Today we’re getting real about ways you can make extra money as a college student and actually be able to afford to have fun.
When I was in college, I worked a part-time job and became a master at the frugal living thing, but still didn’t feel like I had enough money to pay for the fun things I wanted to do. Whenever I got tired of living that broke college lifestyle, I’d try to find a new way to earn extra cash without having to sacrifice all my free time.
The best way I found to make extra pocket money as a student?
Enter the world of online surveys. I did these constantly when I was in school to make some extra cash for nights out with my friends or even to help buy some of my textbooks. Okay, so they’re not gonna make a dent in your tuition. But you can definitely make extra cash doing these without putting in much effort. I’d call that a win-win situation!
If you’re brand new to the idea of taking paid surveys, here’s the basic idea. You’re helping brands research their target demographic. Companies need to know what you want in order to make it, so they ask questions that will help them get an idea of what their consumers are looking for. You take their surveys. Then you get paid.
What about the cons? Sometimes the surveys can be boring, and some of them can take up to 30 minutes to complete. When I was in college, I would take them between classes when I had some time to kill, or as a good distraction from my study breaks. Plus I actually found them to be fun for the most part, especially when they were related to my interests.
One of the best paid survey sites is Survey Junkie, so I recommend you try them first.
Why do I think they’re so awesome? They’re 100% free to join and they’ve got a really low payment threshold – as soon as you hit $10 you can cash out.
Another one of my favorite benefits is that they’ll give you points even if you don’t qualify for a survey. Trust me… this is a really nice perk. I’ve signed up for other sites in the past that waste my time making me answer a lot of questions and then tell me I didn’t qualify, which isn’t the case here.
When you’re ready to receive your rewards, you’ll get them immediately at redemption. You can choose from PayPal, Amazon, or e-Gift cards. And there’s no fee to redeem your points. (Be wary of any survey site that makes you pay to get your money!)
All in all, I definitely recommend you give Survey Junkie a try and take their paid surveys. Even if you make it to the $10, I’d count it a win! We all know how much money that can mean when you’ve been on a strict diet of cup-a-noodles for the past two weeks.
Check them out and see what you think!