Make Extra Money at Work

Few people with jobs know about all of the ways they could increase their salary WITHOUT asking for a raise. Check out this fantastic article by Ben Edwards titled "7 Extra Ways to Earn Money at Work." I've shared an article by Ben before because he knows what he is talking about.

Also, he forgot to mention the 401k match, the easiest way to make extra money from your job. Many employers will match what you contribute to your 401k up to a certain percentage of your base salary, and over the years that adds up! I highly recommend depositing the maximum amount that your employer will match ever year. It is free money and financially responsible!

Make more money at work!

7 Extra Ways to Earn Money at Work

1) Employ Referral BonusesAs I mentioned above, I missed out on a ton of money by ignoring this bonus opportunity. I have a friend who interviewed with the same company I work for and ended up getting the job.  I had talked with her only a week before about her current job and her career plans going forward, foolishly I didn’t think to refer her to my company (I’ve even written about how to refer a friend for a job).

The reason employee referral programs exist is that the cost of finding good people is pretty high.  It’s worth it to many companies to pay a fee to tap into their employees professional network.

Here’s how the employee referral bonus works at my company.  They pay you a $2500 bonus for any full-time employee you refer that stays with the company longer than six months.  However, you want to make sure you research the appropriate process for referring someone so that you can get credit for the referral. 

In my case, if a candidate applies on their own, even if they mention your name, you don’t get credit.  In order to earn the referral bonus I have to submit their resume through a special page, which then gets forwarded on to Human Resources. 

So if you have people in your network that are skilled and talented and might fit the needs of your company, you should check to see if they offer a referral program. 

2) Performance BonusesPerformance bonuses can be tricky to earn depending on how your company handles them.  In some cases there are well defined milestones that will earn you a bonus.  In other jobs bonuses can more arbitrary, something you get when your boss decides you’ve been putting in a lot of work or really contributed to a project.

If the criteria for a performance bonus aren’t well defined, I’d be reluctant to work your fingers to the bone in hopes of getting a bonus.  However, if you can be pretty certain that putting in extra work will translate to a bonus above and beyond your salary then it can be a good way to make extra money.

3) Idea BonusesSome companies have employee idea programs that are designed to give you an incentive to share your best ideas.  If you’re in the middle of a project and have a revelation that could help the company (save money, be more efficient, help enter new markets, break organizational boundaries, etc) be sure to document it and send it in.

Companies with these idea bonus programs typically have a process where you can submit your ideas.  If yours are approved and implemented then you’re paid a bonus.

4) Achievement BonusesAll the businesses I’ve worked for have a way of honoring high levels of achievement (that include a monetary reward).  Usually held once or twice a year, they open up for submissions of projects from around the company.  The top projects are be nominated for the award and the winner of the award gets a cash prize.

If you have a project you feel is worthy, don’t be afraid to submit it yourself.  If this feels too bold you might be able to submit it anonymously or talk a co-worker into submitting it in their name.

5) Training & ConferencesEvery year when it’s time to make the budget my boss comes around and asks if there are any conferences or training I’d like to attend. It’s true that these benefits are different than money in your pocket bonuses but these events could someday translate into more cash. 

The skills that you learn in training can help you get a promotion at your current job or get hired for a new job.  The connections you make at conferences could someday lead to partnerships or job referrals.  Plus they give you a day or more of paid time away from the office, which is always nice.

6) Travel RewardsWhether you’re flying to a training conference or a client meeting, employer funded travel is an opportunity for you to earn travel rewards. 

Ideally you pay for the plane tickets and hotel rooms on your own and get reimbursed after your trip.  This lets you earn miles on your airline credit cards, free nights on your hotel card, or even just a percentage back on your cash back card.

There are some companies that book your trip for you or require use of a corporate card when you pay.  Although you miss out on the points, miles, or cash back from the purchase – you can still earn some rewards simply by taking the flight or staying the night.

7) Tuition ReimbursementI list tuition reimbursement separately from training and conferences because in some companies the funding (and approval) comes from different sources.

