- Ask family friends and neighbors if they need a babysitter, help around the yard, or a dog walker to earn easy cash within walking distance.
- Sell old clothes or collectible items online to clean out your closet and make money.
- Apply for a part-time job as a grocery store bagger, restaurant busser, or lifeguard to make money in a more traditional way.
Babysit for family and friends.
If you’re responsible and like kids, try babysitting for extra cash. This is one of the best ways a teen can make money, and it’s fun too! All you need is a way to and from the babysitting location or for the child to be dropped off at your house. Let your family friends, aunts, uncles, or neighbors know that you’re readily available to watch their kids. Make a business card with your name, phone number, and rate to give potential clients. Get CPR certified to learn what to do in an emergency and boost your credibility as a babysitter. In 2022, the average hourly rate to babysit one child is about $20.
Tidy up people’s lawns.
Mowing lawns and shoveling snow is the perfect side hustle for active teens. Many people are too busy to maintain their yards but don’t want their homes to look unkempt. These people are often willing to spend an extra buck or two to have someone mow their lawn, rake leaves, trim hedges, or shovel away snow. Start by asking your friends and family if they need help, and if you don’t get enough business, post some signs around the neighborhood about your services. Market your services for the season. For instance, rake leaves in the fall, shovel snow in the winter, and plant flowers in the spring. Try teaming up with friends or family members to get more work done and earn even more money—just make sure to split the earnings fairly!
Ask for an allowance.
See if your parents will let you help around the house for an extra buck. Your parents or guardians have a lot on their plate, so see if you can lessen the load for an additional cost. Maybe you can take out the trash every day for $1, deep clean the carpets for $10, or clean the gutters for $30. Talk to your parents or guardians about setting up your allowance through an app like Famzoo, Homey, or OurHome to help you track your earnings and keep you accountable.
Help an older person.
Earn extra money by running errands or tidying up for an elderly neighbor. Sometimes, the simplest things, like going to a grocery store or watering plants, can be difficult for an older person. If you know a senior citizen in your area, ask them if they need help with anything. Maybe you can help them go shopping, tend their garden, or move their furniture. Be upfront with them that you’re looking to earn a little extra cash. They may just let you help them out rather than paying for another service.
Walk the neighborhood dogs.
If you love dogs, ask your neighbors if they need a dog walker. Lots of people live busy lives and may not be able to walk their dog as often as they’d like. Talk to your neighbors or friends to see if you can pop by their house before and/or after school to give their dog a nice, long walk. Make business cards to leave in mailboxes that state your name, phone number, and dog walking price. Try becoming a dog walker through apps like Rover or Wag! to find potential clients in your area.
Sell stock photos online.
Put your photography skills to the test by selling your photos. Stock photos are royalty-free photos anyone can use, but the photos have to come from somewhere, so why not from you? Simply take some photos in your downtime. Then, edit them however you’d like and sell them to companies like Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Alamy, and iStock Photo. Selling stock photos doesn’t bring in a lot of cash (roughly $0.05 to $0.25 per photo), but it can be the perfect side hustle to give you extra spending money, especially if you’re hoping to grow as a photographer.
Do random tasks for online clients.
Use apps like GigWalk or Survey Junkie to earn money doing odd jobs. Nowadays, there are apps for everything, including random, paid tasks. Download a few apps to try during your downtime or after school and see how much money you can earn. Each app and task pays differently, and you may have to be a certain age to sign up. GigWalk: Complete random tasks in your area if you’re at least 18 years old. SnagaJob: Scroll through listings to find a job you can complete based on age and experience.
Start a YouTube channel.
Show off your personality and earn AdSense revenue with social media. Believe it or not, a YouTube channel can bring in $3 to $5 per 1,000 views. This number can add up, especially if you’re raking in 20,000 views a video. Make your YouTube channel about something that interests you (music, video games, beauty, theme parks, books, etc.), and follow a regular uploading schedule to grow your following. Making money on social media doesn’t happen overnight. Gaining followers and monetization takes time, so be patient and stick to it—your hard work will pay off eventually! If long-form videos aren’t your thing, try building a following on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to earn money on social media, especially when it comes to sponsorships.
Participate in local studies.
Being a statistic or data number may earn you some dollar bills. Many universities and pharmaceutical companies pay people to participate in clinical trials. Some of these studies take up an afternoon, while others require a longer commitment. Ask your doctor, therapist, or a local university if any studies are happening in your area for your age group. Make sure to read all the conditions and requirements of the study or trial beforehand. Talk to your parents or guardians before signing up for a study, especially if it requires their approval, support, and/or feedback. Use clinicaltrials.gov to find recruiting trials in your area. Pay for each study or trial will be different depending on the length and demands of the study.
