5 Ways to Make Some Easy Money This Summer

If you’re reading this, then you’re probably a college student. If you aren’t a college student, you’re likely a recent college graduate who’s looking to defray the financial burden from your student loans.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to sell your plasma or any of your organs to make some extra money. Actually, you could add some of these opportunities to your resume. Although you might think you need to work two or three jobs just to afford tuition, there are actually several side hustles that can help cushion your wallet this summer.

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1. Become a Brand Ambassador

Serving as a brand ambassador this summer can help you gain relevant experience, earn a healthy income, and enjoy flexible hours that cater to your personal schedule. While every brand ambassador program varies from company to company, student brand ambassadors work to promote a product (or a series of products) and to educate college students about the company.

There are several brand ambassador positions that pay student employees stipends, hourly wages, or commission. Beyond these 20 brand ambassador programs listed on USA Today, there are a plethora of ambassador programs, depending on where you’ll be located this summer.

Kaplan has a superb student brand ambassador program. Being a retired Kaplan Student Brand Ambassador myself, I can vouch for Kaplan’s dedication to train and mentor its ambassadors. In addition to being able to set your own hours and earning $15 per hour, you get one-on-one advisership each week. Plus, you get to interact with diverse groups and organizations on campus, which is great if you need help in the networking division. Did I mention that you also get discounts on all of Kaplan’s test prep and courses?

Granted, not every student brand ambassador position pays. Unpaid brand ambassador programs often give you discounts on their products and free swag. Though you might think free items won’t pay the bills, you’re wrong. Even if you have no use for half a dozen hoodies or a stainless steel canteen, you can sell these items to help supplement your consistent paycheck.

Though it isn’t officially a brand ambassador position, USA Today is currently seeking motived juniors and seniors for the company’s College Correspondent and Digital Producer programs.

Insomnia Cookies also has a student role identical to a brand ambassador position, entitled the Campus Marketing Representative position. Obviously, the position is only offered to students who attend a university near an Insomnia Cookies store. Regardless, who wouldn’t want to get paid $10 per hour to market and promote delicious cookies?

2. Write for an online publication

Writing for Uloop News is an admirable method to get some extra money. While you don’t get paid for each article you write, unless you become one of Uloop News’ national writers, you earn points for each article you promote on social media and for each article that gains a lot of viewer traffic. You can redeem these points for money or other things, like promotion on the Uloop News Twitter page or having your article featured on The Huffington Post. After all, who wouldn’t want to see their writing published on HuffPost?

While Uloop News is an exceptional environment for student writers to get promoted for their editorial prose (and successful recruitment of other students), there are also a few other ways to get paid for your literary gift.

If you have a knack for writing funny articles or are just naturally snarky, you could also get paid to write for College Humor.

If editorial writing isn’t your forte, you can also opt to write and edit resumes. Even if you don’t necessarily like editing your own resume, writing resumes for companies like Talent Inc. can get you a relatively steady cash flow without making you leave the comfort of your bed.

3. Work remotely

Finding virtual work or internships can be an art in itself. Thankfully, there are some resourceful companies, like WayUp, that cater to students and recent grads who are looking for remote jobs. Although WayUp’s website advertises in-office positions as well, the company’s interface is immensely simple to use.

Once you create a profile with your past job experience, you can easily refine your job search engine to scour for the perfect online job for you. Plus, the company is famous for its WayUp Quick Apply, which is just as it sounds: quick. Because your profile is essentially your resume, you can just hit that quick apply button and your application will be submitted.

4. Go on a JoyRun

JoyRun is an innovative app that allows you to get food delivered to you by your peers and local residents, which is beneficial when you don’t want to drive late at night to pick up a burger. Beyond food, JoyRun also allows users to order and deliver other items from groceries to fast food to toilet paper.

You can set up an account to deliver useful items to those in your area. To get paid, you simply set up when you’re available to go for a food or supply run and what your base pay is for each errand. In addition to the cost of the items, you’ll also get compensated in the form of the payment you set (from your client). Who knows, you might get a decent tip too.

Because the start-up company is constantly expanding, you can also apply to be a JoyRun Student Leader. In addition to signing up for weekly delivery shifts, you will also be tasked with promoting the app on campus. Plus, this position is open to freshmen!

5. Walk some dogs

Beyond walking and caring for your neighbors’ and friends’ furry companions, you can get paid to pet sit and walk dogs on Rover. Rover’s account setup is painless, and it allows you to create a personal profile so you attract dog owners to your dog sitting side business.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to get paid to play with some fluffy pups? Okay, maybe not someone who’s allergic to dogs. Regardless, this gig essentially pays you to gain some therapeutic relief from babysitting dogs. What’s not to love?