The requirements for having tuition approved and reimbursed can also be different for college courses.  For example, many companies require you to earn a minimum grade in a course before they’ll agree to pay for it.  In contrast, once funding has been approved for a conference or training, sometimes all you have to do is show up since it’s already been paid for.

Be sure you pay attention to the requirements surrounding tuition reimbursement at your company.  A former co-worker of mine didn’t read the details before registering for a course and ended up having to pay the full tuition himself.  Taking one or two courses may not make that much of a difference but if you can have a whole degree paid for by your employer that will certainly boost the value of your resume.

So, what did I miss.  Is there anything else you do in your job that helps you earn money other than your base salary?

How to Dress Professionally

How you dress heavily impacts people's perception of you. A sharp dresser communicates that they pay attention to detail and have self respect, while a sloppy dresser does just the opposite. Employers and clients will look to see how you take care of yourself to get a idea of how you will take care of them in a business relationship. The following post contains highlights from GQ's Guide to Dress Shirts and Shirting, a necessary tool for any guy wanting to appear employable. I encourage you to read the full article -- multiple times-- and then go update your wardrobe. Remember, if you look good, you feel good; confidence is key; and dress for success.

Photo: Paola Kudacki

The GQ Guide to Shirting

Think of Your Dress Shirt as Your Bulletproof Vest

It's the first thing you put on and your last line of defense. When you button it up in the morning, you should feel confident, in control, even invincible. Seriously, putting on a crisp, clean shirt that fits perfectly makes you feel like you're the boss. But here's the thing: A dress shirt is not any old shirt—there are a lot of details to get right, from the collar to the cuffs to the cut of the torso. All that said, buying the right dress shirt isn't quantum physics. You can find it at your local mall just as surely as at the fanciest, priciest, most fashionable store on Madison Avenue. You just have to understand the following principles.

• Know what size shirt you wear. Get measured.

• Always buy a fitted dress shirt—even if you're not model skinny.

• When in doubt, go with a semispread collar. It works with everything.

• Unbutton and unpress your oxford—it's cooler that way.

• Inject some personality into your workwear—try a plaid or gingham dress shirt. And pair either one with a dark tie.

• Be a man: Wear a pink dress shirt to the office.

• Get some attitude: Unbutton your shirt cuffs.

• Don't settle for a limp collar. Use stays.

• Learn to wash and iron your own shirts. You'll save cash and ensure quality care

Read More http://www.gq.com/style/style-manual/201204/shirts-guide-sizing-fit#ixzz1vnrLRPhc

Rise above the Challenge!

Me when I started my first business...

If you want to be successful at a young age, you are going to run into some challenges. This article courtesy of www.under30ceo.com outlines the challenges you will face as a young Entrepreneur and how to overcome them.

7 Ways to Overcome Age and Be Respected as a Young Entrepreneur

Many years ago the barrier to entry into business was high. Starting a new business was extremely difficult for a young twenty something year old not to talk of a young person below the age of 20.

While this has certainly changed in the 21st century there are still challenges of credibility, access to funding and so on facing a young startup entrepreneur.

In some climates like Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America young entrepreneurs have to fight against a mindset where people tend to see youth as not with potential for success but as liabilities.

Still despite the many challenges you may face as a young entrepreneur it is a very exciting time to go into business for yourself. There has never been a better time to start your own business than now. With the internet and new emerging technologies lowering the barrier to entry it is now a more open game for every willing soul.

Challenges to Expect if You Are a Young Entrepreneur

It is better you understand the challenges you are going to come up against as you set out to start your own business or run your own company. Knowing these challenges will help you develop the right attitude to overcoming them.

Challenge of Credibility

I recall the first time I sat before a big hotel executive in my country trying to convince him on how my tiny marketing consulting company can help stimulate reasonable sales and profit growth for his large hotel. The fact that I was a young, small guy with little or no track record didn’t help matters.

As a young entrepreneur you are faced with convincing clients, customers and even prospective employees that you are serious enough and capable of delivering on your promises. Building credibility will determine how far you go as an entrepreneur.

