34 Easy Ways to Make Money Quickly

Top ways to make money online and offline

1. No-risk matched betting

   Hands down the quickest way to make a lot of money (well, without breaking the law). Lots of students have genuinely made £100s from this technique. It’s completely legal, risk free, tax free, and anyone can do it.

   

   It works by taking advantage of free bets regularly offered by betting sites (such as PaddyPower.com) through ‘matching’ them at a betting exchange such as Betfair.com. Matched betting eliminates the risk (you are betting both for and against a certain outcome).

   This leaves you being able to squeeze out the free bet, which can be as much as £200! Multiply this by how many betting sites there are and you can quite easily come away with a profit of a few hundred pounds.

   Owen walks you through how to make your first £15 profit (using a real life example) in this gem of a guide to matched betting. If you know of any better way to make £30/hr sitting at home, please let us know!

2. Mobile phone recycling

   See how much you can get for your old mobile phone using our in-house mobile phone price comparison tool! Maybe ask your parents if they have any lying around too.

   You can get some good money and help the environment by recycling mobile phones with certain companies listed on the comparison tool. Most phones are shipped off to Asia to be dismantled and we know of at least one student who received a £120 cheque in return.

3. Online surveys

   An increasingly popular way for students to make money is to fill out online surveys in their spare time. Research companies are always recruiting new members to answer surveys and test new products.

   For a few minutes of form filling, you can make a couple of quid which is paid as cash or in rewards. You can make up to £3 for some surveys!

   A few good ones to try are: Toluna, Springboard, MySurvey, Valued Opinions, Inbox Pounds, New Vista, YouGov, Global ePanel.

   Also sign up for Swagbucks.com which rewards you for surveys as well as simply surfing the web, watching videos and playing games.

   Update: see our new full guide to the best paid online surveys!

4. Paid for searching the web

   Interested in earning cash for doing what you already do online? This has to be one of the easiest methods of making money online without really any effort or change in your behavior.

   This innovative idea by Qmee.com rewards you for searching in Google, Bing or Yahoo. You just install a simple add-on to your browser and when you conduct a search there may be a few sponsored results alongside your normal search.

   

   Each Qmee result has a cash reward attached – if you are interested in it simply click on it and collect your reward.

   The best thing is there is no minimum to cashout – for instance we just wired 72p to our Paypal account. You also have the option to donate it to charity.

   Sign up now for free and start earning from your own searches! Click here to start.

5. Claim tax back

   Many students work part-time or during the summer months, and others will be on placements or paid internships. More often than not, if you are a student working during the year, you will be overpaying income tax.

   Why? Simply because few students reach the personal tax-free income allowance each year but are put on an emergency basic tax-code by their employers meaning tax is being paid when it shouldn’t be.

   

   Use our student tax-back service to help you reclaim any tax you should not have paid. Just enter your details in the calculator here to work out what you may be owed. Otherwise for more information read our guide on claiming tax back here.

6. Sell gigs on Fiverr

   If you haven’t yet come across Fiverr, now is your time. It’s the world’s largest marketplace for people to make money selling small services (known as ‘gigs’).

   What you offer could be absolutely anything, from writing and translating, designing logos, social media posting, playing pranks and teaching to creating music, voiceovers and short video clips for people all around the world!

   The only caveat is that the price is always set at $5 (hence Fiverr..), but you can attach extra services to gigs for more money. Now whilst it might not seem like much, it can quickly add up and there are plenty of examples of people making a really good living from the site. The key is to get a system in place which minimises the time spent on each gig.

   Either way, give it a go and sign up. If you’re not interested in selling, there’s SO much good stuff you can get done for yourself. Have a browse and get inspired!

7. Place adverts on your car

   If you have a car, start making it pay back! Uni Car Ads are currently recruiting student drivers and will pay you £30 – £60 a month for having a temporary advert placed on your car.

   For more information about what’s involved and how to apply click here and start earning.

8. Competitions

   Entering competitions of course comes with no guarantees, but there is a growing community of so-called ‘compers’ in the UK consistently making up to £50,000 a year through all sorts of competitions.

   Types of competitions available to enter range from simple registration forms and Facebook page liking to answering questions correctly over the phone to being a TV gameshow contestant. Imagine you made it onto Deal or No Deal instead of just watching it!

   Start by entering our very own monthly student competition (Like our Facebook page to see when our next one is)!

   

   Then head to our active competitions page to enter other free competitions that we have found. Just note that some of these sites may send you spam so use an alias email address and opt-out of as many of the offers as possible.

   For loads more tips on achieving success and making money from competitions, read our student guide to entering competitions.

9. Get cashback when shopping

   

   I earnt this much in 2 years

   This is not only a way to make money but also to save money as a student. If you look at it in a different way then you are making money with every purchase you would have made anyway, whether it be 10% or 0.5% cashback.

   There are a number of cashback sites out there which pay you the commission they otherwise would have earned.

   We recommend signing up with Quidco.com which is free and offer the best selection of retailers.

