5 Ways to Earn Money Without an Actual Job

With the advent of the internet, there are so many ways you can earn some extra pocket money without a full-time job. Here are some of the 5 easiest ways you can earn some extra money while being a student!

Money Management

Updated 14 Sep 2018

5 Ways to Earn Money Without an Actual Job - Feature-Image

Got your eye on the latest tech gadget and need some extra cash?

What if we told you that there's actually a way to earn money without having an actual job?

Now, we know it seems too good to be true, but we promise you that this isn't a scam. With the advent of the internet, there are so many ways you can earn some extra pocket money without slaving at a 9-to-5 job. In fact, some people have even made a career out of doing these "side jobs", making more than what a full-time job would pay them!

All you need to do is to find something that's interesting to you, put some effort and dedication into it and just go for it!

Here are some of the 5 easiest ways you can earn some extra money while being a student.

#1. Sell stuff online

This is perfect if you've got a ton of stuff lying around, whether it's old books or pre-loved clothes, accessories and gadgets.

All you need to do is snap some awesome photos and post them online! After all, one man's junk is another man's treasure.

Some great (and free!) websites to get you started:

Mudah.my: An online classified-ads selling a wide variety of products and services
Lowyat.NET: This popular forum has a "Garage Sales" section for you to sell your stuff
Lelong: One of the largest online marketplaces in Malaysia that lets you list for free
Carousell: This mobile app marketplace lets you upload items with just a few taps

If you're feeling a bit more entrepreneurial, you could also buy goods via Alibaba.com and set up an online store to sell your purchases, whether it's handphone accessories or beauty products.

And if you really want to take it to the next level, you can even sell handmade stuff on Etsy, one of the biggest marketplaces in the world for handmade and vintage goods!

#2. Do some part-time work

Doing part-time work is great because you only need to commit to a certain number of hours, and you can take on more or less work depending on your college schedule. A weekend here and there doing various odd jobs can earn you some cool cash.

Jobs can range from data entry, translating documents, promoting goods or even interesting tasks such as mystery shopping.

Some of the part-time job portals in Malaysia include PartTimePost, You.my and PartTime.com.my. You can also consider GoGet, where you can help others run errands, like delivering food and groceries, shopping for clothes or even waiting in line!

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#3. Monetise your skill sets

Are you a pro at using Photoshop? Do you have a great recording voice? Or maybe you have a keen eye for detail and you're good at proofreading?

What you can do is list your skills on marketplaces that sell services. Sites like Fiverr and GigBucks allow you to sell small tasks and services, whether it's writing, graphic design, video editing or even wacky things like singing a birthday song or doing an impersonation!

The key to success is ensuring that you find a method to do things quickly and efficiently so that it doesn't take up too much time and you get to take on more jobs.

#4. Complete surveys online

It seems hard to believe, but yes — you can get paid to fill up surveys online!

Many companies conduct market research to understand consumer behaviour and are willing to pay for consumer insights. Sites like PanelPlace and iPanelOnline are great places for you to start.

Do note that there are a fair number of scam survey sites, so make sure you do some research to check if they are legitimate.

You certainly won't get rich taking surveys, but it's a good, mindless way to spend your time while watching TV or waiting for the bus.

#5. Attend focus groups

Similar to completing surveys online, focus groups are also a method for market research, where you are required to discuss certain topics in a room with several other people. Focus groups generally pay well and will only take a couple of hours of your time.

To be a participant, leave your details with market research companies, such as Elite Market Research. You can also do a search on part-time job portals like PartTimePost, where they may list such jobs.

You may need to be in a certain demographic and age group, but it’s definitely worth a shot!