Challenge of Cynicism

In parts of Africa you meet lots of unbelief when you introduce yourself as an entrepreneur and they see you are very young or even too young. I don’t know about your country but there is something about being young and in business that makes people look at you with some skepticism. It is a challenge you have to overcome with boldness and professionalism producing stellar results whenever given the chance. Results will erase the challenges of cynicism and credibility faster than anything else you can think of.

How to Become Respected and Successful as a Young Entrepreneur

You should never despair when people take your words for nothing and dismiss you with a wave of the hand. Learn to grow a thick skin. And here are ways you can become successful even as a young business person.

1. Embrace Technology:

Nothing has contributed to the high number of successful young entrepreneurs in our world today more than technology and the internet. Two decades ago or even less it was more difficult to start a business. The financial requirments and barriers were too high. Technology has taken care of that today. Media businesses like NairaBrains and TechCrunch no longer take much money to start. You can start a serious business today with a couple thousand dollars and no warehouse costs and inventories etc. Today businesses worth millions of Dollars have been started by young, bleary eyed teenagers who had barely enough money to cater for their needs. All thanks to technology.

If you hope to start a business and hopefully grow it to become profitable without the luxury of millions look towards problem solving through technology. It is one of your best shots. If your idea is good enough maybe before you run out of money you get interested investors willing to give you enough funds to take you to profitability.

Internet and tech companies are reasons we have more millionaires in their twenties. So look at problems or challenges that can be solved with the use of technology with enough potential market size, get the right partners and jump in. It will be an easier route to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

2. Use Other People’s Experience:

I struggled with a colleague of mine trying to run a business a few years ago while in the University until I learned the lesson of leverage. If you can’t get across a dugout throw a plank across it and walk your way through. If you are starting a business a sure way to fail is to try to do everything. You might be good in programming and so single handedly you get the website for your idea up and running. How do you promote the idea, get early users in and improve onward all alone? How do you source for more funds from investors?

You don’t have to pay to get other people’s experience. You can offer equity to have experienced people join your team thus complementing your own efforts. You can also get a lot of other people’s experience by just asking. If you have a meeting set up but you need a more credible figure to boost your chances of getting a worthwhile contract then seek out that more experienced person and ask him to join you. You take the back seat and ride on the back of the more experienced people to get what you want.

3. Be Bold and Creative:

Be bold! There are no two ways about in today’s business world. Do your homework and be confident all through. If boldness gets you into trouble only more boldness will get you out. While this may not be absolutely true I have found from experience that you have to be very bold to get the respect you deserve as a young entrepreneur. At the first sign of timidity you lose. Do not allow yourself get cowed. You should also never be too boastful or proud.

Become creative and look for unconventional means to solve problems. People tend to respect you for that. If you are young, ambitious and creative you stand a better chance to succeed. Use your creativity to your advantage.

4. Surround Yourself With a Sound Board of Advisors:

A very good way to tap into other people’s experience as earlier stated is to build up and surround yourself with a smart and knowledgeable Board of Advisors. It need not be a formal board nor do they need to know themselves. They are people you consult for advice, people you go to for business leads. One of the first things I did while trying to restructure my company last year was to weave through all my contacts and create an Advisory Board of all experienced and accomplished professionals who I felt will be of great help to my business. I approached them and asked to seek advice from them whenever I needed to. Several of them agreed. I advise you should do the same.

How Do You Get Such Board if You are Then Young and Inexperienced

Getting a decent Board of Advisors is no easy feat. Chances are that you do not know any experienced or resourceful individual in your proposed line of business. The only way to solve this is to actively begin to network and meet the right people. LinkedIn and a few other networking innovations have made it more easier to link up and meet new people you wouldn’t otherwise have met.

- Don’t make any request first, Build up a Relationship: It’s always smarter to build trust and affinity before making requests from new acquaintances and associates. Make positive efforts to gain their respect and trust and then politely explain that you are starting a company and you feel their experience will be invaluable to the success of your new venture. Let them know that because of how busy they might be you would love to have them as one of your Advisors. Promise not to take much of their time or run to them with every little problem you have.

