“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
We all need a coin, a dollar, a check and a bag...
Finding a job isn't the easiest task, especially while you're in school. Luckily, there are ways for us all to make a few (or more) extra dollars outside of filling out a job application. When I was in high school I taught myself how to do hair and makeup from watching YouTube videos, once I started college I began telling people to come to me if they needed their hair or makeup done. I knew that as a black woman in a white town attending a predominantly white institution, that the black students on campus would be in need of some ethnic hair styling so my target audience wasn't hard to find!
AND BOOM
That's how I became the campus stylists and makeup artist. I charged a "college friendly" fee and built a consistent clientele for the four years I was there. I was able to establish some financial independence (in addition to my parents helping out). I got creative and started offering birthday and special occasion deals, I knew party weekends would be my busiest, and I offered my services to a few organizations for their events! Easy. Money.
So, now I'm gonna give you all a few ways you, too, can make a few extra dollars:
1. Do What I Did
If you're skilled in the area of cosmetology, use it to your advantage and help your classmates and campus pals out. Find your audience, promote yourself, ask your friends to be guinea pigs and watch the money roll in. This is also a great way to make new friends!
2. Food Plates
Everyone on campus longs for a good home cooked meal. However, most students aren't living in apartments with access to a kitchen, don't have money to spend at a restaurant or buy groceries, or they simply don't know how to cook! If that happens to be your area of expertise, then make some meal deals. No one is going to say NO to some good, affordable food.
3. Tutor
If you're in high school this is most convenient for you. Offer to tutor some younger kids or even kids in your grade a couple times week for $10-$15 an hour. It'll be effortless if it's something you've mastered already and parents are always looking for tutors for their kids!
4. Train/Coach
If you're an athlete it's harder for you to have any spare time to hustle outside of games and practicing. But, here's an idea: offer to train or coach some kids in your city or college town. It'll give them something productive to do and you'll get your workout in as well while making a few extra dollars.
These are just a few ways to use your talent as your hustle. Trust me, you get real creative when you're broke so I'm sure you'll be able to come up with your own ideas!
Goodluck.
Favor, Peace & Blessings
Mimi
Jermesha Striblet
www.browngirlproverb.com
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