Summer Money Making Ideas For Students

July 27, 2012
By: sarah taylor

Exams are finished with and University is over for the summer. In between festivals, girls’ holidays and barbecues, you might be thinking of getting a job.

It’s not always easy to find work when you have other commitments because employers know that you will only be there temporarily. I speak from experience; I spent all last summer looking for work and couldn’t get a job. But don’t despair, there are several money making ideas for students that don’t involve getting a job. From working at a festival (and seeing your favourite bands at the same time) to selling your old clothes on Ebay (and making money for shopping sprees!) there are lots of alternative ways to get cash over the summer. Let’s be honest, that overdraft could do with a much deserved rest.

Sell your old clothes on eBay. 

A friend introduced me to eBay and I’ve been selling stuff on there ever since. It can be a hassle setting up an eBay account but a few security checks later and you’re ready to go. If you’ve got a smartphone then get the free eBay app which makes it super easy to list items and keep track of orders.

Put all the clothes that you no longer wear up for auction and you will be making money in no time. That fur jacket that you bought on a whim or those daring leather trousers that you never wear could bring in the pennies for you. Anything and everything can make money on eBay. You’ll be shocked at what people buy – Primark clothes are strangely popular and buyers pay over the odds for Topshop.

Clothes do have to be in good condition and it is vital you describe the item accurately, including any marks or faults that the item has so that you won’t get negative feedback.

Once your wardrobe is looking decidedly empty and the money is rolling in, then it’s time to treat yourself… and to restock your wardrobe!

Sell old books/games/DVDs on Amazon 

Amazon is also a great website for selling your unwanted stuff. The start of term can be expensive with having to buy all those new books, but at the end of the year just list them on Amazon and you can fetch almost as much as you paid for them. If you’ve got any box sets that you’ve grown tired of watching, Amazon is a great place to sell them. Surprisingly, board-games also sell for good money. Get up to your loft and dig out your old games and see how much they are worth. I listed mousetrap and it sold for over £10, I didn’t even know people played games anymore!

Amazon is good because unlike eBay your items are listed until someone buys them; there isn’t a set time that they need to be sold by. However, Amazon are greedier than eBay as they take a higher commission – so it’s best to check out how much they will take before you set the price of your items. Other than that, it’s another great way of making money.

Working at a festival  

I’ve yet to work at a festival but it’s on my to-do list! Yet I do know people who have and they’ve bragged about what a great experience it was (with pictures to prove it). Not only is it an opportunity to see live music but you can make good money at the same time.

Have a look to see where your nearest summer festival is and check their website because that’s usually where they advertise for staff. They recruit months in advance so it’s best to get in there early.

Think about what you’d like to do there but don’t worry if you don’t have any experience. Working on the bar is just pouring beer into plastic cups, so prior bartending knowledge is not essential and being a traffic marshal is just waving cars in the right direction (basic requirements: knowing your left from your right!) There’s loads of other jobs as well, ranging from litter picking to working on a hot dog stand and although it’s not exactly glamorous, it’s easy work and therefore easy money.

The companies usually give you flexible shifts to allow you to see the bands: if you’ve worked a morning then you will have an evening off and vice versa.

Don’t worry that you will be billy-no-mates stood by yourself watching the bands and camping alone, you can easily rope some friends into applying with you so you can go as a group. If not, then everyone you work with will be hanging around together.

It’s not only a great chance to see all those bands that you’ve never got round to seeing (for free) but it’s also a chance to experience a festival. And I can guarantee, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Car Boot Sales        

Waking up at 5am on a Sunday morning to go to a car boot sale may not be your idea of fun, but selling at a car boot sale has many advantages. Sometimes it’s free, however sometimes you will have to pay a one off fee for your plot, but other than that it’s easy – there’s only one requirement…a car!

Ask around family and friends and see if they have any unwanted stuff that they’d like you to take off their hands and sell that as well. You’ll be doing them a favour by getting rid of their junk and it’s putting money in your pocket. Car boot customers are there for one thing only and that’s a bargain.  They will stand there haggling until the sun sets, so name your price and be firm.

A car boot sale may not make you a millionaire in a day but you’re sure to go home with money in your pocket and hopefully a lot less junk to bring back with you!

These are just some of the ways that you can earn yourself some extra cash over the summer without having to fill in tedious, time consuming job applications and attend interview after interview. After all, you’ll be doing plenty of that when your degree is over!