a Friday night. There are plenty of working parents out there that could do with support during the day as well. If you love children and you’re great at taking care of them, then why not offer your babysitting and childminding services.
For example, if you know you never have any lectures on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday morning and you’re often free at the weekend, you could be a real help to local parents. Whether it’s someone you know or you advertise online, this can be a really nice way to earn money.
If you’re working with people you don’t know personally, just make sure you have all the appropriate checks to back you up.
Summary: Side Hustles for Students
Having a side hustle whilst at university is a great way to make some extra cash, whilst gaining valuable employability skills.
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