Currently in university, and am occupied pretty much every day of the week with some hours to spare each day. How can I make some decent money online in-between my work?

I know this question gets asked a lot, but I really am occupied for a lot of the week. What can I do to make some money on the few hours a day that I am free? Please give me genuine advice or something a young adult could do. Thank you!

@Deen
The copyright implications of that are staggering. Lecture materials are copyright protected and belong to the professor or university. Currently, there are multiple legal battles in Canada and the US over student-run companies who did things like this, and they are getting sued by universities as well as expelled for academic misconduct. I wouldn’t go this route.

Deen said:
@Stevie
There won’t be any copyright issues once you’ve shovelled all of this into AI and had it written out again.

That’s still TBD depending on the country you live in. But if you want to deal with the legal costs associated with battling it out while they make you the test case, then fill your boots.

You could flip stuff on eBay, write for Medium, start a YouTube channel about your life, same for TikTok, create digital products to sell, and tutor younger students. That’s just for starters. You could also get an evening or weekend job.

For more side hustles that worked for me, check out my ebook… https://old.reddit.com/user/sidehustle2025/comments/1ddi01x/i_made_750000_from_my_side_hustles_and_decide_to/

Right now, you have far more time on your hands than you think and likely will never have as much free time ever again in your life. The internet didn’t exist when I was at University, and I’ve often wondered what I would have done if it had.

There are so many opportunities for you where you could use time to gain knowledge and skills that could make you money in your spare time while studying. It’s important to find something you enjoy doing; otherwise, it will quickly become tedious.

You could check out the gig economy, learn a skill, or offer your services for a skill you already have. There are interesting AI tools out there that can create videos, and many businesses need help with their social media accounts. You could learn this skill in a day and start offering these services.

Canva’s free account provides many possibilities to create images, social media posts, and videos that people and businesses will pay for. Social media management is another service that small businesses often pay for. Alternatively, consider ecommerce opportunities, which might yield greater results but require more effort. Invest in your side hustle learning, even if just $100 a month, and you could access resources that generate revenue streams.

Open up new checking accounts for bank bonuses. For example, just opened a Chase account, direct deposited $500, and got a $300 bonus within a couple of weeks. There are many banks offering bonuses. If you’re interested, just Google one and find referral links.

Alternatively, use Swagbucks or similar sites that reward you for playing games or signing up for accounts. This can yield some bonus points for PayPal or gift cards. Uber Eats or DoorDash are great options to earn cash, focusing on orders around $10 and within short distances. Just be strategic about the orders you take.

Also, funnel every dollar you spend into a credit card to maximize rewards. Use cashback portals to get extra bonuses on your purchases.

@Quincy
Swagbucks is such a timesink; it’s hard to believe you made a grand with that. DoorDash appears to provide better earning potential, while Uber is less profitable.

Vero said:
@Quincy
Swagbucks is such a timesink; it’s hard to believe you made a grand with that. DoorDash appears to provide better earning potential, while Uber is less profitable.

I prefer Uber Eats significantly more than DoorDash. Over my five years doing this, Uber has proven to be my primary income source, even if it sometimes requires working with both apps to maximize my earnings.

Check out r/free_money_tips for quick tasks, sign-up offers, bonuses, and affiliate links. I’ve netted a few hundred dollars this way. Take advantage of these earnings and invest or start a side business for growth.

I did Rover, the dog sitting platform, which was flexible with hours and provided decent earnings. I worked with regular clients and offered dog walking and sitting in my apartment.

Given your busy schedule, Yelay might be a suitable option. It allows you to easily choose DeFi protocols based on your risk preference.

Since you’re occupied, avoid trading crypto as it requires significant time. However, consider yield generation protocols. Yelay is a good option for optimizing yields.

Fin said:
Since you’re occupied, avoid trading crypto as it requires significant time. However, consider yield generation protocols. Yelay is a good option for optimizing yields.

Sounds like an accessible option for everyone. It reminds me of trending mini-games with rewards.

@Kimberly
Yelay is a DeFi aggregator providing benefits for stakers on specific projects.

Consider printing shirts for local businesses around your university. Get a heat press, watch some YouTube tutorials, distribute flyers, and acquire DTF transfers and blank shirts to start your venture.