The folks at College Startup came up with a great idea. They then took this idea and created a valuable resource that anyone with an internet connection can tap into. At their site, you will find practical advice, sound business ideas, and proven examples of how to make some extra cash while studying for mid-term exams.

In my eight plus years of college, I never once gave it a thought to try to start a business. I was under the influence of conventional wisdom that said (among other things):

• You can’t start a business and go to college at the same time.
• You must finish school and then find a job working for someone else.
• Starting a business takes lots of money, finding office space, hiring people.
• No one will take you seriously if you’re just in college.
• It’s too risky.
• You’re too young.
• Only people with business degrees can start companies.

But look at what opportunities have come about since the advent of the internet. People now have the chance to work from home, part-time, full-time, or while they’re back-packing through Europe. All you need is a computer and the internet. There is a gold mine of resources, community help, and start-up opportunities if you just choose to see it. Imagine being able to go out for a tasty cold one after your last Friday afternoon class and not having to worry about calling mom to ask for an advance for next week.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Ebay, the juggernaut, has gotten many people off the breadline and has supplemented many a college student’s allowance for years. Companies like Cafepress.com make it easy to establish an online store that is unique to your personality complete with a full stock of merchandise just waiting to be sold by you. What’s really good about Cafepress.com is that it’s free to set up a store, and there is no out of pocket costs by the storeowner (no overhead or production costs you have to worry about). The only thing you have to worry about paying for is your computer and the internet connection.

You’re not ready to come up with catchy designs for Cafepress or don’t have anything to sell on Ebay? Well, you can write and blog. Write about what? Anything, really. Web services like Typepad or Wordpress enable millions to write about their fondest desires, greatest accomplishments, or the best way to cook pigs feet – and it doesn’t cost you anything out of your pocket to do it. And people make money writing about those things. The trick is to write good content. That means checking for spelling and grammar (the two toughest for me), not using repetitive words, and not just writing about something that you really don’t have a passion for. It doesn’t mean that you have to start a blog about the latest computer technology, or advice on how to keep romance alive in your relationship; that, is unless you want to. And how do you make money blogging? Advertisements and links to other sites that will pay you for the referral. It’s also known as affiliate programs.

What if I don’t want to bother keeping up a website, but I do like writing? Take a look at the company that runs this website: Triond.com . They’ve figured out that internet users really like to upload content on a variety of things: articles, video, music, etc. There are other sites that do this, but Triond has a competitive edge. They share the commission from advertisers with the content providers. How great is that?!? Now you can submit content to the web, and have the potential to generate income from it. Does it get any easier than this? Well, probably some time in the future it will, but for now Triond is a text book example of creating passive income. And that’s the secret to finding time to do the things you need to do (college studies and exams) and doing the things you want to do (being with friends and family).

I know that there is a wealth of information and ideas for starting up business ventures or creating streams of passive income on the net while you’re still trying to get through college. I’ve only touched on a few popular ones. These ideas have small to no start-up costs associated with them. They can be worked on in your spare time. And if you stay with it after you graduate, you’ll have an established business right out of school. Making money while in college is only limited by your imagination.

There is no promise that you will be able to quit school and become a millionaire. But some of the information that writers and bloggers share has reportedly given some people the opportunity to make a six-figure income. Overall, many of the ideas can lead to creating a system of passive income . If you’re a college student, or even if you just like the idea of making extra pocket money every month, do a search for passive income ideas. There are plenty of resources; some better than others. It could be mind-blowing to try to sift through all the good ideas and to try to tackle just one. My advice: stop and take a deep breath; look out the window; breathe again.

Randy M. Yniguez is retired psychotherapist, registered nurse, and budding entrepreneur.