Making Money as a College Student

Making money as a college student - why money is tight

Many students are regularly short on cash. And it's not just the regular tuition they have to pay the university. For many young people, this is the first time they've left their parents' home and moved into their own apartment or a shared flat. Between parental support and financial aid they later have to partly pay back (BAföG in Germany, or student loans), there isn't much money left to live on without worry. Regular saving and necessary cutbacks are the order of the day. There are plenty of options, though, for students to earn a little extra money alongside their studies.

Making money as a college student - the options are varied

Regular lectures generally follow a coordinated schedule.
Even so, there's still enough time left for a part-time job or a small side job (in Germany, a €450 minijob) to earn a little extra. For example in the evenings, on weekends or during semester breaks.
Typical jobs for students are waiting tables, bartending, stocking shelves, delivering newspapers or cleaning work. But there are many other fields where they can find work.
If you can't or don't want to hold down a regular job for time reasons, there are other ways to get some money.

Many students offer their help with moves, for example. There they earn about $15 an hour for lending a hand with carrying and setting up. If this help is requested often, it can add up to quite a bit.
There are special provider websites where students can sign up as moving helpers.

Students can also earn a bit on the side as babysitters, errand runners or snow shovelers. A good option would be to register on an online community for services with a matching listing. Offering to walk dogs can also become a regular source of income. Making money as a student can also happen through tutoring school kids.

Helping elderly people can also be worthwhile for students. A great many seniors can no longer take care of themselves and depend on regular help from outside. For example, you could do their shopping, clean the apartment or mow the lawn now and then. Satisfied older people are usually very grateful and often generous toward young, hardworking people as a result.

Making money as a college student - tips pay off!
If you have a knack for the restaurant business, you can also try your hand at a restaurant or a pub in your free evening hours, waiting tables and pouring drinks. Regular tips would certainly come in handy here, when it comes to managing a student's expensive everyday life.
This kind of work usually falls into the minijob category in Germany and should be registered. Otherwise there could be problems with undeclared work. And that really wouldn't be worth it.
Making money as a student? No problem!