If you’ve got a hectic timetable jam-packed with lectures, seminars and labs, you might not be able to commit to a proper part-time job. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t earn some extra cash.
The good news is that there are lots of ways to earn extra spending money without getting a conventional job. If you’re wondering how to make money as a student in the UK, here are 10 simple solutions…
Completing a few online surveys in your free time is a stress-free way to start earning a little extra money online. Many survey sites will reward you financially for giving your opinion, participating in focus groups, and completing polls.
You don’t need any special skills, and it requires virtually no effort. The downside is that you’re never going to earn loads and loads of money, but if you’re dedicated, you can earn an extra £100-200 a year!
Here’s an overview of some of the sites with the best payouts:
This involves reviewing a business’ customer service. As a ‘mystery shopper’, you might be physically making a purchase in a shop or buying something online. You’ll be given different assignments to complete and typically paid according to how long each task should take. On average, expect to be paid about £20 per job.
Some of the most popular UK mystery shopping sites are Market Force, Tern and BeMyEye.
Freelancing is a great way to use your skills and earn extra money as a student. Because you’re your own boss, you can set your own working hours — you can work as little or as often as you want each week. If you’ve got a big assignment coming up, you can focus all your time on getting the best grade rather than working.
Pretty much any skill can earn an income, whether you’re an expert graphic designer or a skilled programmer. Speak another language? You could do some freelance translating, using a platform like ProZ as a way to advertise your skills.
Exam invigilating can also be a convenient freelance option — whilst you will be working for a specific agency, you still get to have free reign over when or where you can work. Does a job clash with your uni timetable? You have the power to turn it down!
If freelancing has caught your fancy, it helps to head to popular freelancing websites like Fiverr, Upwork and PeoplePerHour. Using a dedicated site makes it easier for people who need your services to find you, but if things go well, you can always branch out on your own!
If you want to set your own hours and availability, tutoring is another option that might appeal to you. You can work online and typically won’t need a teaching qualification to get started.
This is a great side hustle if you’re studying for a degree in a core subject, like maths or English. You’ll need to spend some time familiarising yourself with the GCSE or A-level syllabus, but once you’ve done that, you can earn around £20 per hour from the comfort of your own home!
As an added bonus, tutoring also makes for great relevant work experience if you want to be a teacher — you’ll be building on the skills that you’ll need when you’re in the classroom, and you’ll become way more confident in helping young pupils with their learning.
Not sure where to get started? Check out sites like sites like Tutorful and MyTutor. The only downside to this method is that these platforms will take a set percentage of your earnings, but it’s worth it for the steady influx of parents looking for a tutor and the ease of getting paid.
If you’re just looking for occasional work, babysitting might be the perfect fit. Opportunities are advertised online or through family connections (making this a great job to fit in when visiting your parents for the holidays.)
Most jobs won’t pay loads — around £10 an hour — but if you’re looking after young kids, they’ll likely go to bed early, and you can get some studying in (or just relax with some Netflix).
If you’re more keen on animals than kids, dog walking is definitely something you should consider. The hours tend to be relatively short, and it’s easy to pick up dog walks that fit around your uni schedule. You can look for dog walking jobs through job boards or dedicated websites, like Rover, to connect with owners looking for help walking their pets. You can earn up to £15 an hour — plus, you get to hang out with cute dogs!
Being an extra in films and TV programmes can be a fun way for students to earn extra cash. You don’t even need to know how to act!
Sign up with a casting agency, and they’ll be able to connect you with work. A lot of your day will probably be spent hanging around film sets waiting to be called, so while acting experience isn’t necessary, a bit of patience is!
If you have your own car (or even just a bicycle), working as a delivery driver for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Amazon can be an easy way to earn some extra income. You can decide on the hours you work and how much, so it’s easy to fit alongside your studies. It’s worth noting that it might be hard to predict your income with this method though, as pay rates depend on location, demand and time of day.
Many companies actively recruit uni students to become brand ambassadors to promote their services, products or brands. You might be sharing or creating social media content or giving out free samples on campus. Whatever your job role involves, it’ll look great on your CV, and you can earn up to £15 an hour!
Okay, this isn’t really a job, but it is a great way to earn extra money when you need it. Whether it’s last year’s textbooks, old clothes or unwanted Christmas presents, selling items you don’t want anymore is one of the simplest ways to declutter your student room and earn some extra cash at the same time.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best sites you can use:
Staying in control of your finances as a student is easier said than done, especially when you don’t know how much your household bills will be each month. The good news is that there’s a solution — why not try a bill-splitting service to simplify your shared household bills?
At Split the Bills, we offer a straightforward bill-splitting service designed for students living in shared accommodation. You and your housemates can choose what bills you want included in your package, including electricity, gas, water, broadband and even a TV Licence if you need one. We’ll do the hard work of setting up accounts, and all you have to do is pay one neat monthly bill.
Best of all, we offer uncapped energy packages, so you don’t need to worry about your bills being higher than expected — you can just use what you need!
If you want to take control of your finances this year, learn more about what we do or get in touch with our team.
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We’ve rounded up our best advice to help you get on just fine with your new professional housemates.
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