Common Cents
Part-time jobs provide spring break money
Issue 12 - 03.09.06

BY RHONDA ROSS
Staff Writer

Here’s a riddle: “What is so hard to come by, yet is so easy to get rid of?” The answer is money. This holds true for everybody, but especially for college students who don’t always have time or the opportunity to earn much money.

Right now is a good time to look for a part-time job. Many students quit their jobs after working just long enough to afford their spring break adventures. Anyone who starts a part-time job now and manages to save part of the earnings should have a nice chunk of change in time for next year’s spring break get-away. A part-time job can also provide both money and work experience.

Part-time jobs that don’t require special skills:

• Washing cars
• Baby-sitting
• Lawn mowing/yard work
• Recycling aluminum cans
• Weeding gardens/watering plants
• Pet sitting/dog walking
• Having a garage sale

Part-time jobs that do require special skills:

• Tutoring
• Working in a cafeteria
• Bartending (must be 21)
• Newspaper carrier

Money saving suggestions:

• Buy things on sale and/or in bulk
• Shop at discount stores
• Clip and use coupons, especially on double coupon days
• Cut back on dining out
• Attend matinees instead of evening shows at theaters
• Use your student ID to get discounts wherever it applies
• If you can share a house or apartment
  with friends, do so, but the cheapest living arrangement outside of the family home is still the dorms
• Don’t drive if you don’t have to; ride a bike or walk when possible
• If you borrow money, credit unions offer lower interest rates on loans than banks do

Finding a job can be as easy as asking your next door neighbor, but keeping said job and making something from it makes all the difference in whether or not you spend spring break at South Padre Island at the beach or in your friend’s backyard, next to his sister’s kiddie pool.