If you’re skilled in at least one academic subject, Tutoring children in your community can make a big difference. In some communities, there just aren’t enough knowledgeable people to help younger students learn. Without a solid education, those children have a more difficult time succeeding later in life. Helping them learn now will help them for the rest of their lives.

You can also benefit from tutoring other students. You’ll feel good because you’re able to make a difference despite your small budget. Tutoring takes little time, so you don’t have to do a major overhaul of your entire schedule.

And teaching others a certain thing will reinforce the concept in your own mind. Even if you’ve been great at basic math for years, a refresher is nice every now and then. Some college students who plan to become teachers after they graduate have the benefit of being exposed to students. This is a great way to both volunteer your time and learn a little about what to expect when you’re being paid to teach younger people.

Many communities have Tutoring organizations or centers. The tutors volunteer for a few hours a week or more, depending on their schedules and how often they’re needed. This type of volunteer work is great for college students. If you don’t have any afternoon classes, you can be available to help students with their homework right after they get out of school for the day. You can also help on weekends if that’s more suited to your own schedule.

But before you can tutor, you have to find students. Your local library might have some information. Be sure to check their community bulletin board or announcements section. You can also call the main line of your local school, as the secretaries and other staff there are usually up to date on what’s happening with students. An Internet search usually leads you in the right direction, so give that a try as well.