3 Popular Odd Jobs for College Students

One thing that many college students have in common is their lack of disposable income. Going to college isn’t cheap—not only do you have to pay tuition, but there’s also housing, food, textbooks, and other necessities to think about. Unless you have a really awesome part-time job that pays a lot (and how likely is that?), you’ll probably feel the crunch and at some point.

One of the best ways to get through financially tough times is to pick up a quick extra job over a weekend or a couple evenings a week. Below are several ideas to help you start thinking about things that you could do to make a little extra cash.

Become a Mover

Many people and small companies hire college students to help them move. Many students are in good physical shape, and almost all of them need money, so why not? It’s cheaper to hire students than it is to hire professional movers, and it’s not like you have to be really skilled to move boxes from one house or office to another.

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You can actually make a pretty good amount of money if you move enough things, but keep in mind that it can be pretty physically taxing. If you have trouble getting up and down the stairs, or lifting your textbooks is hard, you may want to pass on this one!

Become a House Painter

Another unskilled-labor-type job you could think about is painting. A lot of people don’t like to paint, so they’ll find others to paint their house, inside or out, for them.

Again, you don’t have to be talented to paint a house, so college students serve as effective cheap labor.

  • If you decide to do this, know that you’ll probably be going for quite a few hours at a time, and it may take more than one day.
  • If you’re working outside, it could get pretty hot, and you may be on a ladder for a long time.

Then again, you’re getting paid, right?

Become a Babysitter or Nanny

If manual labor isn’t your thing, you could look into babysitting or nannying. These are more regular than the above jobs, and have the potential to become more of a part-time job than a one-time thing, especially if you’re good with the kids.

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There’s more responsibility involved in caring for someone’s children than there is for painting their house, so if you have trouble getting to places on time, or following instructions, you may want to reconsider this one. If you have experience from high school, you’ll definitely be a step ahead of everyone else.

Keep Looking

These three ideas don’t really begin to scratch the surface of what’s out there, but they should give you an idea of what you might be able to do for someone. You can also find a great deal of odd jobs on Craigslist and local bulletin boards.

Keep your eyes open, and you’ll start seeing opportunities all over the place. Think about what you like to do, what you’re good at, and what other people might not want to do themselves. Then get someone to hire you to do it!