SoFi Blog

Summer is on its way, and if you’re in college, you may find yourself with extra time to fill. Why not find a way to make extra money on the side? This could help you pay for school—and help you pay down debt when you’re finished with school. You could start looking for summer gigs now as some seasonal jobs may be starting to staff up.

You may already know about the traditional summer jobs, like lifeguard or camp counselor, but here are seven more ideas to help you make extra cash during the summer. And you don’t need to be a student for these—a side hustle could help anyone who needs a financial boost.

You’ve been looking for a new gig for ages. Finally, you score a job offer. And it sounds amazing. You’re passionate about the work the company is doing, there are plenty of perks, and you really seemed to jibe with the folks you met during the interview process.

There’s just one downside: the commute. The hours you’ll potentially have to spend in the car driving to and from work have you wondering, “How far should I travel for work?”

The average commute time in the U.S. has been rising steadily over the past few years. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey, shows that average commute times are now at 26.9 minutes, up from 26.6 minutes the year before. For the nearly 14 million Americans who spend an hour or more traveling to work, a 26-minute commute might be a welcome trade.

You may have already weighed your dream job versus the salary, too. If the job you’re considering also pays more, you might want to review the pros and cons. Weighing these factors could help you determine if the pay increase is worth the extra commute. If it’s time to leave your job and you are willing to put in more drive time for something better, there are a few things you could examine before signing your offer letter.

Residency can be both exhilarating and terrifying. You survived med school and are officially a doctor. You’re finally practicing medicine in the real world. But behind the excitement and responsibility is stress.

As a resident, you’re working crazy hours, running on minimal sleep, all while trying to save lives and make no mistakes. On top of all that, many residents are acclimating to life in a new city. And trying to figure out how to pay off a boatload of medical school debt in residency.

If you just landed a new job, well done! Whether it’s your first job or your fifth, starting the next chapter of your career journey with a new company and fresh challenges can be an exciting time.

It also can be a good opportunity to review your finances, put together a new budget, and work toward some monetary milestones, like paying down credit cards or student loan debt.

Why now? As your life changes, your needs and expenses likely will change as well. So when you’re starting a new job, it might be a fitting time to take a look at where you stand and where you want to go.

Working during grad school can seem like an impossible task. While it would be nice to be able to solely focus on our studies, not working isn’t a viable option for many of us. Between work, classes, homework, studying, and other daily responsibilities, you’ll likely find your free time dwindling.

If you’re interested in attending graduate school, but the thought of adding even more to your full plate seems daunting, there are options you can explore. It may seem impossible, but with some diligence, working full time and getting your graduate degree can potentially work out for you.

Here are some key tips to help balance work and school without losing your sanity.