How To Make Money As A Teenager

As a teen, I worked at a fast-food restaurant, typical traditional jobs for teens back in the day.  I was just happy to have a job and finally make my own money. I didn’t realize other opportunities on how to make money as a teenager.

However, today, with the internet, there are endless opportunities for teens to make money.

The internet has allowed teens the opportunity to earn money from the comfort of their homes as well as do other jobs outside of the home. 

Earning my own money as a teen helped me learn the value of money, money management, gain a sense of independence and work ethics.  At least, I no longer had to ask my parents for money each time I wanted to buy something or go out with my friends.

I learned to spend less when it came to my own money.

If your teen is looking for how to make money, we’ve come with a list of 41 ways to make money online as a teenager, start a side hustle, start your own business, and more.

The list of recommended ways to make money as a teenager provides many options for teens to choose which ones work best for them and their schedule.

This list is not in any order of preference.

Here’s a list of 41 ways on how to make money as a teenager.

How To Make Money as a Teenager Online

1. Taking Online Survey

The easiest way for teens to start making money is through surveys. Teens can start making money as early as 13 years old as long as they have their parents’ permission.

You’ll not make a lot of money from taking surveys, but it’s something you can do while on the bus, watching TV, etc. And not all survey sites are scams, there are legitimate survey sites. Here’s a list of some legit survey sites.

Here is a list of the best survey sites that pay well.

·Swagbucks (13 years old and up) -This is my favorite site to earn rewards. Earn money by taking surveys, watch videos, do online searches, play games, and more. You receive $5 for signing up.

· Inbox Dollars – (18 years old and up) – Earn money to take surveys, watch videos, online searches, play games, and more. You will receive $5 for signing up.

·MyPoints (13+) – Earn money taking surveys, watching videos, reading emails, and more!

·Ipsos i-Say (14 years old and up) – One of the longest-running survey sites, founded in 1975.

Tips for Taking a Survey 

1. Free to join – If you are asked to pay to sign up, more than likely it is a scam. The survey companies are looking for people to complete surveys and not the other way around.
2. Be honest – Be honest when answering questions. Don’t lie to be accepted to a survey. It is important to remember that the purpose of a survey is to conduct market research.
3. Get a separate email address – Get a separate email address. A dedicated email will give you the chance to check emails without missing survey opportunities.
4. Signup for multiple survey sites – Sign up for multiple survey sites. This improves your chances of getting one to two surveys daily from each site. If you try out a site and you don’t like it, try another one. 

2. Start a Youtube Channel

If you enjoy creating videos, this is perfect for you.  First, you will need to create great content that attracts people to your channel.   Second, sign up for Ads, make money through affiliate links, as a brands influencer, and sell your products. 

3. Instagram

Instagram is a great way for teens to make money. You can make money as a teen on Instagram with affiliate marketing, selling a physical or digital product, and sponsored posts. 

4. Sell Printables on Etsy

Are you creative? Do you have something you like to make? Are you obsessed with Pinterest, browsing, and looking for ideas? However, if you want to narrow your niche to printables, check out the Free 22 page eBook ideas of seasonal printables by Cody and Julie of Goldcityvnetures.

5. Start a Blog

Blogging is a surefire way to share knowledge and at the same time, earn money. If you know about a particular topic and desire to share your knowledge with the world, you should start blogging. No matter your age, anyone can start a blog.

6. Start selling your services on Fiverr

Fiverr is a great way for teens to start making money online.  Fiverr is an online marketplace where people sell freelance services at a starting price of $5. Although most services begin at $5, you can charge as high as you want depending on the service that is offered. 

7. Become a Proofreader

A proofreader reads documents carefully to make sure the material is free of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and other errors that the original writer may have overlooked. Ask around and you will be surprised at the number of people looking for proofreaders.

8. Freelance Writer

Freelance writing jobs are in high demand and are a great online job option for teenagers to make money. A lot of bloggers and website owners need content for their blogs or websites but are too occupied or too busy to write.

9. Listen to Music

Yes, you can make money as a teenager listening to music. New artist submit their music to Slice the Pie for review before the song is released to the public.  Teenagers can make money by listening to music for 90 seconds and write a review on the song.   You must be specific and provide a well written and thought out review.

10. Virtual Assistant

Many bloggers hire virtual assistants to complete a series of tasks online. If you plan to start a blog or are interested in starting a blog, working as a virtual assistant is a great way to get paid to learn.

