Almost all students in South Africa have one thing in common. They’re broke. But fear not, we are about to explore some of the many ways you can make money in South Africa as a student. Some methods are passive income ideas, and others are ideas where you would need to exchange time for money.
Sell Your College Notes
Let’s face it. Many of us are lazy. We are willing to pay for things that make our lives easier. This provides students with an opportunity to make some income. If you are in university or college, the chances that you will make study notes and summaries of the work you do is very high.
You can earn some income by selling your study notes and summaries to students who are lazy and willing to pay you, or those who will require it for their studies the following year. How much you charge is up to you. You can also try selling your notes through online platforms.
Start a blog
Have a passion or hobby that you are capable of writing about? Starting a blog might be for you. Blogs can earn income from a variety of sources, like advertisements or affiliate marketing. There will be a learning curve and you will not get rich quick.
With enough hard work you can make a sizable income as a student through blogging in South Africa. Here’s an idea: Start a blog about “Making Money”, and blog about your quest of trying to make money as a student.
Start a YouTube Channel
Become the next famous South African YouTuber. Post quality content on a consistent basis, and watch as your YouTube subscribers grow, your videos reach thousands of viewers and watch as your bank account fills up from the ad revenue.
Being a YouTuber can pay well, and for some it even ends up being a full-time job. It will definitely take a lot of effort though, so be prepared to put in the work!
Start a Podcast
In 2019, popular podcaster Joe Rogan and his Podcast The Joe Rogan experience made $30 million (+- R500 million) from podcasting. If you have a phone, you can start a podcast. Making money from a podcast is as simple as making a few podcasts a week. There are many free podcasting hosting services.
Braid Hair & Do People’s nails
I’m a guy, but I know of few students who have provided these services to people, especially fellow students. If you need customers, start and grow a presence on social media. Start a facebook page, an instagram account and a twitter account. Share your work on social media to get people noticing so you can get more clients.
Become a dog walker
Yes, you can make money walking dogs in South Africa. Go around your neighborhood to offer your services and create an account on dog walking apps to find new dog walking-prospects. It is not that hard to become a dog walker. It starts with having the love for dogs and the passion to walk dogs.
Photography
If you have a good camera, great, if you have a phone, that will do. Make money selling stock photos on stock websites. Shoot unique images and upload them to stock websites where people are willing to purchase them. Stock photography is a great way to earn passive income. Additionally, you can offer your photography skills to small businesses or take photos at events.
Social Media Marketing
Make money helping small businesses in South Africa set up, manage and grow their social media presence. This is a great method for earning money as a student, as students spend a lot of time on social media. A lot of time.
You can charge small businesses and individuals a once-off fee to set up their social media accounts (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) and then charge these businesses or individuals a monthly retainer to manage these accounts for them.
Freelance
Are you good at design, writing or coding? Make money freelancing in South Africa. Set up a Fiverr and Upwork account to start offering your talent and skills to a global marketplace.
You can also search the web for freelance or remote jobs and tasks that you can do for money. Be sure to check Gumtree. By freelancing you can make money doing what you love from the comfort of your home, or hostel.
Get a Part-Time or Full Time Job
Lastly, and definitely a guaranteed way to make money in the South is to get a job. Popular jobs for students include; waitering, working in retail, work in the sales department, being a nanny, and tutoring. If you have a driver’s license and/or a vehicle you can use, you can make money as a driver, or do deliveries.
So, there you have it, the best ways to make money in South Africa as a student. We hope you find financial success in your new money-making venture.