Getting the right advisors will be difficult. Many will not have your time and turn down your request. The few that do agree may not even have the time to give you advice on phone, reply with detailed advice through email or meet in person with you. So the sooner you know that the better.

Start with gathering a list of potential advisors who are good for the kind of business you are going into. then approach them one after the other to first connect then request. If you end up getting two or three who can give freely of their time and advice you then that will be great for you.

5. Network, Network, Network:

Your best bet to meeting the right people and team you need for your success in the entrepreneurial journey is via social media. With the help of social media networking you can hire the best hands, get needed investors and advisors, attract good consultants and ultimately reach out to more of your target audience without spending tons of money.

If you are a young entrepreneur social media can be a very powerful and important tool for you.

5. Build a Reputation: Reputations grow like fire because they are essentially helped along by word of mouth. Determine a specific talent or thing you want to be respected and known for and quickly begin to build a reputation for yourself. When your name goes ahead of you it doesn’t matter anymore if you are young. For instance if you grow a reputation as a very tough and smart manager you’ll find that it neutralises the age thing and people begin to take you on your reputation and not your age.

6. Push for and Embrace Positive Change:

One astounding feature of today’s youth is that they are more adaptable to change. To succeed today you’ll have to be dynamic and fluid. You can become successful by pushing the limits and boundaries and initiating change. You may be met with initial resistance but if you are courageous enough you make a name for yourself later on.

7. The Art of Organization (Set goals, checkpoints and strive to meet them):

Unorganized individuals hardly make good football managers (same for business management). Until recently organization and definiteness of purpose was one of my greatest challenges as an entrepreneur. You have to be able to plan the short and long term future of what you are building or hoping to build. Keep the long plan in view and execute the short term plan with dexterity making adjustments as situation warrants..

If you are not organized it shows in your business life and activities and you lose respect. That is something you don’t want as a young entrepreneur. Plan and follow your goals. Never enter a meeting without planning and being ready with necessary facts and information.

Join other young entrepreneurs who read NairaBrains.com to get latest business insights and developments.

Paul Eze is the Managing Director/CEO of Pejas Solutions Limited, an ICT services and tech startup incubator company. He is also the Managing Editor at NairaBrains.com, a fast growing business and technology information blog in Nigeria.

Get Motivated

Frequently write by hand the quotes that motivate you the most.

Sometimes we have the resources and ability to make money, but lack the motivation. Use this list of quotes about success (provided by www.under30ceo.com) to inspire you when you feel like quitting. Pick your favorites, write them down, and post them up somewhere you will consistently see them. Good luck!

44 Success Quotes From Under30CEO Readers

1. “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” via Chris Grosser

2. “Don’t complain; just work harder.” via Chris Grosser

3. “Deeds not Words” via Bernord Hor

4. “Before you can work smart you must work hard.” via Chris Pardo

5. “Persevere…because on the road to success there is never a crowd on the extra mile!” via Charity Gibson

6. “I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not trying.” – Jay Z via Steven Gordon

7. “Coffee is for CLOSERS!” via Michael Wayne

8. “It’s not the cards you’re dealt it’s how you play the game” via Chris Pardo

9. “If you think you made it, your at the wrong place, never stop” via Chris Pardo

10. “Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them” via Danielle Luedtke

11. “The grass is greener where you water it” via Danielle Luedtke

12. “If you are going to fear anything fear success. Think about what you are doing and when you succeed what life you will have” via Brandon Chalmers

13. “God gives every bird his worm but He does not throw it into the nest” via Liam Carey

14. “If it is to be, it’s up to me” via Caleb Anthony Parker

15. “Life doesn’t have to suck…DO something about it!” via Jennie Mustafa-Julock

16. “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…. One step at a time.” via Rande Wilson

17. “The only time success occurs before work is in the dictionary.” via Cameron Cashmore

18. “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt via Mike Jones

19. “Entrepreneurs average 3.8 failures before final success. What sets the successful ones apart is their amazing persistence.” – Lisa M. Amos via Tanya Hamilton

