How I Survive
I’m a college student without a job. I don’t have parent money coming in every week and I’m certainly not doing anything illegal (I’m not selling drugs or running a prostitution ring). So how am I surviving?
Simple - I’m finding a way to get paid for doing something I’d do anyway. In my case, writing posts and articles for this site. I originally started beer.pizza.tech so that I’d have published work online for people to view. If I’m up for an important internship or a job in the future, I’ll point them here. Thanks to a few companies, however, not only am I doing something for my future, I’m getting paid now.
These companies look for established blogs to add to their roster. After that, the blogger is asked to write a short article about a certain company or topic and link back to a certain URL. Then the blogger waits to get paid. You may think that sounds way too simple, but that’s really, truly it. Some companies are:
I’ve also made some nice spending money over at CashCrate. Basically, you fill out some surveys and fill out some forms (to be put on mailing lists and such, set up a new email for spam) and you get paid. My check last month was around $26 and this month is going to be around $11. Bear in mind, I am busy with my writing (and college) and barely ever log on. Who knows what you’d make if you put some more time in it. At the very least, you’ll make enough to pay a bill or two. Here’s a hint: look for the eBay offer. All you have to do is sign up for an eBay account and bid on something - go for an item you know you won’t win. That will make you $8 right off the bat.
Those are my two sources of income right now. I’m not exactly rich, but I’m not exactly somebody’s slave, either. Money might not buy happiness, but freedom does, and when you have both money and freedom you’re a pretty lucky person. So if you’d rather work on the weekends and let college pass you by, feel free. Or you can start up a simple little blog about something you like (yourself, even), sign up with some blog ad companies and do what you want, when you want.
I wish things like paid blogging had been around when I was in college (which was only 5-6 years ago). I made my money in college by typing papers for the soccer & basketball teams lol, and it was enough to get by, but not enough to do what I wanted. I make at least twice as much just doing paid blog posts whenever I feel like it.
You really do get a lot of writing experience when you’re doing this. Just think of how many times the creativity has flowed in one of your research papers because paid blogging has taught you to be creative!