One of the hardest things to have collectively experienced as a shared humanity was the closing of schools and colleges as the pandemic first appeared. If a cure or mitigation technique is not found soon, our country, and every country in the world, could be dealing with a lost generation of kids in the future. Before the pandemic, many students left college with massive student loan debt to enter an unknown job future. Now, many college students don’t even have a college to go to. So, here are some of the best side hustles for college students.
Delivery Driver
If there is one industry that is booming in the age of the pandemic, it’s the delivery industry.
Amazon, Pizza Hut, Dominos, and many other corporations are hiring lots of delivery drivers to satisfy the home delivery demand generated by the pandemic.
While many restaurants have been forced to reduce in-dining capacity, many need help meeting take-out delivery demand.
You can earn money as a delivery driver through a variety of delivery platforms:
- ChowNow
- SkipTheDishes
- PostMates
- Uber Eats
- DoorDash
- Deliveroo
- Instacart
- JustEat
- Menulog
You can make as much as $8 to $12 an hour as a delivery driver. While that may not sound like a lot of money, it is better than nothing, which is what a lot of Americans are making.
Develop a strategic approach to being a delivery driver. Consider that you will probably make a lot more money as a delivery driver in a population-dense metropolitan city instead of a small town.
Think strategically about where you would work as a delivery driver. Study population density maps relative to the locations of restaurants that would deliver to them before applying as a driver.
That may seem like a lot of preparatory research work to do for a job, but this is about side hustles for college students, right? And why not strategize how to make as much money as possible?
Car Wrap Advertising
One of the best side hustles for college students with cars may be to work as a car wrap advertiser.
Car wrap advertising is basically an employment gig where you drive around with your car made to look like a mobile billboard.
A car wrapping company matches drivers with local businesses who are launching an advertising campaign.
You, as the driver, will receive vinyl car wrapping from the advertising sponsor to apply to your car. No legitimate sponsor will ask you to pay for car wrap vinyl detail. Also, car wrap vinyl is easily applied and removed.
Then, you will drive around high population areas to spread the word about the advertiser sponsoring your employment.
Law firms, supermarkets, laundromats, radio stations, restaurants, entertainment venues, and many other kinds of businesses use car wrap advertising campaigns.
You can probably make about $100 to $500 with car wrap advertising.
How you get paid depends on your contract. You may get paid depending on miles driven or the amount of consumer traffic directed to your sponsor.
If you have more free time due to school being closed down due to the pandemic, car wrap advertising might be for you. You will have to drive 5-hours to 8-hours, or more, per shift to make a difference in your adjective.
Here are some of the better-known car wrap advertising companies:
- Carvertise
- Wrapify
- StickerRide
- Vugo
Beware of scams. You must apply for a car wrap advertising job – anyone contacting you and promising big money is a scammer.
Make Money Creating Ads on Facebook
The online gig economy is one of the best side hustles for college students.
Perhaps I am biased since I am older and a bit of a technophobe, but if there is one thing I know, young people love technology and social media.
If you are always on Facebook, why not learn how to make money on it?
Many large-scale businesses advertise on Facebook. And Facebook features retargeting ad technology that follows online users after they search for specific products in search engines or on Facebook.
First, learn how to create ads on Facebook. Then, you can hire out your services to local businesses that are looking to increase their online presence and sales.
You could make a few hundred dollars or more doing this. Still, it’s hard work since you must maintain the ad campaigns for several businesses simultaneously.
SideHusl
The best way for you to find a side hustle, monetize a skill, or sell something is on SideHusl. SideHusl is a side that gives you access to over 300 platforms that can help you make money.
If you want to sell something, rent, or look for work, you can do it on SideHusl. You can find work based on your skill and personal circumstances where you live.
Flip Valuable Comic Books
There is a large market out there for vintage collectible comic books. The billion-dollar superhero film industry causes spikes in the collectors’ market whenever a new film is announced. So, when a new film is announced, collectors sell valuable old comics to nostalgic collectors.
Old comics are valuable if they are signed by fan-favorite creators, are rare, in good condition, among other factors. You don’t have to be an expert comic book fan to sell comic books, but it helps. You will have to make connections to comic book experts or visit comic book conventions. Or you will have to acquaint yourself with the comic book selling and auctioning markets on various social media and auction sites like eBay.
You can even find the general value of comic books online for free. Use the Quality Comix Online Comic Book Price Guide to get a ballpark estimate of the comic book’s potential market value.
Don’t expect to make a million dollars. But you could definitely make a few bucks, or more if you can connect with some nostalgic collectors in your area.
Side Hustles for College Students
If there is anything that the pandemic has taught us, it’s that life is going to be hard for the foreseeable future.
If you are a college student looking for a side hustle, find one that suits your skills.
You can tutor online, design webpages, or be a delivery driver based on the skills and resources you already have and don’t need to acquire immediately.
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