20. “The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” via Ashwin Bonde

21. “Anything less than 120 hours a week is part time, if you are okay with average…then work part time” via Chase Slepak

22. “Nothing is as it appears to be” via Trace Cohen

23. “Success is the worst teacher” via Trace Cohen

24. “If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself. Do that well and you’ll be ready to stop managing. And start leading.” via Mark Gonzales

25. “We are all self made but only the successful admit it” via Corey Leja

26. “If you don’t take a chance, you don’t stand a chance.” via Gabriella Mischel

27. “A successful person is one who can lay a solid foundation from the bricks others have thrown at them.” -David Brinkley via Luke Shaw

28. “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity” via Eric Knotts

29. “Things come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle” – Abraham Lincoln via Tina MiModels

30. “If you are willing to do more than you are paid to do, eventually you will be paid to do more than you do” – unknown via Tina MiModels

31. “Fall down seven times, get up eight times” – Japanese proverb via Tina MiModels

32. “Success is a lousy teacher, it seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose” – Bill Gates via Ryan Seitz

33. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible” via Victor Aguirre

34. “Entrepreneurs don’t waste time/energy worrying about being better than someone else. Focus on being the very best version of YOU.” via Abdulaziz Aljouf

35. “Whoever says ‘Nothing is Impossible’ has obviously never tried stapling Jell-o to a tree” via Charity Gibson

36. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin via Ann McCartan

37. “Life isnt about learning how to weather the storm. its about learning how to dance in the rain.” via Monica Fish

38. “There are two rules to success: 1) Never tell everything you know.” via Nick Tart

39. “Create your own destiny. If you don’t, someone else will.” via Chris Leber

40. “Success is not so much what we have, as it is what we are.” – Jim Rohn via Nicole Elizabeth Shields

41. “Success is being able to juggle those Glass Balls called Priorities and keeping them shiny & intact while running the Marathon of Life.” via Jouyin Teoh

42. “Learning from success is important but learning from failure is vital to succeeding” via Jason Platnick

43 “True nobility is not about being better than anyone else its about being better than you used to be.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer via Jason Platnick

44. “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford via Brett Kunsch

Build a Startup

Building a Startup can be one of the hardest things you ever do. It takes time, energy, dedication, and money. However, a successful Startup can be both rewarding and extremely profitable. Facebook, Google, Disney, and many other companies you know and love began as Startups. Here is a helpful video from docstoc.com that outlines 10 strategies for Startup Success. If you have an idea or are currently working on a Startup, I would love to hear about it. Good Luck!

Ways to Make Extra Money!

Hey Readers! Sorry I have been out of contact for a few months. I was studying in Switzerland for the semester and decided spend as little time on my computer as possible while I was there. Now I am back, and you can expect the blog to be up to date again. 

Have money when you graduate by applying these methods!

Check out this list of ways to make money in college compiled by Ben Edwards from MoneySmartLife. He's a great guy and his advice is valuable.

