How to Make Money as a Kid

Are you wondering how to make money as a kid?

Whether you’re a tween looking for some pocket cash, or a teen looking for your first real job, here are some ways for kids to make money.

How to Make Money as a Kid Online

Here are some of my favorite, yet easy and effective ways to make money online. You can make a few hundred each month without investing too much effort.

Take paid surveys

Taking surveys can be a fun way to share your opinions and earn money doing it! 

While some survey companies and opportunities do require that participants be 18 or older, a growing number of opportunities are available to older kids and teens. You may need your parents’ authorization to participate in some opportunities, so be sure to read the fine print before beginning a survey.  

A great place to start is Survey Junkie, a cleanly designed website that offers plenty of work for willing individuals. If you stick to it long enough, your rates will climb, and that’s when the profits will start to mount up. Be sure to check out these other survey apps that pay. 

Become a photographer

Do you love to take photos? If so, you may be able to sell them for extra cash! Selling stock photos can be a great way to make money online. 

Even if you don’t have a professional camera, selling stock photos is a possibility. With stock photography, it’s a lot more important to have a good eye than expensive equipment.

Find some free online courses, borrow a camera or rent it for a few days and capture some great shots. Afterward, simply go to one of the sites such as Shutterstock and test your luck with selling your photos as stock images. 

Sell video footage

Have you caught breaking news or something amazing in a video? In case you follow my tips on a regular basis, you’ll know that I already mentioned Newsflare once or twice, but I’ll do it once more here.

You can place your original video content on this website, and hopefully, one of the major world broadcasting agencies will pick it up. If that happens, and your content happens to go viral, you can earn yourself a nice holiday.

Getting Started: How to Sell Your Videos for Cash

Create your own YouTube channel

If you’ve ever had dreams about being a YouTube star, the good news is that the video opportunities on this platform are never-ending. If you have got something interesting to say, and you manage to find an audience that is willing to listen to your story, only the sky is the limit.

You do need to be at least 13 to open your own YouTube account. Parental permission is also needed if you are under the age 17.  YouTube also does have a minimum number of followers and video view requirements before you can monetize your channel. So be sure to be prepared to build your audience before the profits start coming in. 

Getting Started: How to Create a YouTube Channel and Make Money

Run a blog

Having your own blog is not necessarily only good for making money, it’s also a great tool for educating yourself and getting in touch with your feelings.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to sound like some guru, but it’s been scientifically proven that finding a creative outlet is incredibly important for a young person’s brain.

Starting a blog can have a small start-up cost in reserving a domain address and hosting costs. However, once you build your following, there are advertising and other revenue opportunities. 

Getting Started: How to Start a Blog and Make Money

Become a dog walker

Love dogs? Don’t mind being outdoors and getting some exercise? You can earn extra cash by walking dogs and pet-sitting for friends, family and neighbors.

The job might require some early mornings, but other than that, it’s pretty much smooth sailing. Dog walkers are particularly in demand in larger cities where pet owners may not have their own yard for dogs to get exercise.

Naturally, the only requirement is to feel comfortable around the dogs. Learn how to find dog walking jobs near you.

How to Make Money as a Kid Fast

Here are 14 simple and old-fashioned, yet easy ways for kids to make money fast.

Work in a library

Would you call yourself a bookworm? Perhaps you just like reading science fiction novels from time to time, or you just enjoy the awesome vintage book smell.

Either way, if literature is one of your passions, there is no greater way of earning some pocket money than by helping out in your local library. Many libraries specifically hire teens to help with their children’s programs and events. 

The work is not hard, and you will get access to all the books you want. Doesn’t that sound like a win-win situation?

Pick Up Dog Poop

One of the big tasks of dog ownership is cleaning up the business that they leave in the yard. Not all pet owners have the time or the interest in this less-than-pleasant task. However, they are willing to pay someone to do it for them! 

With a small investment of gloves and a scooper, you can offer to clean up after your neighbors’ dogs and make money doing it.

Create some flyers or post a listing on Facebook Marketplace offering your services, and be sure to introduce yourself to anyone you see walking their dog.

This service is particularly possible in the spring months when many dog owners need their yards cleaned up after the cold winter. 

Newspaper delivery is still around

While it’s true that the newspaper industry has seen better days, it’s a fact that a lot of people still enjoy getting their information from printed sources.

