It’s no secret that the student life is cruel to your bank balance. Taking on finance and ending up in debt; it’s come to be seen as a necessary evil of higher education but it doesn’t always have to be so inevitable, as there are in fact a number of simple ways you can cushion the blow somewhat by bringing in much-needed extra cash that will supplement your studies and keep you from drowning under the weight of mounting creditor bills. Here are a few easily implemented steps to get you started:
- Get a part-time job. As long as you leave yourself plenty of time to dedicate to your coursework and don’t burn yourself out schedule-wise, getting a part-time job is arguably the best way to ensure you have a steady stream of cash coming in, greatly reducing the amount you have to borrow from elsewhere.
- Become a promotor or brand ambassador. Chances are you’ll be spending a fair few nights in your uni town’s local pubs and clubs, so why not make some money out of your social life by offering your services as a promotor or ambassador for just such a venue, where you are essentially paid to spread the word and encourage your friends to come along.
- Hand out fliers. Along a similar vein, there are always businesses, be they bars, restaurants, music venues or otherwise who are looking to draw in students. When they’re running a promotion, pushing a specific event or just hoping to get their name out there in general, they will often pay people to hand out fliers on campus.
- Take part in uni research. With so many different faculties operating within a university, there will be various research programs and student studies going on at any one time, and several of them will pay participants for their time and co-operation, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for what opportunities crop up.
- Tutor. If you’re a post-graduate student with a fair bit of studying already under your belt, you could employ your greater level of experience by tutoring undergrads who want the helping hand from someone who’s been there and done it.
- Sell stuff. You could take this literally and simply have regular clear outs of unwanted clothes, CDs, etc. or relate it more directly to your studies, by selling on textbooks and equipment from previous semesters that you no longer need, as these often come with a hefty price tag, meaning that by passing them on second-hand, you’re recuperating some of the money you spent on them in the first place, and helping out the buyer by saving them from having to fork out for the cost of brand new.
- Embrace discounts. Lots of places will offer discounts and deals for students, even if they don’t outwardly advertise it, so never be afraid to ask. The extra money you retain from these savings can be set aside as a handy little nest egg.
- Forgo presents in exchange for cash. A lot of people wouldn’t want to out-and-out ask their loved ones for money, but the next time your birthday or Christmas comes around, if it really is cash that’s at the top of your wish list, you could just be honest and request that rather than buy you presents, they gift you the money they would have spent on them instead, allowing you to spend it where it’s most needed.
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