1. Get a job - There are plenty of places on, or near your campus that will hire college students. Because they regularly work with students you can expect them to be willing to adapt to your study schedule and even your time off of school.
2. Have a digital camera? Sell stock photography online - If you’ve always enjoyed taking pictures then why not make a little money off of them? You can sell your images online to places like Dreamstime.com. You’ll make money every time someone downloads your image, and most places will even let you retain part of the copyright.
3. Get Paid to Write Online – Can you write well? If so, there are plenty of places online that are willing to pay you to write for them. Check out this site – they list new jobs every morning, Monday – Friday.
4. Be a tutor - If you excel at English, Math, Science or any subject at all, you can be pretty sure there are other students who do not! Set up your own tutoring service and charge for it. You can also offer tutoring sessions online via chat rooms.
5. Donate Plasma - If you can stand getting your blood drawn then you can do some good and earn some money at the same time. Most places will let you donate once a month so you can pick up an easy $35 to $45 this way.
6. Check to see if you have any unclaimed money - Most states have searchable online databases where you can quickly check to see if you have unclaimed money..
7. Sell Tickets to Your School’s Sporting Events - College basketball and football tickets can be hot items, and students usually get first pick. Buy a couple of extra tickets for big events and sell them to friends and family.
8. Get into a paid internship or a work-study program - If you qualify you can earn money and college credit at the same time.
9. Recycle bottles and cans – If you’ve ever taken a peek into a campus trash can then you’ll know it’s a haven for discarded aluminum cans and plastic soda bottles. You could even get a few friends to go in together on this and split the profits. You’ll be cleaning up your campus, helping the environment, and making money all at the same time.
10. Take Odd Jobs - Put the word out with your friends and family. Let them know you are available to mow their grass, house / pet / baby sit, do light housework, plant flowers, whatever they need. You will be really surprised at how much money you can make doing this. You can set your own hours too, so it will never interfere with your school work.
11. Be a “Fixer-Upper!” - If you can repair computers, leaky faucets, drafty windows or anything else that breaks you can make money doing it for others.
12. Find out what people want and sell it to them - This could be as simple as running to Walmart and picking up cheap colas and chips and re-selling them, or as complex as installing radios and helping other students turn their cars into hybrids to save on gas.
13. Hit up the Sorority and Fraternity Houses on Campus - Ask around and find out if they will let you come in once a week and clean for them. By pitching that every member “would only have to donate X amount” a month you could make quite a bit of money just from swishing and swiping a few toilets. It’s a great way to get social introductions too.
14. Sell Things on Ebay or Craigslist - Make a habit of visiting yard sales, estate sales, auctions, and going through your own garage. Then list your finds online and sell them. You can generate a nice secondary income from this once youlearn what you are doing.
15. Take on Seasonal Work: Shovel snow, rake leaves, plant flowers, wrap gifts. You could even put together a list of cheap, “must have” items each season for men and women of different age groups. Then, sell those lists for a dollar or two a piece. Who wouldn’t love to have a quicklist of cheap gift ideas that their Aunt Fanny, little brother, or Mom might want for Christmas?
16. Capitalize on the Holidays - If you know Valentines Day is approaching, get together with your best guy friends and offer to be the person that picks up all the flowers / chocolates and cards that they need. They give you the money, and you deliver it to them – minus a small fee of course!
17. Build a Website or a Blog - If you enjoy being online this one is easy to do. Get signed up with Google Adsense, Amazon.com’s Affiliate Program, and Linkshare, just to name a few. You may never make a ton of money doing this, but you will probably earn enough to buy a few extra cups of coffee each month.
18. Flip Websites - If you are really good at building websites, then consider doing that as a side job. For more information on how to get started flipping websites check out this site, and this site.
19. Be a Personal Trainer - Most campuses have free gyms for students – but not all students know how to use the equipment! Stick up some flyers, and hang around the gym. You can offer your services as a spotter, and instructor, to those up -and- coming gym rats.
20. Check out your school’s Psych program, and volunteer to take part in their studies - If you are willing to let them pick your brain or study your latent Oedipus complex, you could make a fair amount of money each month.
21. Offer to be an assistant to your professor - Some departments will hire students to assist professors in grading papers, making photocopies, doing research etc.
22. Look for on-campus jobs - One of the biggest and best ways to make money in college is to look for an on-campus job. Check out the library, be a security escort, or even a parking attendant. Many of these jobs come with discounted tuition so they are snapped up quickly. If you can’t manage to get a job on campus your freshman year, decide what you want to do and start lobbying for it – find out how to sign up so that you can get a good deal on your tuition the next year.
23. Deliver Newspapers - Yes, it’s early in the morning, but you can make several hundred dollars a month delivering newspapers. It’s also safe to assume that your hours will not conflict with any of your class schedules!
24. Sell Your Video Game Accounts - If you love playing online games and you can level your characters or make gold quickly, then you can make a decent amount of money doing it as a side business. Besides, learning to set the prices of online auction houses is an excellent compliment to an economics class!
25. Become a Model - Campus Art Departments usually need models, and contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be naked to do it – mostly they want you dressed, and sitting, standing, or posing.
26. Run a Car Wash - Get together with some friends once a month, hold a car wash, and split the profits.
27. Create a Calendar - If you belong to any on-campus organizations, offer to create a yearly calendar for them. You can have them printed cheaply online, and sell them at a profit. Donate a portion of the profits to the organization, and keep the rest.
28. Sell T-Shirts - If you have a witty idea for a T-shirt you can design and sell it onZazzle.com. Tell everyone you know about them, and you earn a percentage of the sale when they log on and buy one.
29. Teach a Mini-course - Everyone at college is there to learn, and if you have a specific skill like writing, power-leveling video game characters, flipping websites, even water skiing or knitting, then chances are other students would be willing to pay you a small amount to learn that skill. So, set up your own mini-instruction course, meet twice a month and charge a reasonable fee.
30. Take Notes in Class and Sell Them - You’re sitting in class and taking notes anyway, right? Offer to sell your notes to your classmates. Many students who take notes on their own would still be willing to buy yours if you organize them well. After all, you may catch something they missed, and an extra study aid is always valuable before a final. This is one way to make money and good grades at the same time!
31. Work your network - When you need extra money, start by talking to the people you know. Find out if they know anyone who is hiring, or if they have any creative ideas for making money.

