National Student Money Week: Advertise to Monetise

“Piggy Bank” by Artsy Crafty/ CC0 1.0

As university students, especially in London, we’re always looking for ways to earn extra income, whether to offset travel costs or contribute to our savings. However, navigating the job market, dealing with multiple rejections, or simply not knowing where to start can be overwhelming and lead to financial stress. 

Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to help you find side hustles or part-time jobs while studying!

King’s Talent Bank 

King’s Talent Bank is a platform open to both King’s students and alumni where job opportunities on campus are posted. These include roles such as: 

  • Research assistants 
  • Librarians 
  • Focus group attendees 
  • Campus ambassadors  
  • ECG model for med students 

Fun fact: I became a Money Mentor by spotting a job posting on King’s Talent Bank! All you need to do is register on the site, upload proof of your right to work (if you’re an international student), and apply for jobs that suit you. Most jobs are fairly flexible, and you can earn up to £15 per hour!  

King’s Careers & Employability 

King’s Careers & Employability is a platform that helps students discover job opportunities and internships. Finding an internship to take on during the holidays can provide valuable experience and extra income to use during term. This way, you can focus on your studies without the stress of working during the semester whilst having financial security to fall back on. 

Vinted, Depop and eBay 

If you love shopping and have accumulated too many clothes or items, selling them on platforms like Vinted, Depop, and eBay can be an excellent way to generate extra income. 

Sales aren’t just limited to clothes—you can also sell shoes, cosmetics, books, and home décor at prices you set. While individual sales may seem small, they quickly add up. The average Depop seller earns between £85-£850 a month—£85 alone could cover a food shop or a few weeks of TFL travel! 

Beware of Scams 

As job searching increases, so do recruitment scams. Scammers often take advantage of eager job seekers through: 

  • Fake job listings: These often require candidates to pay a fee to complete an application or secure a role. Use platforms such as Glassdoor and AngelList to verify genuine listings. 
  • Imposters: Scammers may pose as affiliates of hiring firms, asking for scanning fees or personal details. 
  • Email offers: Be cautious of unsolicited job offers via email, especially those requesting sensitive information such as bank details. 

While finding a job is exciting, always take the time to verify its legitimacy. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from fraudulent schemes. 

Making extra money as a student doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you take advantage of Kings’ resources, sell items online, or land a flexible part-time job, there are plenty of ways to earn money without compromising your studies. Explore your options, stay safe, and start monetising your time effectively! 

Aderinsola Abudu
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts. 

Side Hustles: Reselling

“Clothes Sneakers” by Kasia Serbin/ CC0 1.0

Hi KCL! Now that term two has started, you may be thinking about ways to make some extra cash to help you make the most of the rest of the academic year. For our second blog post in this “side hustle” series, we thought we’d focus on reselling as an extra source of income. Lots of us will have items we no longer use that are gathering dust at home. Instead of letting these things go to waste, reselling can allow someone else to make the most of them. Best of all, you can get paid for it! There are so many options in terms of reselling so this post will focus on a few of the routes you can go down.

Clothes and shoes

Everyone probably has clothes they no longer wear anymore. Consider selling these on platforms such as Depop or Vinted. Branded or vintage items of clothing tend to sell more quickly (take a look at what items of clothing the most popular sellers are listing). But taking clear pictures with a neutral background also goes a long way. You can sell shoes on these platforms too, but if you have any unused trainers (or ones in good condition), you could look into reselling these via websites such as StockX or GOAT, which have worked well for me in the past. If you happen to own a popular pair of trainers, you can make a big profit doing this!

Textbooks

Any university textbooks that you no longer use can be sold via platforms such as Amazon, ebay and Facebook marketplace. Bear the shipping costs in mind, as packages filled with books can get quite pricey to send. An alternative option would be to sell these to students in years below.

Old CDs, DVDs and games

Most of us probably have CDs, DVDs or video games lying around that we’ll never use again. You can sell these via platforms such as musicMagpie. Payment is usually made via bank transfer or PayPal on the same day which is a big plus! The amount you receive depends on the item, but you can expect around 8p-£1 for CDs, £1.50 for DVDs and £10-£15 for video games.

Aluminium cans  

Lastly, this one may seem a bit unexpected but you can make money from any old aluminium recycling cans by selling them via recycling centres! Have a look at the Think Cans website for a list of recycling centres in the UK.

Reselling is more straightforward than people think so hopefully this post gives you some insight into how to make a bit of extra money by selling items that you no longer use, or would otherwise throw away. As always, feel free to reach out to KCL Money and Housing if you any questions. We’ll see you in our next post!

Aanchal Raina
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts. 

National Student Money Week: Your Hidden Gems

“Coins Money” by Negative Space/ CC0 1.0

Hi there KCL! For the second day of National Student Money Week, we thought we’d make a post focusing on our chosen theme of “hidden gems.” London is a fantastic city to live in as a student, but we all know how expensive things can get. In this short post, I’ll go through some of the best current deals for students to save money, which you may or may not have heard of.  

Discounts  

This one may seem a bit obvious, but it’s worth making note of the different platforms that offer student discounts. There are three main ones to remember. Make sure to check out UNIDAYS, Student Beans and Totum as they can be very useful to help you save money, whether it comes to buying clothes, technology or eating out. If you’re studying a healthcare-related course, you could also consider getting a Blue Light card. This costs £4.99 for two years and you’re entitled to discounts on a large number of brands. All you need is a valid NHS ID to register.  

Travel  

We have a separate blog post dedicated to travel costs but one tip that I learned too late would be to link your Oyster card to your Railcard. Doing this will allow you to save one third on off-peak travel prices! Off-peak times are from 9:30am to 4pm and after 7pm. Travel between these times where possible as public transport will be less busy and travel costs will be lower. I’d recommend downloading the King’s Move app too, especially if you enjoy walking. You can earn points for walking, running, swimming and cycling and redeem these for rewards such as hot drinks and KCL branded clothing!

Food  

In addition to the student discount apps mentioned above, you could also download the Too Good To Go app. This app allows you to buy food and drinks from local restaurants, cafes and bakeries that have extra food at the end of the day at a discounted price! Another great app is First Table which, as the name suggests, allows you to book the “first table” of the evening at participating restaurants. In return for securing a spot at the first table, you’ll receive a significant discount on your meal!  

Activities  

Finally, there are so many activities in London that you can make the most of without spending any money. While the Shard offers great views of London, an alternative option is Sky Garden, which offers 360-degree views of London’s skyline, as well as indoor gardens, cafes and bars! Entry is free – just make sure to book in advance. There are also plenty of comedy nights all around London, which don’t charge an entry fee. If you’re an art or science lover, you can visit the National Gallery and the Science Museum at no cost! These are all great options if you want to try something new with your friends without breaking the bank account.  

So there you have it! A short guide to some of London’s hidden gems, allowing you to make the most of your time living in and exploring London at an affordable price. Hopefully after reading this, you’ll feel encouraged to try out some of the options mentioned and let us know how you find them!  

Aanchal Raina
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts.