I imagine you hafta work around school/weekends... work for anyone around your area, and word will get around and you'll probably get offered opportunities. My friend's dad owns a mowing business and my friend could make 500 in about 6 hours--1 day a week, but he only had one of his own contracts, the rest was free labor for his dad . Area farmers and ranchers can often use a hand for some oddjobs they haven't had time to complete. Keep in touch with your farm/ranch friends. Older people can often use a hand for building upkeep and construction type stuff. The list goes on; money is money right now. Since you're just doing work for a little while instead of starting a career, you don't have to love what you're doing and you don't have to get anything that's set/steady.

When it comes to a used vehicle purchase, don't forget you're going to have to do a major tune-up. Most people don't take care of their vehicles, don't know how, or don't know what to do when it's time.

Be prepared for the following checks and replacements (amongst others I'll be forgetting):

Tires; air, fuel, transmission and oil filters; oil, transmission, differentials (with friction modifier), and transfer case fluid changes; spark plugs and wires; greasing and degreasing; wheel bearings and hubs; brake pads, calipers, rotors; belts and hoses, pcv.... Most people wouldn't check/change half of that stuff.

Everything you do, use quality stuff. Assuming most things check out, it won't be very expensive to clean your vehicle (inside and out) and replace fluids but keep the above in mind. I just did a sea-foam application through my vaccuum lines today---recommend it. Lucas oil products are very good for their intentions. I use Restore engine lubricant at every oil change. K&N lifetime air filters and other Fram filters; Mobil 1 for synthetic motor oil or castrol gtx for conventional; Mobil 1 full synthetic gear oil for differentials (very pricey, use conventional if you can and just change it more often) with friction modifier; autolite plugs... yada yada.