City Steals Sidetrack: Make Some Extra Cash in NYC

While we may not have the time to work a second job, we do have some nights and weekends to spare. Here are some ways you can earn a little extra cash while in New York, with less of a time commitment:

1. Sell back your books. Used book stores such as The Strand (12th Street and Broadway) and Book Off (41st Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue) will give you cash for your used books. While The Strand tends to return a higher percentage of the original price, Book Off is only a short walking distance from our internships. Amazon.com and Ebay.com are also excellent places to sell used books.

2. Become a tutor. College students make excellent tutors because we are in our prime learning years and the information is fresh in our minds. You can find tutoring positions on your own (for example, through craigslist.com) or go through a tutoring agency, which often will pay up to $35 per hour. A tutor’s hours tend to vary, but many of these jobs are only a few hours per week, which makes them easy to coordinate with any schedule.

3. Write an Op-Ed. As we are all journalists-in-training, this is a perfect way to hone our journalism skills and make some extra money at the same time. Some newspapers will pay more than $100 for its op-ed contributions. The New York Times, however, offers $450, but that means that your op-ed will be one among the 1,200+ that the Times receives each day. Tough odds, but hey, it’s worth a shot!

4. Sell old clothing. There are tons of consignment stores around the city that are looking for new items to add to their inventory!

5. Transcribe. Yes, transcribe. We may not want to do it outside of our internships, but if you want to earn some extra money on the side, you can find these jobs on craigslist.com and mediabistro.com. They pay well too!

6. Join a Focus Group. Market research companies such as Focus Room are looking for people to test products and services such as cosmetics, banks, foods, and more. They only require a little of your time and feedback! Register on focusroom.com, provide some information about your interests and lifestyle, and they will contact you for studies that you will fit. These generally pay between $85 and $500 per trial.