Being a student-athlete is a blessing as it provides individuals with the opportunity to continue playing the sport they love throughout their college career. However, this also poses a problem for many of them as they are unable to work for a large majority of the year due to the hectic schedules built around their sport. Student-athletes are having to get much more creative with how they make money in a way that adheres to both their academic and athletic routines. Thankfully, the advancements of the modern world have allowed for easier methods of doing so, with all types of side hustles that can be taken advantage of to earn some extra money.
Bryson Evans, a student and football player at the university, credits DoorDash for much of his financial success during the season. Bryson says, “With football being sort of year-round, I usually just DoorDash throughout the week to make money. I try to go several nights throughout the week after practice. It pays very well so I don’t have to go too much for how little money I spend” adds Bryson. DoorDash is a food delivery service that hires drivers to pick up food from restaurants and deliver it to customers. Anyone 18 years or older with a vehicle and legal documentation can apply to be a driver. In addition to this, the drivers choose when they want to deliver and are not set to specific work hours, making it the perfect side job for athletes wanting to work around their lifestyle.
Angel Ramirez, another student-athlete at SNU, says that Facebook marketplace has been his outlet for making money throughout his season. Facebook marketplace is an online platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade items with one another, allowing the user to set their location for a better shopping experience. Angel says, “I like to buy things on the app that are selling for much cheaper than they’re worth, and then flipping (selling) them to others for more.” When asked about specific items he sells and the length of this process, Angel went on to say “I like to flip TVs and shoes for the most part, and it can be a lengthy process sometimes depending on the product and what I’m trying to get for it, but it is always worth it when it sells as I usually make a great profit.”
Although being a student-athlete can make it difficult to find a reliable source of income, there are many different outlets in our world today that make this more attainable. With platforms like the ones mentioned by Bryson and Angel, or others such as Instacart, Uber, and Amazon Flex, the options are vast for athletes wanting to make money without the risk of interfering with their own schedules. Being financially stable is just another stress that comes from playing collegiate sports, so sign up for one of these apps, and start making money on your own time!
Photo by: Sasun Bughdaryan via Unsplash