As a student, you know all too well the struggling of having very little cash flow. Between attending class, studying, and completing homework, it’s hard to find the time for a job. But thanks to the internet and mobile apps, there are quick and effortless ways that you can earn money without having to commit to a part-time or full-time job.
Online side gigs are a quick way to earn some extra cash, though none of these money-making ventures will make you rich. But if you need extra money to cover a bill or to pay for a night out, you’re in luck.
Here are many ways that savvy students can get free money, including free gift cards online.
Take Online Surveys
Ever wanted to get paid to share your feedback? Now you can with paid online surveys! Taking paid surveys is a great way to make money on your own time. Though you won’t make a lot of money at once, your monthly earnings can add up to hundreds throughout the year.
To start earning through online surveys all you have to do is become a member of a few sites, log in, and take surveys on a routine basis. Online surveys pay anywhere from $0.25 to $5 and can be completed in no more than 15-20 minutes. Longer, more complex surveys pay much more, sometimes as much as $50!
A few of the top online survey websites that you’ll want to join include:
- Swagbucks
- Survey Junkie
- Vindale Research
- MyOpinion
- MyPoints
- Pinecone Research
To maximize your earnings, sign up for several of these sites so that you always have surveys to complete. Remember, the more surveys you take a month, the more you’re able to earn. You can also earn more points by referring friends and family members to also become members.
Browse & Search the Internet
Everyone searches the internet. No matter if you’re looking for the best deal on a new outfit or need to find new tires for your car, the first place we go to find anything is typically the internet. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could search the internet and get paid for doing so?
There are all sorts of paid tasking sites that reward users for using their search engine. For example, as a Swagbucks member, you can earn 10-20 SBs for every 10-20 searches you complete using their search engine.
InboxDollars is another website that pays its users to search the web. Using this site, you can earn cash for doing things you already do.
Both Swagbucks and InboxDollars allow members to cash out their rewards for money or for gift cards. This gives you the flexibility to use your rewards in a way that works best for you.
Become a Blogger
Blogging is a worthwhile side hustle because you can do it on your own pace from anywhere at any time. As a blogger you make money in many ways such as guest blogging, advertising, affiliate marketing, and more. The key to becoming a successful blogger is to build an audience that routinely reads your content.
If you’re able to get a large audience, it’s not unheard of to make hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars a month. So how can you develop an audience that keeps coming back for more?
Create interesting content that teaches or entertains the audience. It’s also important to write content that people care about; otherwise, you won’t get the views you need to generate income.
You can set up a free blogging website using platforms such as WordPress and Wix.
Shop Using a Cashback Site
Each day thousands of people purchase something online, and chances are that you’re one of them. Online purchasing is flexible and convenient, but you can make digital shopping even better with a cashback site.
Cashback sites pay you to buy things you need to buy. No matter if you’re shopping for clothes, textbooks, or new items for your dorm, you’re sure to be able to find a cash back offer. Some of the best sites to use to earn cashback on your purchases include:
- Ebates
- Mr. Rebates
- Fat Wallet
- BeFrugal
Cash back offers can range from 2%-40%, though most offers average in the 5%-8% range. The more you spend, the more cashback rewards you will earn. But if you’re looking to spend less while still getting rewarded, be sure to use cashback sites to also find coupons and discount codes.
Conclusion
As a student, you’ll take all the free things you can get, but there’s nothing better than free money. Be sure to use these money-making options so that you can put money (or gift cards!) in your wallet.