10. A part-time job

    A part-time job is the obvious first choice, opted for by most students looking to supplement their student loan. It provides a pretty steady flow of income and can enable you to gain valuable work experience.

    However, depending on where you live, jobs are not always easy to find. Check local classifieds, our student job search, student job websites and your University careers service for vacancies.

    It’s also worth signing up with the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, a free service which will match you with both part-time jobs or graduate opportunities.

    Read our guide to finding a part-time job whilst studying for more tips.

11. Review music for money

    If you love music, make it your business by reviewing unsigned bands and artists for cash. I know… we couldn’t believe it either.

    It can take a while to build up your reputation but some users of the site have said that they have earned £40 a month. This may not sound like much but if it’s something you enjoy then it shouldn’t be hard work and is another thing for your CV. Money you earn will be in $US but anyone can sign up and review. To get started, head over to Slicethepie now or read our quick guide for more info.

12. Sell second-hand course books

    One great way to make money is to buy other students’ text books at the end of the year, and then sell them just after freshers’ week – when the new intake of students know that they need them!

    You can either advertise on campus or list them online very easily on Amazon.co.uk Books Trade-In (just bear in mind they take a commission on books sold).

    For more tips on selling items online click here.

13. Become an Amazon ‘Mechanical Turk’

    Don’t ask us what this means, all we know is that it’s an easy way to make fast cash from your sofa. The concept is based on ‘internet crowd-sourcing’ where businesses advertise specific, scaleable tasks they need completing quickly.

    

    There are a variety of tasks (known as HITS), but most commonly they involve mindless data entry or form filling. You are rewarded in cash (though $USD) for the work you do, and you can chose for what and when you work. Give it a go.

14. Start your own website

    If you’ve ever seen the film “The Social Network” then you’ve most likely had your brain spinning as to what website you can start up to make you billions.

    And of course there are lots of stories out there about successful students who have started a site while at university, or even bought a domain name and later sold it for 1000s.

    In fact, Save the Student is one such example of a website started at university by Owen Burek in his first year, which has since grown into a full-time and successful enterprise.

    Read Owen’s 4-step guide to setting up a website if you’re interested in finding out more. It’s really not that difficult to get started and there are plenty of opportunities to make money online.

15. Financial support

    Make sure you have applied for all relevant university grants and bursaries. There may be a few hundred quid in it!

    It’s money that you don’t even have to pay back and a lot of students are eligible for a scholarship or bursary without even knowing it. Don’t miss out!

16. Babysitting

    Advertise your services locally. It’s a classic money-maker, and for good reason. You get paid (well) to watch TV and not very much else!

    Be warned that you will need a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to look after small children, even though some parents may not ask for one. If you are wondering what to charge, then look at local ads but you can expect to be paid over £6 hour even if you aren’t trained in child care. It really is easy money (unless you get stuck with the child from hell!).

17. Be an extra

    Do you fancy yourself as a budding young actor or just that person that walks past in the background shot of an episode of Eastenders? It could be you if you apply to be an extra.

    The pay isn’t bad either – £60-80 a day on average, and you hardly have to do anything!

    You can apply at Be On Screen for a number of opportunities or 2020 casting is another agency (just know they take a cut from your earnings).

18. Sell all your old CDs, games & movies

    If you are looking to make a very quick buck, then selling your old bits and bobs that are cluttering up your room is a good idea.

    The best thing about it is that you can rip all of the songs and films onto your laptop or external hard drive before selling them. This means that you are only really selling the plastic and artwork!

    You can earn anything from 10p to £20 per item, and the earnings can really add up if you have a large collection. Whilst you’re at it, see if your parents have any ‘clutter’ they’d be happy to see the back of.

    You can also sell almost anything for free on Amazon Trade-In or Preloved and sites like MusicMagpie will pay you instantly for sending in unwanted items.

    For more tips and places to sell check out our guide on selling DVDs, CDs and games.

19. Sell on your education!

    Become a tutor to local GCSE or A-level students (find out more about tutoring here). There are now a few online tutor sites too, so you can go also global without too much hassle.

    You may feel as if you aren’t qualified to be a tutor, but seeing as you are at university you will most likely have the qualifications to tutor for GCSE or even A-Level. Some parents may feel that their child will react better to a younger tutor, and it can be great experience, so why not give it a go?

    You can advertise on SchoolsTrader or sign up with Bright Young Things & UK Tutors. You can expect to earn around £10 an hour. However, make sure you don’t have to do too much tutoring around your exams!

20. Sell your photos

    If you think you’ve got a good shot and a little creativity, try uploading your photographs for free to stock websites. A good starting point is Fotolia or istockphoto.

    Make more money selling photo subjects that people are demanding, and there’s a great resource to find this out here. It might be a good idea to test them out in print first yourself (get free photo prints here).

21. Rent out your car parking space

    Some student accommodation comes with a drive or garage. If you aren’t using your parking space and you live in a busy area then you might be in luck. There are plenty of people that may work in the city centre and are fed up of paying through the roof for daily parking.

