As your child gets older, he or she might start to wonder about how to make money as a teenager. Although you may have already settled your child with one of the best bank accounts for kidsand used a pocket money app To give them some spending money, as they get older they may want to earn some extra money.
Working can be a fantastic way for teens to earn the money they crave, whether it’s for PS5 games, clothes, or going out. But it can also be a useful stepping stone into adulthood. However, parents will naturally want to ensure that any work their teenager undertakes fits with their education and is consistent with family life.
Myron Jobson, Senior Personal Finance Analyst at Interactive Investor, says, “For teens, earning money for themselves is their first step toward financial freedom. They no longer depend on pocket money or financial support from their parents. »
But it can also help your child learn essential things money lessons this will see them become financially confident adults. Myron adds: “Encouraging teens to pay for some of their expenses is a good way to teach them about budgeting. »
Although adolescents as young as 13 can legally be employed, strict rules regarding working hours can make things difficult in practice. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for children to find work or ways to earn some extra money. Inspire your teenager with our tips.
If you still have stacks of books or stacks of DVDs or CDs lying around, why not ask your kids to sell them for you? It’s an ideal solution for young teens (and tweens) because it can largely be done at home – with some apps even offering free courier pickup.
Author’s note
My youngest son did this for me during last year’s school holidays and in return for helping him clean up the mess, I let him keep the money.
It’s quite simple. Sites like Musical pie, ZiffitAnd Zap, ask you to scan the item’s barcode with your phone and you will get an instant quote for your stuff. All that’s left to do is pack everything up and publish.
The amounts paid per item are quite modest, but they add up quickly if you have lots to sell. For larger payouts, you can also use the sites to sell old technology like phones, tablets, and laptops. Follow our guide on how to sell old gadgets if you don’t know where to start.
Payment is made once the items are received and checked. You may find that you get less than was originally stated, especially if the items are not in perfect condition, so it is worth preparing yourself to not receive as much as you thought.
2. Introduce your teenager to the world of eBay
Chances are you have items you could get a decent price for. But if you haven’t had the time or inclination to sell them yourself, let your teenagers try to make some money themselves. From Lego boxes to clothing or collectibles, you might have a plethora of items to sell. Just make sure they check with you first!
Although under 18s cannot open their own eBay account, they can use yours if you allow them, but make sure they understand how to buy and sell on ebay before releasing them.
Online auctions can be exciting, but the fun – and profits – don’t have to stop once your house has been emptied. Enthusiastic auctioneers may start flipping or recycling items. This is where you find cheap items wherever you can find them – on eBay, at garage sales or in charity shops – and resell them for a profit.
They can also ask friends, family and neighbors if they have any items they would like to sell. Your teen can either agree a price to buy them or pass on the product, minus an agreed commission rate.
If your teen has a creative side, they might enjoy recycling old furniture to sell.
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The summer months can be difficult for pet owners. So, if your teen loves animals, they can easily earn extra money by helping friends, family, and neighbors with their pets.
This could be anything from walking their dogs when they are out for the day to coming to feed cats, hamsters or goldfish when they go on vacation.
If your teen is pestering you to buy a pet, this can also be a good way to test the waters.
4. Babysitting is a great way for teens to make money
For responsible teens, babysitting is a great way to earn money. But, confusingly, there is no rule that fixes when teenagers can start looking after younger children: it depends on the judgment of the parents of the little ones. The key point parents need to be aware of is that if the babysitter is under 16, they will still be legally responsible for the child in their absence.
If your teen is interested in babysitting, start by asking their local friends and neighbors. It’s also worth reassuring your teenager’s first clients that they will have their phone with them at all times and that you will be available in case of an emergency.
The earning potential for teens who are willing to try anything (legal!) is huge, especially if they don’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves.
Maddy Alexander-Groutfounder of the Mad About Money app, says: “Whether it’s washing a car, mowing the lawn, doing DIY or helping people with shopping, cleaning or any other task, my best advice is to offer odd jobs to neighbors. »
Grandparents or older neighbors might particularly appreciate this help, especially with more physical tasks like mowing the lawn or washing the car.
Odd jobs, like mowing the lawn, can be a good way for your teen to earn their own money and can really help older neighbors who might struggle to do it themselves.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
6. Teenagers can get paid to share their opinions
Teens who are glued to the couch or can’t put down their phones can still make money online by sharing their opinions in surveys. “Teens are a hot market for paid surveys and websites like Oh my God And Swagbucks are awesome,” says Maddy Alexander-Grout of Mad About Money. “Just be sure to cancel if you sign up for free trials.”
An app that lets teens earn money while shopping is BeMyEye. Nick Smith-Patelsenior quality and training manager at MaBnk, the financial education charity for young people explains: “You take on ‘missions’ – short mystery shopping tasks – which pay between £3 and £10 depending on the amount of work. It’s an easy way to add a few pennies to your pocket and the app will even alert you when you’re near a money generator! »
8. Teenagers can find part-time work to increase their spending money
For teens who would rather go out and find a job, there are still options. The main limits for young adolescents will be the hours they can work. For those aged 13 to 16, they will be limited to two hours on school days or Sundays and during school terms they will not be able to work more than 12 hours per week.
There are more possibilities during school holidays: young people aged 13 and 14 can work 25 hours per week, up to 35 hours from the age of 15. No person under the age of 16 may work more than eight hours on Saturday.
Money app founder Maddy Alexander-Grout says: “There are many jobs that teenagers can do. Retail, hospitality, supermarkets or food delivery if they have a bike. During the summer, teenagers can also apply to work at festivals, events, theme parks or garden centers. Just ask them to check the minimum age before applying.
Working part-time is a good introduction to the world of work, but make sure you know the rules about how many hours your child can work if they’re still in school.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
9. Your Teen May Want to Become a Content Creator (But It Doesn’t Make Instant Money)
I’m still desperate for my kids to forget their phones, but as my own boys would tell me, no list of money-making ideas for teens would be complete without mentioning becoming a content creator on social networks.
Goodto.com’s Money Editor Sarah Handley warns that it is not an easy or guaranteed path: “Becoming a content creator or social media influencer is a difficult task, especially when there are already so many who have such a large following. subscribers. You’ll need to be online constantly, across multiple platforms, and online trolls are considered part of the job. In addition to taking a lot of time to build a sufficient audience to earn money from the activity, this type of work can also be harmful to your child’s mental health.
Awareness how to earn extra money as an adult this can also be very helpful, especially if you are try to save money.