earn money in india at home

10 clever ways to make money while studying




If you’re studying, it can be hard to find work that fits in around your schedule. People naturally gravitate towards traditional student weekend or evening work in hospitality and retail. But lots of students have found other ways to fund their lifestyle without having to take on traditional roles. Consider these entrepreneurial ways to top up your bank account without interfering with classes and study.

1. Become an Airtasker

If completing an eclectic range of odd jobs sounds like an interesting way to work, join Airtasker. Jobs include hanging a painting, washing a car, designing a website or helping someone move house. Simply sign up and browse the listed tasks. You can pick a one-off task to complete at your convenience or multiple jobs based on your location and skills. The advantage is you can select jobs that fit in around study and other commitments, so you can work as much as you like.

2. Use your eye for style

If you love hunting for a bargain and you’ve got an eye for style and trends you could consider becoming a clothing seller on eBay, or in clothes-selling groups on social media. Keep a frugal eye open in op-shops for good brands and on-trend pieces, and then sell the pieces you collect for more than you paid for them. The only downside is sometimes a buyer won’t go through with the purchase, so it’s best to have patience.

3. Clock up kilometres and cash

With a decent set of wheels and a full licence, you can drum up extra money as an Uber driver. It’s easy to register and you can drive any time. Being your own boss has its perks. No one is watching over your shoulder and you can decide who you pick up and when to call it a day. To maximise your income, drive your car when prices are surging during high-demand times, like Saturday nights.

4. Or maybe delivering food is more your thing

If you’re too young to drive for Uber, but still interested in being in control of your own working schedule, delivering takeaway food for a company like UberEats or Deliveroo might be the perfect alternative. You can start at 18 years old, and you don’t need to have a car – a bicycle or motorcycle will do (even if you’re still on your probationary motorcycle license). If you ride a bicycle, you’ll get the added bonus of exercise while you work.

5. Manage social media for a small business

Although social media has become a key feature in many organisations, lots of small businesses simply don’t have the time or the know-how to successfully manage their own social media accounts. Get in touch with a local business and offer to post to Facebook and Instagram for them, as well as replying to comments, messages, etc. You could negotiate a contracted monthly fee, and you’ll be all set.

6. Tap into your natural talent

It could be a flair for cooking, makeup, style, or art. Tapping into something you’re naturally good at can be a great side hustle – and you’ll likely have fun doing it, too. You could teach classes at Laneway Learning, promote yourself and your services on social media to work as a freelance makeup artist or stylist, or commission some of your art. As long as you’re prepared to give up a bit of your spare time, it’s a great way to make some quick cash. You could even bring your talent to YouTube and monetise it through ads, but you’ll have to put in the hard yards first to build an engaged audience and make it worthwhile for advertisers to use your videos.

7. Go undercover to earn money

Businesses large and small are always on the lookout for mystery shoppers to evaluate the service and quality of their stores. The job involves making a purchase – normally in retail or hospitality – and then reporting on the experience. If you have good verbal and written communication skills, a good memory and are reliable, you can get involved with an agency. It’s a unique way to earn some money if you’re an avid shopper anyway!

8. Review websites and apps

It’s basically the online equivalent of a mystery shopper – platforms like UserTesting, Enroll and Whatusersdo, will ask you to browse websites and apps, complete a set of tasks and record your thoughts as you navigate through. For your efforts they put a small fee into your PayPal account for each review you complete. You (probably) won’t make a living off it, but if you have a spare 20 minutes in your day, it’s an easy way to earn some extra cash.

9. Write and publish an eBook

It sounds like a tremendous feat, but the reality is that now anyone can publish an eBook – and if you’ve got a great idea and some solid writing skills, you can make some great money off it. Consider writing your book a longer-term project to chip away at in your spare time. But, once it’s published you’ll receive a passive income for as long as it sells, and you won’t have to raise a finger.

