No BS Best Ways for Students to Make Money

As a student, you do not have a lot of time to spend at a job trading time for money. Jobs in retail, stocking shelves, or any store-based job will drain your time, not fill your wallet, and hurt your grades. Think of your time as a jug of water and all the day-to-day tasks are glasses to be filled by the water jug. The biggest glass in my day-to-day is focusing on quality work for assignments and studying to acquire good grades. You can only fill so many glasses in a day, so you better use your water wisely!

This is a problem because many jobs demand a significant amount of time to earn money. Additionally, numerous blogs mention technical jobs like writing or online work, but the challenge lies in earning a substantial income with minimal time commitment. Therefore, how can this be addressed?

The way around it is finding a job that can make you a lot of money in a short amount of time that is realistic and achievable that anyone (including you) can do. I also recommend what I have personally done to accumulate savings and pay for all my schooling without financial help or debt.

The number one job that made me money before and during university was serving at a restaurant or bar. The job involved serving beverages and food to customers. Now, I know that sounds boring, but this truly is a great way to make money during the summer or throughout the school year in a short amount of time. The reason this job is superior to others for making money is that the amount you make depends on how you act and how good you are at your job, not strictly on the amount of hours worked. This means the amount you make can increase with more effort and knowledge around hospitality. The better you are, the more money you will make. The way you make money is by satisfying the customers' needs with an appealing personality, securing tips on top of your hourly wage.

How You Make Money as a Server

The way you make money is by providing great and attentive service with a vibrant personality. The key to the amount of money I was able to make was from being genuine. I care about and am interested in others' lives. I like to know who people are and what they do and this was key to high tips and great reviews for myself as well as the restaurant's I worked at. The good news for you is that everyone likes talking about themselves, so ask questions!

On an average evening shift from 5pm to 11pm, I would frequently earn an average of $300 (sometimes a lot more), which is about three times the amount I would earn from other hourly jobs at the current minimum wage. It is important to note that this amount includes wages and tips.

How serving works

Serving, like anything, takes time to get good at. The better you are with customers, the more tips you make. This takes time because the job is sometimes quite stressful.

What is required to become a server

In Canada, you first need to complete a SMART Serve course. The online course takes 4 hours to complete in one or multiple sittings. There is then a 33-question proctored exam online. The cost for the initial training course is $44.95 CAD and is required to serve alcohol.

You then need to find a job. The best way to do this is to show up at restaurants during slow times of the day or night, for your selected restaurants, to speak with a manager and hand in your resume. This is very important because in the serving business, managers are looking for people who are personable and can handle face-to-face interactions. Usually with this method, you will get interviewed on the spot if they are looking for servers. I cannot stress this enough, you will stand out more by handing in your resume in person rather than behind a screen.

Student Side Hustles to Increase Income Streams

Another way to make money on the side in your free time is to buy furniture and refinish it to sell at a higher price than what it costed you to buy and refinish. I have made thousands of extra dollars for little effort and flexible time commitments. I know someone that flips about 10 to 20 pieces a week and makes around $2500 to upwards of $5000 in revenue weekly. This can be a very lucrative side hustle if you're able to put the time in and give your pieces an artistic touch. I personally as of writing this article average 2 to 4 pieces a month giving me an extra $500 to $750/month as a student during the school year.

How You Get Started with Furniture Flipping

Check out the local resale apps in your area for hardwood pieces that appear to be in need of refinishing. Personally, I recommend using Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace because that is what I use. Please note I live in the greater Toronto area in Canada so these resources may not be popular in your area. Once you find a piece, arrange for pickup or delivery, and then begin working on it during your free time. You will have to sand the piece using different sandpapers and apply multiple coats of paint until it achieves a smooth and sleek appearance.