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Making Money as a Teenager
Many young teenagers may not be legally allowed to work jobs, but who says they can’t earn money? I have always been someone who advocates for young adults and teenagers to learn how to make money and how money works.
During these odd times, it has become even more important for teenagers to make money during quarantine!
Thing is, being stuck in a home for school and home during quarantine, finding a “normal” job isn’t as easy – but it is still important!
In this article I will dive into multiple ways that I have seen teenagers earn quick money this year. Scroll down to learn how a 14, 16, or even 18 year old can make money quick during quarantine!
These are 7 great ways to make money as a teenager:
1. Do Chores for the Elderly
2. Homeschool Assistant
3. Survey Sites
4. Update Furniture
5. Babysitting
6. Think Like An Entrepreneur
7. Get an Actual Job
7 Ways Teenagers Can Make Money Quick
1. Do Chores for the Elderly
During these odd times with Covid-19, many elderly individuals are afraid to leave their home to do things like pick up prescriptions or go grocery shopping.
There is a great opportunity right now to make side money by helping older people out with anything from home cleaning to washing windows and trimming bushes to simply picking up household items from the store for them!
Here are a few suggestions to start making money as a teenager by helping older individuals:
- Find elderly to help in your neighborhood or local church. There are many people who would love a smiling face every week or every few days to be of service.
- Take precautions for their health. If they are more comfortable with you wearing a mask, then do so. Distance from them if possible, but always be courteous and kind.
- Find any way you can help them out. If you choose to be paid by the hour and want to make some more money, find out if they would like extra help with lawn care or other household chores!
2. Homeschool Assistant
I loved this idea when I first came across it on a post via Facebook!
There are so many parents struggling to help their elementary and middle school children with homework while attending class online due to Covid-19.
A great way to earn extra cash would be to sit with a child during their school sessions at home and assist with their schoolwork. It is similar to being a tutor and babysitter but it would be easy since all you’d need to do is have some confidence interacting with kids!
To make money as a homeschool assistant, I have seen parents paying anywhere from $7-$12 an hour during the morning, afternoon, or evening, to help their children not get behind in school.
3. Survey Sites
Survey sites started up when I was in high school. I LOVED being able to earn gift cards every month to buy things like clothes that I wanted off Amazon or through places like Target.
Teens can easily download these apps and make money into a PayPal or as digital giftcards regularly!
I personally use two apps, Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, and both have proven worthwhile for me throughout the past few years. One of the sites, Swagbucks, only has a minimum age of 14! Click here to learn more about Swagbucks!
4. Update Furniture
If you have time on your hands during quarantine, updating furniture is an easy way to make some quick cash!
Simply head over to YouTube and learn how to sand and repaint anything from end tables to bookshelves. I’ve personally done multiple pieces, and it can be an inexpensive and fun project to work on!
To get furniture pieces, I recommend you start with garage sales. This is where I can find the cheapest items. Then you can look at thrift stores or a store like GoodWill. Facebook Marketplace may also have inexpensive furniture.
Then, you can repaint the pieces and sell on Facebook Marketplace on your own (so you don’t have to mess with shipping) or on another site with your parent’s help!
5. Babysitting
This is a tried-and-true way to make extra money, and has always been a good opportunity for young teenagers to gain experience as well!
6. Think Like an Entrepreneur
You don’t have to host a lemonade stand to be a young entrepreneur, but there are countless ways to make money quick as a teenager – with the mindset of an entrepreneur!
For example, think about what needs there are around your neighborhood:
- Are leaves falling, and so people could benefit from you raking their leaves?
- Do you see that elderly individuals need driven to church?
- Is a holiday like Easter or Christmas coming and could you help out by going shopping for people or decorating their home for them?
- Are your neighbors slacking on mowing their grass?
These are all simple yet effective opportunities to earn money per task, or per hour, while helping people out! Get creative based on where you live and the needs of others around you. All it takes is knocking on some doors or making a printout to leave on front doors (use a free service like Canva.com!) to get hired!
7. Get An Actual Job
With 14 being the legal employment age, working a “real job” is always a solid option to make money as a teenager!
Buy working at anywhere from a hardware store to a local restaurant, teenagers have the opportunity to gain work ethic experience and earn money! Where I live, I see teenagers earn anywhere from $7.50 to $11 an hour!
Hopefully you gained some fresh ideas to helping your teenager, or yourself, to earn money during quarantine or during Covid-19. Even when not during these strange Covid times, these are still GREAT ways to make extra cash quick!