From $47 to $1200/Month: What I Learned Starting Businesses in My Dorm
Source: Dev.to
The Situation
- Bank balance: $47
- Rent: $650, due in 8 days
- Schedule: Two exams that week, part‑time job cut hours because “business was slow”
- Goal: Make enough cash this month with zero dollars to invest
I spent a sleepless night Googling “how to make money fast as a student.” Every article fell into one of three traps:
- Scams – “Make $5,000 your first week!”
- Up‑front costs – “Start dropshipping with just $500!”
- Long timelines – “Build a blog and monetize in 18 months!”
None of them matched my urgent, cash‑poor reality.
First Attempts (and Why They Failed)
| Method | Time Spent | Money Earned | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surveys | 6 hrs over 3 days | $12 | $2/hr |
| Content mills (write articles for $5 each) | 6 hrs (3 articles) | $15 | $2.50/hr |
Both felt like a waste of time. I realized I was looking for jobs instead of solving problems.
The Turning Point: Solving Real Problems
Notion Templates for Students
- Problem: My roommate complained that Notion was “too complicated.”
- Solution: Built a simple Notion template (class schedule, assignment tracker, study planner).
- Pricing: $12 on Gumroad.
- Promotion: Posted in 3 college Facebook groups.
Results
- First sale on Wednesday → $12.
- Created 5 more templates (different majors, styles).
- Total for the month: $180 (passive sales after one‑time creation).
Key insight: People will pay for solutions, not for your time.
Fixing Broken Business Websites
- Noticed a local café’s mobile menu was broken.
- Offered to fix it for $100.
- Owner accepted; I fixed it in 2 hrs and got cash.
Repeat: Did the same for 4 more local businesses.
- Total earnings: $500
Key insight: Small businesses know their sites are broken but can’t fix them. A $100 fix is a low‑risk decision for them.
Other Side Gigs (Brief Overview)
| Gig | Pay | Duration | Why I Stopped |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok editing for a podcaster | $30/video (≈$240/mo) | 8 videos/mo | Became boring fast |
| Discord moderator for a crypto project | $800/mo | 2 mo | Toxic community, high mental load |
| Chegg tutoring (stats) | $25/hr | Ongoing | Exhausting after full class days |
| Dropshipping (ads) | -$300 loss | 1 mo | No capital → no sales |
| YouTube (student productivity) | 0 views → 0 income | 3 videos | No traction |
| Crypto trading | -$200 loss | 1 mo | Market timing is risky |
| Affiliate‑marketing blog | $0 after 10 articles | Ongoing | Takes longer than advertised |
Summary of Month 1
- Total earnings: $180 (mostly from website fixes)
- Result: Not rich, but no longer stressed about rent.
“You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be slightly better than the person who needs help.”
Lessons Learned
- Don’t over‑research. I wasted 2 weeks “researching” before taking action.
- Pick ONE thing you’re already decent at or interested in.
- Build something small this weekend, list it, and tell at least 10 people.
- Charge more as you gain confidence (e.g., website fixes went from $100 → $200).
- Collect testimonials early – social proof matters.
- You don’t need an LLC to start.
- Set aside ~25 % for taxes (I use FreeTaxUSA).
- Time commitment: Started at 20‑25 hrs/week, now 10‑15 hrs/week.
Quick FAQ
- Do I need an LLC? No. I’m still operating as an individual.
- What about taxes? Yes – set aside about 25 % of earnings.
- How much time does this take? Initially 20‑25 hrs/week; now 10‑15 hrs/week.
- I’m not creative. Creativity isn’t required; problem‑solving is.
- What if I fail? Worst case you waste a weekend. College already gives you low expenses, free Wi‑Fi, and a built‑in market.
Final Thought
If you’re broke and stressed about money, try solving a tiny problem for someone you already know (roommate, local business, fellow student). It’s cheap, fast, and can turn a few dollars into a sustainable side income.
You don’t need a perfect product, a fancy website, or a massive audience—just a willingness to do something useful.
Best case you cover rent.
If you’re doing fine financially, maybe just focus on your classes. This takes real time and energy.
For me it was worth it—not just for the money, but because I learned actual skills. I can now build digital products, fix websites, and sell services. That’s going to matter more than my GPA when I graduate.
- The first month sucked. I made barely any money and questioned if I was wasting my time.
- Month 2 was better.
- Month 3 was even better, and now it’s actually working.
If you’re reading this at 2 am because you’re stressed about money, I get it. I was there.
Just pick one thing. Spend this weekend trying it. See what happens.
You might surprise yourself.