Even the NY Times Knows Students are Pressed for Cash

Here is an interesting article written by the NY Times about college students getting creative to make money. The original article can be found here.

College Students Replace Poverty With Creativity

LIKE so many college students these days, Margaux Malyshev was desperate for cash.

Erik Jacobs for The New York Times

Margaux Malyshev.

“I did not want to ask my parents for more money,” said Ms. Malyshev, a sophomore at Northeastern in Boston, where yearly tuition runs $51,000 with room and board. A Craigslist posting for a hair model looked like an easy $250.

There was a catch. “To earn the $250, I had to let them do anything they wanted to my hair,” said Ms. Malyshev, who walked in with long, sleek blond tresses and emerged a few hours later a brunette with shaggy bangs and layers. “From now on, I plan to stick to psychological testing,” she said, referring to the roughly $20 an hour she often makes filling out university research questionnaires. (“Harvard pays the best in the Boston area,” she added.)

There is plenty of pain to go around in this economy. But college students, the generation facing the dual misery of unprecedented tuition levels and grim employment prospects after graduation, are feeling a special sting. As a result, penny-pinching and creative cash accumulation are becoming something like campus sports.

Mira Hager, a sophomore at Macalester College in St. Paul, carries an ample supply of cash from home so she can avoid the $3 withdrawal fees at local A.T.M.’s. She saved $300 by borrowing many of her textbooks from the library, rather than buying them. She also works a campus job nine hours a week as a building manager but has a better plan for next year. “I plan to work campus events, where you sometimes get free food,” she said.

Kasey Cox, a junior at the University of Michigan, brings a travel mug of coffee filled with her own home brew to the cafe she likes to study in and pretends she bought it there. She also frequently attends club meetings or seminars that provide refreshments, and she has an eagle eye for special offers. “On my birthday this year, I hit up five different places in town that give out free things or birthday deals,” she said.

Grigory Lukin, 25, the author of the 99-cent e-book “Going to College Without Going Broke,” recommends student clubs for more than the free food. When he was a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, he joined a community service club that held its annual meeting during spring break. “Our club had several sponsors, so we ended up paying just $20 each for a three-day weekend in a four-star hotel,” he said. “A lot of student clubs have these free, or almost free, trips, but they don’t like to advertise them for obvious reasons.”

According to Martin Dasko, 24, the founder of Studenomics.com, a Web site he started as a senior at Ryerson University in Toronto, there is no reason students should not be able to save money in college. “If students have time for Facebook and TV, they have time for a campus job,” he said. Mr. Dasko said his Web site gets between 1,000 and 2,000 hits a day, many of them from students asking about online jobs, like tutoring (for that, he recommends studentoffortune.com). “But I also get a lot of hits from students searching ‘free drinking’ and ‘how to date with no money,’ ” he said, laughing.

“Just get a job.”