13 Ways To Make Extra Money Straight From Your Dorm Room | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

13 Ways To Make Extra Money Straight From Your Dorm Room

You won't even have to change out of your sweatpants for this!

2322
13 Ways To Make Extra Money Straight From Your Dorm Room
Hanny Naibaho

College is tough. Making money while you’re in college can be even tougher.

Full-time class schedules make it almost impossible to have a job and work decent hours. And even if you do find a job, you might not even be making that much money once you factor in the time and transportation to get there.

Let’s break the stigma of being a broke college student. Instead of traveling to a part-time job, learn how to earn an income online right from the comfort of your own dorm room.

1. Become A Virtual Assistant

If you’re one of the few college students who’s actually organized, you could get paid to organize someone else’s life as a virtual assistant. The job duties could be anything from helping with data entry, managing social media accounts or conducting research.

The pay varies depending on the job, but sites like People Per Hour let you browse available jobs or post your own skill.

2. Download Cash-Back Apps

You’re already spending money at the grocery store, and you could be getting paid for it! Download a cash-back app like Ibotta and scan your receipt when you get home. It gives you rebates depending on the products you bought.

Or, if you’re sitting in your room doing some online shopping, join Ebates before you checkout. This cash-back site gives you a certain percentage of cash back just for shopping. Right now, they’re offering 2.5% cash-back from American Eagle, 6% from Macy’s and 2% from Forever 21. It’s not a huge percentage, but it’s free money you wouldn’t have had otherwise! Plus, you’ll feel a little less guilty for shopping online. Just a little.

3. Flip Craigslist Freebies

This might not be the most glamorous option, but you will earn extra cash! If you find some good freebies on Craigslist, sell it for a profit on an app like Letgo or OfferUp.

You might also be able to use this method with your college’s local sell and trade groups -- if you haven’t joined yours on Facebook already, trust me, it’s out there. If anyone is giving stuff away for free, grab it and flip it online.

You might have to leave your dorm if the item is from Craigslist, but once you’ve got it in-hand, bring it home, take photos of it and wait for the offers to roll in.

4. Test Websites

Instead of binging another show on Netflix, use your laptop to make some actual money. Join websites like UserTest and UserFeel and you’ll get paid to test websites.

This is a pretty easy way to make money. All you do is click around on whatever website you’re assigned to and report back on the user experience. The pay is typically around $10 per website.

5. Sell Old Textbooks Online

As a recent grad, I know you’d be lying if you said you didn’t have any old textbooks lying around. For ones you were forced to buy, it feels wrong to give it up, but it’s also just taking up valuable space. And no, you aren’t going to need to crack open your Environmental Science textbook in two years -- we have Google.

Look up your book’s value on Bookscoutr and see what company will pay the most for that textbook.

6. Sell Your Photos

If you’re a self-proclaimed iPhone photographer, you should join Foap. It’s an online marketplace where users upload their smartphone photos, and brands buy them.

Whenever one of your photos sells, you get 50% of the profits. Foap doesn’t say exactly how much you’ll make, but the price seems to vary depending on how many pictures you’re selling.

7. Evaluate Search Engines

Sign up to be a search engine evaluator and get paid to clean up Google’s mess. You’ll be looking at how user-friendly and relevant specific search results are.

This work typically pays around $12 per hour, and the hours aren’t too strict. It’s a pretty easy way to use your free time to earn extra cash.

8. Become a Freelance Writer

Has english always been your best subject? Look into becoming a freelance writer for a topic you feel passionate about. Make sure you have a few writing samples before applying, maybe start your own blog and upload a few sample pieces of content to link to when you apply.

9. Take Surveys

I know, this isn’t the most glamorous way to earn extra cash, but it’s easy and doesn’t require leaving your room. Join a few online survey panels, like VIP Voice, Swagbucks and Ipsos panel. You’ll get an email when a survey for your demographic opens.

It might not be the fastest way to earn money, but it’s not too hard to earn a few $10 Amazon gift cards.

10. Get Rid of Anything You Don’t Use

Instead of having a cluttered room, you could be making money off of things you don’t use anymore.

Sell old clothes or household items through Letgo, OfferUp, or clothing-specific apps like Poshmark or Mercari. If you have old electronics, DVDs or video games, get rid of them with Decluttr.

This doesn’t necessarily have to be stuff sitting around your dorm -- is there anything you left back at home you won’t need anymore? Maybe it’s time to get rid of all those pairs of jeans from high school, or your homecoming dress you thought was so cute in 10th grade.

11. Serve As An Online Mock Juror

Finally, all the courtroom drama shows you’ve watched will be put to use! Lawyers need help to prepare for real cases, so they turn to a mock jury. You won’t get to hear both sides of the case, but you will be reviewing all the evidence from your computer.

Apply to be an online mock juror, and you’ll get an email when a case is available for your review. The work you get is based on location, so it’s hard to say exactly how much work you might receive, but the pay is anywhere from $10-$60 per hour.

12. Work As A Social Media Manager

Spending all your time on a social media platform can actually be translated into a skill. Look for social media management jobs. It’s helpful to be able to specialize in one platform, so pick the one you’re the most familiar with.

13. Become A Transcriptionist

Are you a fast typer? You could be earning $15-$25 per hour transcribing audio. This job is great for beginners -- it doesn’t require much experience to get started, and you can work whenever you have spare time.

With today’s gig economy, it isn’t too hard to find a side hustle. And making extra money while sitting in bed is even better!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190092
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14821
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457796
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26593
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments