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Making money as a teen can be challenging. Without job experience and a resume, it can be tough to get started in the working world.
But there are still many ways to make money as a teen, even without a job. Especially in this day and age! From side hustles, to part-time jobs, to your own business, there’s no reason you have to be poor!
Here are 35 ways to make money for teens:
If you want to know how to make money for teens, here is a list of 35 different and creative ways to make money!
how to make money as a teenager online
These days you don’t have to resort to the usual babysitting or car-washing gigs to make money as a teenager. There are much more creative ways to make an income! Here are some ways you can make money online as a teen.
1. Resell items
A great way to make money is from selling items like clothing, collectibles or even furniture. You can go to local garage and estate sales or the Goodwill and find deeply discounted items.
You can then resell these items for a profit on sites like Ebay, Etsy, Poshmark or even Facebook Marketplace. Shopping is a fun activity most teenagers like anyways, may as well turn that skill into a money maker!
2. Become a blogger’s virtual assistant
If you don’t want the full responsibility of a blog, you can make money of one that is already successful! Many bloggers need virtual assistant help. It’s a great way to make money but also to build up your resume with more professional-type work.
*Tip: Get organized with a planner to stay on top of whatever work you start doing!
3. Start your own blog
Blogging can be a lucrative way to make money for teens! It does require a lot of work and effort before you actually start making money, so this may be more of a creative side hustle to try and work on over time for extra money. Learn how to start your own blog.
4. Become a social media assistant
If you are like most teenagers, you probably already spend a lot of time on social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat. So, why not make money on it?? There is a huge demand out there for help managing social media. You can help to write posts, create cool images or work to keep a schedule for companies of posts.
There are a ton of digital tools out there now that can help you look like a pro! Canva can help you easily create stunning social media graphics with text, and even animated graphics! It is actually fun to let your creative juices flow and make money at the same time.
You can promote yourself on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
5. Sell your crafts online
If you are a teen with a hobby or a passion around crafting or art then start using it to make money! It is quite literally, a creative way to make money for a teenager!
You can sell homemade jewelry, artwork or even photos. Sites like Etsy and even Ebay are great places to start selling.
Here’s a list of 50 things you can sell online if you need some suggestions!
6. Play games
Did you know you can make money on sites like Swagbucks just for playing games? You can even make money for watching ads and videos online.
Might as well make some extra cash while you are lounging on the couch!
7. Create YouTube videos
Creating YouTube videos is another great way to make money online. You can do make-up tutorials for instance. YouTubers make money from affiliate marketing and ads.
There are actually a lot of successful teenage YouTubers out there now. MattyBraps has over 10 million subscribers!!
8. Search the Internet
Again, Swagbucks! You are probably already on the internet everyday, why not make money while you are online.
9. Launch a podcast
A fun and creative way to make money is to create your own podcast. If you like talking, this is a great side hustle! You can talk about something you might be an expert in, or be the next person to create a popular, documentary-style podcast. You just might make the next Up and Vanished!
10. Sell your own printables
There is a huge market out there for printables. Everything from yearly planners and calendars for anyone, to Pinterest template graphics for bloggers and businesses.
The point is you can create your own designs and printable products and sell them online. It is one of the best money-making side hustle for teens.
Canva is a great tool to use to create your own sellable printable. To learn more about digital products you can sell online, read this tutorial.
11. Start an eCommerce Business
Just because you are a teenager, doesn’t mean you can’t have a thriving online business! You could sell anything from jewelry to clothing. Setting up a Shopify account is an easy way to start your own teenage online business. Find out what the best products to sell online are.
12. Work as a Freelancer
Whatever your skill is, you can make money. If you are good at graphic design or know how to make a website then start doing that for money.
If you are a good writer, you can ghost write for bloggers, or even write marketing materials for big companies. And, if you don’t know how to create websites yet, take a local course and learn how!
You can advertise your services on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
13. Become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Working as a social media assistant is a great way to make money. You can even specialize in Pinterest. Many bloggers and online businesses need help with managing their Pinterest.
You can use the free design tool Canva to create pins and sell them. You can create pins, craft titles and post them for your clients.
Tried but true ways to make money for teens
14. Sell Your Stuff
There are so many sites now to sell things on! Facebook marketplace, Ebay and Poshmark are websites with a huge marketplace of buyers.
You can go through the clutter in your room and sell whatever you don’t need. Or go really old-school and have a garage sale!
15. Babysit
Maybe a cliche way to make money as a teen, but it works! It is a flexible job and easy to find people who need the help.
The average babysitter makes $15-20 per hour which is more than you could make at a part-time job! Plus, if they have more than one kid you can charge even more.
16. Mow Lawn
Another excellent way to make money as a teenage is by mowing lawn for your neighbors. You can do it anytime and make a good chunk of change. Many adults actually have entire landscaping businesses! Might as well start your own now.
17. Become a Tutor
If you are really good at a particular subject like math or English, put your skills to work. Helping tutor other kids can be lucrative and an easy way to make money as a teenager.
18. Sell Baked Goods
Have a passion for baking? Start selling your treats! You can sell baked goods at local markets or just to your neighbors.
Pet-related Ways to Make Money for Teenagers
The pet industry is a huge market! Did you know that Americans actually spend more than $72 Billion on their pets each year? Tap into that market and use it to make money for yourself.
Here are a few ways teenagers can make money working with animals:
19. Start a Dog Walking Business
Spending time with dogs is proven to reduce your stress! So why not combine that therapy with making money. It may be one of the best ways to make money as a teen!
You can take multiple dogs on a walk each day and make a good income. Advertise yourself on sites like Rover or Nextdoor to find clients.
20. Start Petsitting
Another great way to combine spending time with dogs and cats and making money. You can petsit for people when they need to go out of town.
21. Start Selling Dog Treats
The pet industry is a huge market! Did you know that Americans actually spend more than $72 Billion on their pets each year? Tap into that market and use it to make money for yourself. You can actually bake your own dog treats and sell them at local fairs, to your neighbors or even local pet stores.
Here is an actual course teaching you how to make money creating dog treats! The course is taught by Kristen Larsen who actually created her own money-making side hustle making dog treats.
Odd Jobs for Teens to Make Money
Look around your neighborhood! It is probably a treasure-trove of money making opportunities for a teen!
Your neighbors have many odd jobs they would probably love to pay you to help with. Just start asking! Or better yet, create a flyer or postcard advertising your services and drop it in mailboxes.
Here are a few examples ways teenagers can make money in their own neighborhood:
22. Clean Houses
23. Wash Cars
24. Clean Out Garages
25. Run Errands
26. Painting
27. Shoveling Snow
28. Yard Cleanup
29. gardening and landscaping
part-time jobs for teenagers
Of course, the most obvious way for a teen to make money is to get a part-time job. My cousin had a job at TCBY for a couple of years that allowed her to make a good living as a teen.
The advantage of getting job when you are a teen is that it is consistent work and income. You can also work more hours to make more money if you want. There are many options when it comes to jobs for teens, but here are a few you can try.
30. Work at a Clothing Store
This one could be bad because you typically get a discount and may find yourself spending all you make on new clothes! But it is definitely a fun way to make money, most teens love shopping anyways.
31. Work at a Fast-Food Chain
Maybe not your first choice for making money, but it is easier to get a job at a fast-food restaurant when you are young and do not have a resume yet.
32. Work at a Restaurant
I waited tables for many years. It is an excellent skill to have as a fall back, there are almost always jobs in restaurants.
Plus, you can make a lot of money in tips! Find a job at a local restaurant as a hostess, a busier or a server.
33. Become a Barista
Just a fancy way of saying get a job at Starbucks!
34. Become a Lifeguard
This is a fairly common job for teenagers for some reason. Maybe this makes it an easier one to get hired for! You can work at a local neighborhood pool and make money while you work on your tan.
35. Work as a Golf Caddy
Don’t worry, you won’t have to kill groundhogs like in the movie Caddyshack! But golf-caddying is not a bad way to make money if you don’t mind carrying a bag of golf clubs.
What Should you do with the money you are making?
I know, you don’t need a lecture. But I would do so many things differently if I knew at your age what I know now!! Do spend your money on fun things, clothes and whatever else makes you happy.
But, make sure with every dollar you make, you are at least saving some of it. Start a bank account with interest so that your money will grow. Eventually when you have enough, you can use that money to make more money!
You can invest it in the stock market, or a cd, or start your own business someday. The bottom line is saving money will only mean more money for you eventually. Be smart!
Whatever you do, you can make money as a teenager!
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