Please how can I make money in Bromley as an international student? I have been here for a couple of months now but have not really made anything. I am a student and now looking for ways to earn some income to support myself.
Comment
Honestly, don't overcomplicate it. If you're an international student in Bromley, I'd look at the usual student jobs first — cafés, restaurants, retail, supermarkets, warehouse shifts, reception, that sort of thing. Bromley has enough shops and places to eat that you can usually find something if you're persistent.
I got my first job by literally walking into a café with a CV. Wasn't exactly my dream career 😂 but it paid the bills and I got free food sometimes, so can't complain.
Just make sure you check what you're actually allowed to work under your visa conditions before accepting anything. The number of hours you're permitted to work can depend on your visa and course, so don't just listen to another student saying “yeah mate, 20 hours, you're fine”. Check your own conditions.
Also, don't pay anyone for the privilege of getting you a job. If someone on WhatsApp says you need to pay £100 for “registration”, run.
Comment
If your English is decent and you're comfortable talking to people, try hospitality.
Restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafés and event companies are constantly looking for people, especially evenings and weekends. That's actually quite convenient when you're studying during the week.
The downside? Some shifts are absolutely brutal. Friday night in a busy restaurant is not for the faint-hearted 😂.
But you can sometimes pick up extra shifts during holidays, and tips can help as well.
I'd search on the usual UK job sites and also check local Facebook groups. And ask people you already know. A lot of hospitality jobs seem to come through “my mate's place is hiring” rather than some fancy application process.
Comment
One thing I'd say is don't limit yourself to Bromley. You're in Bromley, but you're also within reach of London. Depending on where you live and study, commuting into central London for a better-paying job can make sense.
I did this for a while. My local job paid less but was five minutes away. Another job involved travelling further but paid noticeably better and gave me more hours. Once I worked out the travel costs and time, the second one still came out ahead.
Just don't make the classic student mistake of spending two hours commuting for a job that pays £1 more an hour. 😂 Work out the actual numbers.
Comment
If you can do something useful, sell that skill.
I've seen international students make extra money doing tutoring, translation, graphic design, photography, video editing and social media work. If you're good at maths, languages, music or something academic, tutoring can be worth looking into.
You don't necessarily need to become some “entrepreneur”.
One student I knew was really good at editing videos and started doing little jobs for other students and small businesses. Nothing massive, but a few jobs each month gave him some decent spending money.
Again though, check that whatever you're doing is permitted under your immigration conditions. Don't risk your studies or visa status for a bit of extra cash.
Comment
I'd manage expectations a bit. You're probably not going to become rich working part-time while studying in Bromley. The goal should be covering some living costs, gaining UK work experience and maybe putting a little money aside.
Also, watch your spending. London-ish prices have a funny way of eating your wages 😂.
Meal prep instead of buying lunch every day. Get a railcard if you're eligible and it'll save you money over time. Shop around for groceries. Don't Uber everywhere because you're running late.
Making another £100 is useful. Not spending £100 unnecessarily is basically the same thing.
My approach would be: get a legitimate part-time job, stay within your visa restrictions, build a useful skill on the side, and don't fall for the “make £5k a month from your phone” crowd on TikTok.
Boring advice, maybe. But boring usually works.