Photo credit 401(K) 2012/Flickr
By Colleen Mertes
Copy Editor
Charities on campus are desperately coming up to you asking you to donate for the poor, hungry and underprivileged. But that is what we are. Always hungry, never a jingle to our step and severely strapped for cash.
Some of us get part time student jobs. Other braver, probably more stressed out souls even have a full time job (hats off to you). Even with jobs, we still barely scrape by on our loans, bills and rent. We would love to go out, but instead we are forced to stay home, sadly eating what we scavenged from the Union in disappointment.
Prices are ridiculous: $11 to go see a movie, $8 more if I want popcorn, $20 cover charge for maybe two drinks at a club, $23 for all you can eat sushi at Sushi Palace, and $40 for that shoe sale you have been eyeing at the mall.
These numbers drain all our banks accounts into the negatives! To help stay afloat and happy, try these seven fast and easy ways to fund your fun:
1. Participate in university research studies
The sociology, psychology, psychiatry, and medical departments have numerous research studies every semester- and they need people. Take a little time out of your day to help someone with their research while getting some coin in your pockets. It is a quick and fun way to earn a few bucks and contribute to science!
2. Sell unwanted clothes
We all have clothes that are still gathering dust in our closets. Your floor is buried underneath those tops that you put on but immediately take off because it always looks so hideous when you attempt to wear it. GET RID OF THESE CLOTHES!
There are many outlets for making a profit out of your bad online shopping debacle. You could do the old fashioned method, hosting a mighty garage sell or convincing a consignment shop to take them. Or you could take advantage of the 21st century and sell your clothes on eBay, Amazon or Etsy. Apps like Depop make it even easier!
No one needs this kind of negativity in their life. Purge your closet and earn money- while making room for the new clothes you will buy with it.
3. Tutor
Are you a history buff? Or do you have some sick French skills? Maybe you are a math prodigy! Either way, make use of your academic strengths, and earn some green. Sometimes people need extra help and are willing to pay if it means they will get a B or, better yet, an A.
You can ride solo on this or join the university’s academic success and tutoring center.
4. Baby/House/Dog Sit
You are a responsible adult (allegedly). If you like children (or can tolerate them without substance abuse), dogs or dancing in a really nice house, “sitting” is an enjoyable job. You may even be able to get some homework done or study time in while saving up for the movies this weekend.
5. Sell your hobby
Do you spin alpaca fur into yarn? Crochet comfy socks? Make personalized wallets? If you have a crafty hobby, why not make some money off of it? Produce whatever you make for as cheap as you can, and sell it for a reasonable price. On a college campus this large, you are bound to find a group for your underwater-made baskets. Even expand past the university with a site like Etsy.
6. Sell textbooks
Do not hang on to dead weight. Help out another student by selling your textbooks for less than you bought it for- someone is sure to take it off your hands, replacing it with dolla dolla bills y’all.
7. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
This is a hidden gem. You complete Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs) and get money. They are tasks you pick out based on your interest and complete on your own time.
They range from selecting correct spelling of a term to translating a paragraph from English to French or selecting a category for a product. It is quick and the money really adds up. Definitely made for college students.
In the end there is always this go-to tactic:
