5 Ways to Make and Save Extra Money While Getting an Education

Embarking on your educational journey is a great way to interact with new people, develop new skills, and learn things about a topic of interest. Yet, trying to maintain your finances while being a student can be challenging. Although there are now more affordable academic options, such as online certificates and boot camps, being an adult in higher education can cause a strain on your wallet. If you are out of high school and well into your 20s or older, odds are you now have a laundry list of bills to pay each month. These can be overwhelming if you are trying to earn an education simultaneously. Here are some tips on facing those difficulties.  

Even if you are working towards a certificate or attending a program, tutoring is a great way to not only keep your mind active but also to make some extra money. Tutoring schedules are often very flexible and can be done virtually. Even if you work during some weekdays or weekends, night sessions are always an option. Aside from the financial compensation, tutoring can be rewarding as well, knowing you are helping students learn to the best of their capabilities.  

Online micro-credential and boot camp programs are one of the most flexible and convenient methods of education. You can learn new topics and skills from anywhere and adapt to your existing schedule. Not having to commute could save hundreds per month on gas and protect your car from adding extra miles. You will also save on food costs- if you ever attended classes on a campus all day, it’s likely you spend money on food while you are on campus for long periods of time.  

The best way to get a visual of your monthly expenses is to track them! Getting a budget book is a useful way to see your bills, and what your monthly income is, and break down other categories, such as food expenses, shopping, and recreational activities. This is also a helpful way to reduce unnecessary spending. Checking your bank statements can help you cut out bills and subscriptions you no longer use- such as old gym membership accounts, or services you no longer use.  

Sometimes higher educational institutions or organizations will offer special discount codes to receive a discounted percentage of the total cost of a program. Sign up for different email newsletters to stay in the loop and keep yourself updated on upcoming deals.  

One of the great things about online certificates and boot camp programs is that they very often don’t require extra materials or textbooks. Textbooks alone can be thousands of dollars per semester depending on the school and major. If you have previously attended college, it’s likely you have some old textbooks lying around. See if your college accepts book buybacks at their bookstore. You can also explore online bookstores where companies will buy your book and resell it to students looking for discounted and used textbooks.  

 For more helpful tips on higher education and to see the latest options, check out Focus EduSolutions.