Quick Cash

Many scams of college freshman revolve around quick cash schemes. Some involve working at home, mailing letters, and offering services to others that are invisible. Some profitable quick cash schemes are selling plasma, typing papers, providing transportation, and selling back books.

Typing papers has always been the reliable college job through out the years. Normally, students put up flyers in student study hot spots and wait for business. Any rate can be charged, however if it isn’t reasonable, no one will call the listed phone number. Last minute students often try and use this kind of service. The typist may be asked to fill in missing phrases or transitional words in the provided paper, but the typist should remember, who should be doing the work.  Many typists require at least half of the money up front and the other half would be paid upon completion of the paper. Consequently, students that disappear off the radar prior to payment will loose their initial investment. $10-15 an hour is a reasonable price, but you may charge extra if you have a tight timeline.

If you have a car on campus, friends will probably ask for a ride frequently. If you have a fuel-efficient car you may be able to make a few dollars by charging a flat fee for transportation expenses. Limit the number of free rides around campus and consider posting a small visible sign inside your vehicle requesting payment. Be extremely wary of providing rides to strangers, and people that you don’t really know. Criminal minds abound on campus so don’t become a victim, and use sound judgment. Make sure your insurance is kept current in the event of an accident.

Selling books back to the bookstore is another good way to make money. Books in good condition will have more value upon return, than books in poor condition with multiple entries in the margins.  A student that has a little time to raise quick cash may consider putting up flyers advertising books for resell. In general, a student will make more money selling directly to another student, then selling back to the bookstore. The bookstore may run out of used books quickly, consequently the only available books to buy may be unused full price books.  Check out the bookstore to determine if this is the case. Be sure and post a flyer close to the bookstore to pick up any potential customers going to the bookstore.

Be wary of schemes to work in Alaska, folding envelopes, and being a sales agent on campus for a business with a P.O.Box address. Many students try going to Alaska during the summer to work on fishing boats. However, summer conditions off the coast of Alaska are not fun. Ten to twenty foot seas can be the normal conditions of the day. A student would be required to work in all weather conditions and operate on minimal amounts of sleep. Also many a student has lost a finger, or had a traumatic injury working on fishing boats.

Folding envelopes is a slow tedious process that offers poor rewards on time and return. Often money from the envelope’s company is slow in coming and short on the investment of time. Businesses without a P.O. Box are often times businesses without a permanent addresses and location. Scam artists attempting to separate a college student from their money run some of these businesses.