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Cash Crunch? 5 Suggestions
by Kari Lamanuzzi
photo of two people out of money
We've all been in a position where a little bit of money, even $100, would make a huge difference. In some cases, just a few extra dollars means that rent is paid on time or your bank account stays out of the red. While sometimes it may seem as though there's no good way to make quick money, there are several different options for students to get fast cash.

  • Take part in a study
    If you're a student at a large college or university, chances are there are some studies going on. From sleep deprivation to depression, usually the psychology department has something that you can do to make fast money. To find out if there's anything like this going on in your area, look at the classified section of your student paper, or check for flyers in the psychology and/or management department buildings.
  • Give blood or plasma
    This may not immediately jump out as a viable option for making money, but if all you need is $50 or less it can be a good way to go. To find out if the blood bank in your area will pay for donations, call around and ask. It's important to keep in mind that this is not a way to get rich, but in certain situations it can definitely help you to make ends meet. As an added bonus, donating your blood or plasma can help to save a life!
  • Sell stuff on Ebay
    Remember that obnoxious sweater that you got for Christmas a few years ago? You know, the one sitting in the back of your closet with the tags still on it? Believe it or not, somebody is probably willing to pay good money to take it off of your hands. The only way to find out for sure, of course, is to put it up on Ebay. This is also a good way to turn your old textbooks, video games and soccer equipment into fast cash. Depending on how fast you need the money, you can set the auction to last for one, three or even seven days.
  • Babysitting
    If you did it in high school, you already know that babysitting is a great way to earn some easy cash. Finding a good babysitting gig is relatively easy to do, especially if you have references. The first step is to scour your college's community boards to see who needs a babysitter. Usually, these community boards are packed with fliers from parents searching for the right sitter. You might also want to check websites like www.sittercity.com. If babysitting doesn't appeal to you but you're working on getting a degree in Computer Science, you many want to post a flier of your own. If you have the skill set to do basic PC repairs and maintenance, advertise that you'll do it for $20 an hour (or the going rate in your area).
  • Freelance writing
    Freelance writing is a great way to earn quick money. The easiest way to find writing work is to utilize websites like www.craigslist.org and search the writing jobs and writing gigs categories. First look into cities near you, but if you don't immediately find something don't get discouraged. The great thing about writing is that you can do it from just about anywhere, so be sure to look into the listings in every major city. As long as you have some writing samples to show (old papers are usually fine), you should be writing for money within a week or so. The key to finding freelance work is to be diligent in looking for more work.

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