    Advertise your space on Gumtree or Park at My house.

22. Work as a charity collector

    Ok so this job takes a certain kind of person, as you’ll have to take a lot of rejection and be persistent.

    But if you are bubbly, personable and reckon you could sell ice to an Eskimo then this could actually be a great student money making idea. You get paid commission on new signups (typically around £20).

    Have a look at Wesser as well as charity websites like Oxfam.

23. Become a freelance interviewer

    Do you want to excel in a HR career? Do you love asking questions? Believe it or not a company will actually trust you to carry out interviews for them and pay you for your time. It couldn’t be simpler.

    You could make £185 a week plus have your travelling costs covered. The downside is that you will have to commit to 20 hours at least a week so make sure that you have the time. Apply at NatCen.

24. Mystery shopping

    Becoming a mystery shopper is easier than you think. You can get paid to spend money in shops, usually in the form of a voucher for the shop in question.

    For more info on where to apply check out our guide to becoming a mystery shopper.

25. Dog walking

    Dog walking may sound trivial but it’s big business. Just think that as a student you’re likely to have free time during the day when others are out at work and worried about their pets at home.

    You could make around £7 a dog for a 1 hour walk, and it’s also a great way to keep fit. Advertise your services locally with fliers or on classified websites such as Gumtree.

26. Rent out your house for filming

    Directors for TV and film are always on the hunt for houses to film in. For instance, a scene for Coronation Street was recently filmed in the student house one of the Save the Student editors used to live in!

    Not only can you make good money but it’s crazy seeing your own place on TV. Start out by looking at film-locations.co.uk.

27. Rent out your body

    Ok, ok – this isn’t what you think. “Renting out your body” can go as far as you want it to go. For example we reported on a story a while back about students who are turning to lap dancing in order to make a quick buck.

    If you are comfortable taking off your kit for a more acceptable cause then why not try life modelling. Sit there in the buff while budding artists capture your every curve (or pokey bits) in frightening detail! Try this website especially designed for these kind of jobs RAM.

    You could also get involved in clinical drug trials. If this scares you a little then you can find more information here about what’s involved.

    Warning: Do not do anything you are not comfortable with, no matter how desperate you are for money! There has been an unhealthy rise in student prostitution in recent years – do not fall victim to it!

28. Freelance work

    Perhaps you enjoy writing, managing Facebook pages or doing a little bit of graphic design in your spare time. There are so many freelance jobs out there that require simple skills or just time that someone else might not have.

    And the best things about freelancing is that you can work for clients in the UK and around the world with just an internet connection from home, to your own hours whilst developing valuable skills.

    A great place to start is with the leading freelance site Elance.com. Or try using our student job search to find freelance jobs.

29. Busking

    If you can sing or dance then this is your time to shine baby! Did you know that Justin Bieber started off busking? That’s right, with a little work you can be as annoying as him.

    There are really no tips for this except choose a good spot with high footfall, make sure you are good and play your heart out. Some buskers in the past have been known to make upwards of £20 hour.

30. Sell clothes on eBay

    Everyone’s best friend when it comes to getting rid of junk is eBay. Online auctions are a sure-fire way to turn that sleeveless jacket (which came in and out of fashion in a week) into hard cash.

    Some eBay sellers look at trends and try to predict what will be big ahead of the market. If you are good and don’t mind taking a risk then you can buy early in bulk and sell on when the craze hits.

    For lots more tips on selling on eBay read this guide.

31. Sell your stories and videos

    If you have an interesting story then you could try selling it to the papers. It could be anything from sleeping with a professional footballer to getting caught in a clothes horse!

    One of the Save the Student team was unfortunate to have a pigeon fly through and smash their window at university and sold the story to The Sun for a tidy £50.

    You could also film your mates at all times and send it into You’ve Been Framed to net yourself £250 and a few seconds of fame.

32. Sign up for psychology experiments

    These are the things you may get to your student e-mail inbox from your university or careers service every now and then. They aren’t dangerous and usually don’t require too much effort or time. They tend to compensate you quite well (around £10/hour), and they may even interest you!

    It’s worth bearing in mind that these are different from the medical or body experiments/horror stories that you hear about. There will (hopefully) be no strange probes involved!

33. YouTube videos

    According to recent stats we now watch more videos on YouTube than searches on Google. And with the recently introduced YouTube Partner Program you can now profit from making and uploading videos. You will receive a percentage of the advertising revenue collected per 1,000 views.

    Depending on how successful you are (virality, subscriber base and topic) you can make a lot of money, and there are plenty of stories every week of more and more YouTubers making it their career.

    For more tips read our guide to making money from YouTube.

34. Advertise your other skills

    What can you do well where others struggle? Fix bikes, computers, write articles, create websites, make cupcakes or fresh lemonade?!

    The key is to be creative and think outside the box. A writer at Save the Student actually made small models out of beer cans and wire and sold them to other students. Great idea with big profits!