10. Get a high-yield savings account

Speaking of a passive income, if you’re lucky enough to already have some cash in the bank, one of the safest (and easiest) ways to make money is to build on what you already have saved. By changing to a bank that offers higher interest rates, you’ll be watching your account balance rise, and all you have to do is keep saving. This is also a great option if you’re just starting out with a savings account, and it might motivate you to put more away!

BONUS TIP: Decrease your expenses

Think of this as a handy tip to use solo, or partnered with another money-making idea. One of the best ways to get some money in your pocket is to keep it there in the first place! Try to save money by cooking your own meals instead of eating out, or you could call up your mobile provider and see if you can get a better deal on your phone plan. Lots of stores and services offer student discounts too – including hairdressers, restaurants, movies and retail stores – so you don’t have to completely give up the things you love about your lifestyle. Think smart, and do your research before buying, and you’ll be sure to save a lot of money.

Six tips for students to improve time management

So much to do, so little time. You’ve got three essays due, five chapters of reading to catch up on and you need to study for exams that are coming up in two weeks. Not to mention you have family coming to stay with you this weekend for your aunty’s 50th birthday bash.

It’s easy to let a heavy workload and busy schedule overwhelm you. But knowing how to manage your time can help even the busiest person stay on top of things. Time management is a fantastic skill to have not only for studying but throughout your whole life. Master these tips to help you become more efficient with your study time and able to fit more into your days.

Break up study time

It’s not realistic for most people to focus on any one task for hours upon hours without getting side-tracked and becoming less efficient. Try to mix up what you’re doing throughout the day, even if that just means spending time studying a variety of different subjects. Intensive blocks of two hours or so works well, spaced out with short breaks. If you feel your momentum slowing down during a study session, it’s probably time to switch to a different task or go for a walk to clear your head. Two hours of thorough study is more effective than an entire day spent procrastinating.

Create timetables

Timetables are so simple, yet so effective. A weekly planner divided into one hour blocks will enable you to plan effectively and make you more likely to stick to tasks during allocated times. Include things like classes, chores, extra-curricular activities, part-time work, free time and study sessions. For each study session, it’s a good idea to jot down a to-do list indicating key tasks you want to get done in that session, for example, read chapter two of the chemistry text book, finish literature essay, etc. It’s amazing how satisfying it is being able to tick off items on a to-do list.

Know when you’re most productive

Different people work better at different times of the day, whether it be morning, afternoon or night. So do what works best for you. If you know you’re not a morning person, don’t start trying to tackle that difficult essay question at 8 am. Leave the most challenging tasks for your best time of the day and do something less demanding, like organising notes or writing the next day’s to-do list, during your least favourite time of the day.

A change of scenery does wonders

Don’t feel like you’re confined to your desk if you don’t want to be. Studying in various work spaces can increase creativity and, in turn, productivity. Read notes in the local park, go to a library or do research in a cafe. At uni, many lectures are recorded so you could even listen to one whilst going for a walk. You may also find it helpful to talk through class notes or essay questions with a classmate or in a group environment.

Minimise distractions

It goes without saying that if you’re thinking about something else when you’re studying and not focusing on the task at hand, you are not going to be as productive as you could be. Often, distractions come from internal feelings that we can control, such as hunger or tiredness. So, ensure you get adequate sleep and have snacks nearby during a study session. You should also try to minimise distractions like social media while you’re studying. It may help to put your phone in another room so you’re not disrupted by messages, calls or notifications.

Avoid the eleventh hour

Leaving things to the last minute puts yourself under unnecessary pressure. Try to do some study on most days of the week – even if it’s only one or two hours – so you don’t end up with a mountain of work you have to catch up on. It’s also important to go over all your class notes each week to make sure you understand what was covered in class and to keep the ideas you’ve learned front of mind. As you progress through the term/semester/trimester this will require more time each week but when it comes to exams you will be immensely better equipped and able to reduce your exam study time. Read some more tips on how to hack your exam study.