| Money is a forefront concern for many college | | | | responsibility of a mystery shopper is to play the |
| students, or, more specifically, a lack of it. Even | | | | role of a customer while patronizing an |
| with funds from student loans or traditional | | | | establishment, then report on the experience. If |
| employment, many students need to supplement | | | | you are interested in becoming a mystery |
| their income to make ends meet. Here we offer | | | | shopper, do your homework to make sure you |
| some ideas for college students to earn extra | | | | are dealing with a reputable company. |
| money: | | | | Be a contractor. Seeking out contract |
| Capitalize on your talents. Savvy students find | | | | employment is a great way to earn extra income |
| ways to make money using talents or skills they | | | | without committing to a permanent work |
| already have. Are you a talented writer? Consider | | | | schedule. Companies all over hire contractors to |
| subscribing to a service such as WritersMarket, | | | | do a wide range of jobs. Websites such as can |
| where you get paid when your work is published. | | | | help you find the type of temporary work you |
| If you have always been great with children, | | | | are seeking, ranging from freelance writing, |
| establish relationships with families in need of a | | | | website work, promotional events, yard work, |
| babysitter. If computer knowledge is your | | | | and the list goes on. Be aware that when you |
| specialty, consider helping others with computer | | | | work as a contractor, you are usually paid in full |
| problems for a fee. Even if you do not feel that | | | | for your work (i.e.-taxes are not automatically |
| you stand out at a particular talent, consider doing | | | | deducted), so you will be responsible for keeping |
| yard or house work for extra cash. You may find | | | | records and paying taxes on your income. |
| that helping one person out leads to referrals and | | | | Bear in mind that earning extra income is only |
| before you know it, you're in business. | | | | helpful if you have your spending under control. |
| Share your knowledge. If you excel at academics, | | | | Spending as much as you earn leaves you |
| or are a standout in a particular subject, you may | | | | treading water and does nothing to propel you to |
| be able to earn extra money tutoring other | | | | a more comfortable level of financial |
| students on campus. Look into on- and | | | | independence. An even worse habit is spending |
| off-campus tutoring opportunities for the chance | | | | more than you earn and going into debt. Seeking |
| to earn extra money and add great experience | | | | out opportunities to earn extra money will likely |
| to your résumé. | | | | do more than just help you pay the bills. Honing |
| Get paid to shop. Many companies hire mystery | | | | your skills, gaining valuable experience and making |
| shoppers to get feedback on employee | | | | new business connections can open the door to |
| performance in places such as retail | | | | future opportunities you did not even anticipate. |
| establishments and restaurants. The general | | | | |