Nobody likes to think about money. Everyone prefers to pretend that their bank account holds unlimited funds for their everyday needs. However, sooner or later, you must face the music and take accountability for that Starbucks Frappuccino that you just so badly needed in the morning. Rest assured, no one will take away your coffee, but this article does offer a few people and ideas that just might help you earn a little more money and support your caffeine addiction. We all have one.
From smart planning to smart earning, read more down below:
1. Your Professors
And no, I’m not just talking about your economics professors, though this list does feature them separately, but hear me out. Your professors, whether for English, Biology or even Classics lived as graduates for a while. That means that they undoubtedly worked with people who work in your major. They know connections to higher-ups that could get you internships in your current field. Don’t feel afraid to reach out to them and ask if they could help you earn a little more money, even as you just start your adult journey.
2. Economics Faculty
This seems like an obvious one, but I bring it up anyway because most people overlook it. Economics professors study finances, so they know better than most about money. Feel like investing in stock, but don’t know where to start? Intimidated to talk to a financial advisor before you even know the pros and cons of investing? Look up your school’s economics faculty and send them an email before you start your classes, or even after! Let them know that you want their expert opinion and advice and start your planning.
3. Investment Advisor
Scared about investing? Does the idea seem appealing, but too confusing? Well, look no further because investment advisors literally advise on this type of thing for a living. Consult the Financial Planning Association, the leading organization for financial planning by financial professionals. They might probably tell you to go with index funds, which basically just means an easy way of investing in stock that allows for using dollars for investments instead of shares and allows a minimum amount.
“If you have money that you want to invest —I understand that this is probably not likely for many college students – invest in an index fund that has low fees and is reasonably liquid. Several of the funds operated by Vanguard fit these criteria, but there are others as well,” Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Economics and of Mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles Bill Zame said.
Index funds investments also stay in proportion with the company you invest in. Book an appointment with investment advisors and ask them questions. Find out if they work with other college students and what exactly they can do for you. You can discuss your financial hopes and plans – note the difference between those two. They can give you realistic expectations and help manage your investments for a fee.
4. Financial Aid Advisor
And you thought the economics faculty one seemed obvious. Listen, I know the financial aid office seems intimidating. I know it feels like the dentist office of university campuses. Regardless, those financial aid advisors are trained in this very subject, so if you want financial advice, I must include them on the list. They can tell you what your finances look like, help you out if you feel concerned, tell you about work-study programs, grants and scholarships that can earn you more money than you thought possible. A frightening place, I know, but it employs people who can offer some serious help.
“The most important advice that I ever got was to budget and understand what your necessary expenses are along with investing early! Always stay within your means. Budgeting is a such a crucial part of financial success. It helps you track how much is coming in and out of your accounts. Money is already scarce for most college students so being able to maximize it’s potential as well as your own happiness is key,” Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach Herman Singh said.
Financial aid offices help you learn about how to use your money most wisely. They can show you your financial look like so that you can best plan your spending. Want to see if you have enough to invest? Visit the financial aid office. Find out how much money you possess, if investing suits you best right now. The answer may surprise you.
5. Academic Advisor
Yes, seriously. An academic advisor doesn’t just help you in terms of registration and classes, they also know quite a bit about jobs actively employing both on and off campus. My English department advisor often sends out emails about open gallery and museum curator work positions, publishing houses taking on new interns, writing competitions with publication and financial prizes and so many more opportunities to earn more money. So absolutely, they can help you look into jobs going on with your major. You won’t lose anything by emailing them. If anything, you might just gain an income.
6. Career Center
The career center focuses on helping students gain rank in their career. They can point you in the right direction, including where and how to apply for internships. They also offer professionals in their field with advice on how to excel in your work. They can also aid in enhancing your resume, getting you even better job opportunities. Visit a career center and talk to the professionals there who carry real-world experience.
“Career centers are good to learn skills to make yourself more attractive to employers. This can improve the likelihood of earning more money because you will have more opportunities in the job market if you are a more appealing candidate,” Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Long Beach Wade Martin said.
Not only that, but career centers also give you a competitive edge in an already highly competitive market. Employers look at experience, they often ask what kind of employee you consider yourself. Team player? Leader? Follower? Career centers give you those answers and show you the kind of positions you best fit in. They know what it takes to get the best possible jobs and how to earn the most money out of doing it.
7. Broker-dealer
So you decided that you definitely want to invest? Spoke to an investment advisor and know what to do? Great, then you might just feel ready to talk to a broker-dealer. Imagine you want to publish a book or act in movies. You will need an agent to market your talent and product on your behalf. That pretty much sums up the broker-dealer. You can’t invest without going to a firm like this as they know the entire financial process and acquire the licensing to do it properly. To work with a broker-dealer, you might want to contact the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) because they oversee U.S. broker-dealers. You can contact them at their website.
8. Your Local Banker
Time to make a savings account. Sounds boring, but don’t worry. If you act smart about it, then it only means good things. First, and the most important thing, you should visit your local bank and talk to an actual banker about opening your first savings account. You can save your money there, as well as gain interest just for having an account there in the first place, depending on which bank you use and their requirements. That means more money for your income. For that reason, ask about financial benefits and interest rates when you get there, as they could differ.
9. Writing Centers
Oftentimes, people working at writing centers take on new tutors all the time. If you live your life as a grammar nerd (like me), then proofreading and editing formatting on essay papers hardly seems daunting. If anything, it just works as a great way to make some extra money while you study at college. It also adds additional work experience to your resume for after you graduate. Not to mention, some writing centers nowadays employ consultants that they even send abroad to help other college students with their writing in other countries. Go to your university’s writing center, ask them if they want to hire anyone, ask them about their consulting positions that guarantee jobs even after college. Go to their Facebook page and ask if you can promote your skills there. Set your own fee and take on any students that might need help looking over their papers.
10. YouTube
So you don’t play classic renditions of pop songs like Joel Sunny or sing like an Irish goddess like MALINDA. So what? You wouldn’t believe how many people enjoy relatability online and how many studying ASMR videos went viral. Ad revenues work as a real thing and getting paid for just acting like yourself now actually qualifies as a job, especially if you own a Patreon. It also pays quite a bit, especially the higher your subscribers go. Make a college student vlog, create social media accounts and market your YouTube account on those platforms. The odds of being successful online could prove high for anyone, but never a guarantee. Hey, even stock could never guarantee anything concrete in the end. Might as well see if the title “famous vlogger” suits you.
And voilà! Ten ways to earn more money and to graduate a little richer as a college student. College ought to feel like a fun time, but maybe it doesn’t hurt to branch out a little. Learn what you can about finances and earning an income as soon as possible. Be cautious and talk to the right people to get started. It never hurts.