Have a yard sale.
Sell your old belongings to earn some extra pocket money. Believe it or not, you may have more money than you think! Organize a yard or garage sale to earn cash for gently used furniture, clothes, toys, and other household items. Not only is this a great way to make money, but it can also help you and your family declutter. Ask other family members and friends if they’d like to be a part of your sale (everyone making their own commission, of course). Post signs around the neighborhood with arrows pointing toward your house that says “Yard Sale!” Try not to overprice your items. Let an interested buyer name a price and wager from there. Have a lemonade stand or snack station at your yard sale to earn even more money.
Sell old clothing online.
Poshmark, thredUp, and Depop help you make money from used clothing. Is your closet overflowing with unworn clothes? Well, now might be the perfect time to get rid of them and earn some extra cash! All you need to post a listing on these apps or sites is a picture of the garment, the brand name, and the size. Then, all you have to do is wait for someone to purchase it and ship it to them. Most of these platforms take a small commission of the items you sell.
Sell collectible items online.
Comic books, figurines, and limited-edition products can earn you big bucks. If you’re looking to make money fast and have a large collection of fan-related items, it may be time to consider selling a few collector’s items. Maybe you have a series of Pop! Funkos you can part with or pristine comic books you’re not going to read. No matter the item, if it belongs to a fandom, it’ll most likely sell. Use eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace to list your item. Be specific with the item’s name and description so it can easily be found. Take plenty of pictures of the item from multiple angles. Research the original price of your item, then see what others are listing their used items for before setting your price. Ask your parents or guardians to help you list your item or be present during an in-person transaction.
Make crafts to sell.
Friendship bracelets, keychains, and wall decor can go for a decent price online. People will spend a lot of money on something handmade, so why not take advantage of that? Put your crafting skills to the test and turn your after-school hobby into a business. Sell your crafts by posting your products on your personal social media pages or create an Etsy or Facebook shop. Try making a beaded necklace, printing a graphic shirt, knotting a macrame wall hanging, crocheting a scarf, or knotting a bracelet. Browse online shops with similar products to see what they charge for their goods. Take into account how much supplies cost when pricing your items.
Tutor your friends and classmates.
If you’re super studious, use your smarts to make money. Ask your classmates if they need help in a particular subject. Then, see if they’d be willing to pay you for tutoring them. Charge hourly or per session—whichever works best for you and your client. Tutoring rates can be between $25 and $60 an hour, depending on the topic, age, and skill level. Some schools offer tutoring programs already, so talk to a teacher to see if and how you can become a paid tutor through your school. Services like WizIQ, Care.com, and Cambly help you connect with students who need help while advertising your tutoring services. However, you may need a high school diploma to sign up. Try advertising your tutoring services on social media through Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. If you don’t have time to tutor, try selling copies of your notes.
Become a lifeguard.
Local recreational centers may hire teens if they’re good swimmers. Pools can never have too many lifeguards on duty, especially during the hotter months. If you’re a strong swimmer, consider applying to be a lifeguard at a local park, community pool, or YMCA. Before submitting an application, you’ll need to be certified as a lifeguard. This usually entails a 22 to 30-hour lifeguard course and CPR, First Aid, and AED training. Find lifeguard training courses and certification requirements at redcross.org.
Work at a local grocery store.
Your local grocery store may need a bagger or stocker. If you’re a hard worker and want to earn some steady cash, consider getting a part-time job. A job at a grocery store won’t pay much, but it’ll help you make some extra spending money while gaining work experience (colleges love a detailed resume). Head to the store of your choice and ask if you can talk to the manager. Ask them if any open positions are available, and hand them your resume. Talk to your parents or guardians before taking on a part-time job, especially if you need a ride to and from work.
Apply to work at a restaurant.
Restaurants can always use an extra hand wiping tables and doing dishes. While most restaurants require servers to be over 18 years old, younger teens can be hired as bussers. A busser is a person who clears away the table after a party leaves. If this sounds like a job you can do, bring your resume to a few local restaurants and see if they’re looking to hire any extra staff. Being a part-time busser doesn’t pay much, but it’ll give you plenty of work experience and some spending money. Chat with your parents or guardians before accepting any job, especially if it’ll affect your normal routine.
Get a job at a fast-food restaurant.
Flip burgers or take orders to earn a pay check. The fast food industry is one of the biggest employers of teenagers. The job doesn’t pay much, but the work will give you valuable experience and help you build your resume. Head to your local McDonald’s, Burger King, or another fast food joint to see if they’re hiring, or check local listings on Indeed or LinkedIn.
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