Even with an account full of GWorld and funds stashed away from a summer job, you may find yourself strapped for cash this semester.
If you can’t squeeze a part-time position into your school schedule, try out some local gigs around town or within your own home that can keep your bank account afloat.
Wag! and Rover
If you left your dog back home, companies like Wag! and Rover will help fulfill your need for puppy love while making money.
Wag! pays an average of $17.50 to its walkers per walk, and Rover pays $15 to $20 for each gig, according to their websites. Owners request specific times for each walk and provide different payments for each walker. Neither service requires their walkers to clock a minimum number of hours, so you can fit some work hours in between classes.
If you apply to Wag! or Rover, make sure that you know how to interact with dogs and can handle larger dogs if necessary. Simply download the apps and once your applications are accepted, you can show furry friends around the neighborhood.
Rev
Rev is an audio transcription service you can apply to for jobs you can complete at home. After taking a typing and grammar test and being approved, you can transcribe interviews through the website and be paid per word.
Once Rev accepts you as a transcriber, you can look on its website for projects that range from five minutes to three hours. Depending on the clip, you can $1 per audio minute and complete as many projects as you want as long as you meet the deadline, which usually ranges between a day and a week from the date the gig is posted.
The online platform means if you need to make a spare $20 for next weekend, you can hop on Rev after you finish your homework and click away for some extra cash. Every Monday, Rev transfers your earned cash to your Paypal account.
Postmates
If you brought a bike with you to campus, now you can take it for a ride while earning cash as a delivery driver.
Download Postmates Fleet, which houses the service’s workers, and you can get started right away. Payment is different for every city, but in D.C., you make a minimum of $4 each ride excluding tips, and hot spots like Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and Columbia Heights are easy neighborhoods to grab a delivery.
Postmates will send you a delivery bag and prepaid card so you never have to pay out of pocket for the product you are delivering. The company also offers loyalty perks. If you pick up more than 25 requests each month, you receive complementary Postmates Plus Unlimited, a monthly subscription that gets you free delivery.
Craigslist
Though Craigslist is an old-fashioned option for income, check out the “gigs” tab on the D.C. website for part-time or one-time opportunities to make quick cash.
Divided into eight categories, new gigs are posted daily and are bound to suit your skills as a student. For a STEM major, the “computer” link will include jobs like web formatting, video game development and information technology help. If you’re more suited for writing, local businesses often submit requests for help in writing social media posts or reviews. And for art students, plenty of companies call for photographers and graphic designers to submit resumes and portfolios.
Before you email a Craigslist poster, make sure that the offer includes details of monetary compensation and is not a volunteer position. To make the most out of Craigslist gigs, stick to temporary jobs that include clear requests and are transparent about your payment.