I am a graphic design student, which sounds great if you can ignore two very real categories I fall under – the starving artist and the broke college student. These aren’t just stereotypes, they’re very real. Honestly, I find now that I live on my own, I am actually at my parents’ house more often than I was when I lived there in high school. A free, home cooked meal these days is just too valuable to pass up. College is like life’s little boot camp, where you can work full time and go to school full time and still, somehow, have empty pockets and an empty stomach. This is why sometimes for me (and every other college student I know,) it is necessary to find alternative ways to make some cash.

The best thing I’ve learned about how to make money on the side is: Do what you love doing. WHOA… crazy, right?

Before the DJ scratches the disk to a stop and everyone turns and looks at me funny, let me explain my reasoning. I love graphic design. I would do it every day for 24 hours if my schedule (or eyelids) would allow.. That’s why I don’t mind doing side work that involves graphic design. My passion happens to be a much needed skill in today’s world, which is a blessing for me. I don’t have to be super creative to make money. I just do what I do. Other passions, however, aren’t always as in-demand as my own. So you might need to get a little creative when it comes to maximizing your skill. But, as people like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerburg have taught us, getting creative with your passion may end up in great success.

Do you love lifting weights? Do you know the difference between whey protein and regular protein? Does the theme song for Rocky play in your head when you wake up in the morning? There are people who would kill to be like you – or even crazier, pay to have you train them. We live in health-conscious times, and the knowledge of a good diet and steady exercise routine is very valuable. Meet people who are trying to get into the ‘loop’ about working out and charge them per week for your time and effort. Professional trainers cost a fortune, and a lot of people would appreciate a budget friendly alternative. Do you love social media? Do you have a crowd of digital fans that gasp in awe at your every tweet and Instagram photo? This is an extremely valuable skill, and you probably didn’t even realize it. Attention is the new currency when it comes to the internet, and some people have no idea how to leverage that. Many traditional small businesses are dying to have a presence on social media. Reach out to your local businesses, or speak to people you know that may need a social media coordinator. You will be making extra money on the side, and you won’t even have to look away from your cell phone!

The best thing about today’s advertising is that you can do a great deal of it at no cost.. Anyone can be the CEO of their own business and reach all parts of the globe from a tap of their iPhone. This creates a massive instant market.. So if you know a skill, like knitting socks, change it up just a tiny bit. Knit a stocking cap for a kitten, post it online, and try to make it go viral. Stocking-Cats (I even made up the name for you) could be the next Snuggie, who knows?!

Get online attention with a creative skill or unique product. Spend the time to present it and market it well, and then reap the benefits when you’re the new King or Queen of Feline Headwear. This is the best way to take advantage of the digital age and start making money before you’ve finished school.