Guess what, those things still need to be delivered, and that’s where kids come into play. Riding around on a bike delivering newspapers may seem obsolete nowadays, but you’d be surprised by just how much in demand it is at all times.

A bit of physical activity never hurts anyone and you can earn money doing it. 

Work at a car wash

We all had to wash our dad’s car when we were kids anyway, so why not turn that chore into profit when we already know how to do it?

The only difference is that now, we would get paid for our troubles. Truth be told, this job is as easy as they come, and dirty cars will always be there, so the best thing we can do is to make two ends meet.

Work in an arcade

Love video games? Why not turn your passion into a part-time job? Working in an arcade can be fun, and a great way to get to know others that share your passion. 

Lawn mowing

Live in an area with lots of lawns? With a desire to work and a lawn mower, you can earn quick cash while helping out your neighbors.

Many adults don’t have the time, energy or physical ability to care for their own lawns. By offering lawn mowing you can make money and even earn tips too.  Just be sure to focus on doing a good job and being polite and professional. 

Serve as a referee for youth sports

Love sports and know all the rules of the game? If you are 16 years or older , you may be able to earn money being a referee for youth sports. 

In addition to earning money, being a referee also gives the opportunity to be directly involved in a sport you like.

You might get yelled at from time to time, but hey, some sacrifices have to be made. At the very least, you’ll meet some new people because of it.

Work in a grocery store

Have a grocery store nearby? Working as a bagger, cashier or stocker can be a great part-time job. Many retailers are paying good wages for this type of entry-level position. The growing popularity of delivery services has also opened up more positions as a staff is needed to prepare orders. Learn more about apps like DoorDash here. 

Babysitting

Are you good with kids? If so, you might make a great babysitter or nanny!  Just because you are young it doesn’t mean that you aren’t perfectly capable of taking good care of the little ones. Most babysitting jobs pay well, and many come with additional perks like free food and activities when you involve the kids. 

Doing laundry for people

Laundry day is a pain, but it doesn’t have to be if someone else does it for you. That’s why a lot of people who cannot find the time to perform this chore hire kids to do it instead.

They get perfectly clean clothes, and the kids get some decent pocket money. I think both sides should be more than happy with that arrangement.

Snow shoveling

Snow shoveling is hard work, but it can pay great money if you don’t mind the cold. With a shovel or snowblower, it can be a great way to make money and help your neighbors at the same time. 

Run errands for others

Pick up groceries, throw the trash away or paint the garage doors. Each of these errands can take up precious time that busy people just don’t have at their disposal, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have to be done.

If you’ve got plenty of free time on your hands, and you aren’t afraid to get them dirty, you can turn in some decent profit from this line of work.

Provide tutoring

Are you a great student? Have an interest in helping others? If so, you may be able to provide tutoring and help out other kids who are struggling with some classes. Not only that it is good for the soul, but your wallet will also quickly notice the difference as well. Learn more about tutoring jobs for teens. 

Work in a Movie Theater

Are you a movie fan? If you’re old enough to meet the minimum employment age for your area, working in a theater can be fun and you can see all the latest releases as well! 

Working at a movie theater can be a perfect job for high school kids looking to make some money on the side while doing the stuff they like.  It’s not necessarily related to any time of year either, as cinemas work after school hours, meaning that you can work and take care of all your other obligations at the same time.

Depending on your age, your work hours may be limited to certain times. Check the guidelines for your area or check at the theater for more details. 

Household chores

Many people appreciate assistance with regular cleaning and organizing tasks, especially if they have busy schedules. Cleaning duties can include tasks like dusting furniture, vacuuming floors, washing windows, and mopping floors.

By offering to take on these responsibilities, kids can provide a valuable service that saves time and effort for others. Another chore kids can help with is organizing. Many homes have closets, pantries, or storage spaces that could benefit from some tidying up. By assisting with sorting and decluttering items, kids can help create a more organized and efficient living environment.

This can involve categorizing items, rearranging shelves, or finding storage solutions to maximize space. Laundry tasks can also be a great opportunity for kids to earn money. Sorting clothes, folding, and ironing are tasks that can quickly pile up for individuals or families with busy lives.

Kids can offer their assistance in managing these laundry duties, making the process more manageable for those who may be overwhelmed by a large amount of laundry.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to make money as a kid, the good news is that it is easier than you think. There are lots of options for making extra cash even if you’re not quite old enough to get a part-time job.

Do you have a way for kids to earn money that we missed? Leave a comment below!

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