How To Make Money as a Teenager

You don’t have to have a job to make money as a teenager. There are many side hustles that you can do to earn money. The great thing about side hustles is that it can be started at a young age.

11. Instructor or Course Creator

Course creation appears to be high in demand these days and everyone is having a piece of the pie. If you know a particular topic, you can make short 10 to 20 minutes videos that teach people more effective ways to go about certain things.

There are platforms such as Teachable and Udemy that make it easy for you to create your courses and sell them to make money.

12. Become a Language Tutor

If you are bilingual, you can teach students who are in ESOL or teach immigrants who are just coming into the US and need to learn English.

13. Teach Music Lesson

Are you good at playing a musical instrument? Teach others to play. Also, there are churches that higher people to play instruments. This is one of the easy ways to make money as a teenager while improving your skills and helping someone else.

14. Pet Sitting

This job is definitely for animal lovers especially if you already own a pet. I can’t imagine anyone that is not fond of dogs or someone afraid of animals to pet sit.

This would involve going to people’s houses to take care of their pets while they are out of town or away from home.

15. Dog Walker

Many pet owners are extremely busy and don’t have the time to walk their dogs and need someone to walk their dogs. Unlike a pet sitter, a dog needs to be walked daily, and this can be consistent income.  

16. Dog Trainer

All dogs need to know basic commands like come, sit, and stay, as well as how to walk on a leash. You could make money teaching someone else’s dog basic obedience.

17. Become a Lifeguard

Amusement parks, local recreation swimming centers, and community pools have seasonal lifeguard opportunities.  Excellent swimming and lifeguard training skills are required for this side hustle.  This a pretty decent way to earn money during the summer.

18. Personal Assistant

Adults are busy and need help with a little help by completing some tasks. You can make money by completing everyday tasks for people.  This includes running errands, shopping for groceries, picking up clothes from the cleaners, and much more. 

19. House Cleaning Assistant

Most adults will not hire a teenager to clean their house.  However, they may need a cleaning assistant to help on cleaning days.

20. Teach Older Folks Computer Basics

Many older people who need help learning to use a computer. After all, computers were not around when they were growing up. On occasions, I have had family members call me some times to ask the most basic computer questions on saving or opening a file.

Technology is so vast and is ever-changing as a result you can make money as a teenager teaching older folks computer basics. 

The best place to check is the local senior citizens’ centers, retirement communities, and retirement homes.

21. Collect Golf Balls

If you are in an area with golf courses, you can make extra money collecting golf balls and reselling.  To make this worth your time, accumulate a good quantity before reselling.

Generally, you can sell the golf balls back to golfers in front of the course, sell at a garage sale, on Craigslist or, on eBay.

22. Golf Caddy

If you are a golfer, this would be a great opportunity. This work is not a difficult job, plus you could meet.

23. Create and Sell Art

If you can draw or paint, turn your artistic skill into making money.  You can sell your art online on one of the social media platforms or at a fair.

Also, you could add your image to t-shirts, coffee mugs, and much more.

24. Sports coach

If you are good at a sport, you could coach little kids to make extra money.

25. Amateur Referee

If you already play a sport, you most certainly already know the rules.  You can become a referee for younger kids and if you decide to referee for older kids, you would be required to get certified.

Ways for a 13-year-old to make money

It’s difficult to know how to make money as a teenager when you’re 13 years old. There are still ways to make money as a teenager even if you are only 13.

26. Chores from Parents

If your parents have odd jobs around the house that they don’t feel like doing themselves, that’s an opportunity for you.

The first place to look if you want to know how to make money as a teenager would be your parents. As a parent, there are things I would pay my kids to do around the house.

27. Rake Leaves

In the fall, there are plenty of leaves to rake.  This is a great way to make money in the fall.

28. Recycle Bottles and Cans

Collect empty bottles and cans from your house, the neighbors, big family get-together, church events, etc.  When you accumulate a good number, take it to the recycle in exchange for extra cash.

While there are many car washes around, many people prefer to pay someone else to hand wash their cars.  Ask parents, family friends, and people in the neighborhood.  You’ll never know who needs help until you ask.

30. Babysitting

For many kids, their first job is babysitting.  Babysitting is a popular and easy way for teens to make money.

Many kids start out babysitting for family, friends, neighbors, and people that attend the same church.  What makes this great is that these parents recommend the kids to other parents. 

31. Start a Landscaping Business

Working in the yard is a great way to earn money as a teenager.  Design flyers, post them in the neighborhood and let people know you are starting a landscaping business.  If you do a great job, they’ll want you to continue and possibly refer you to their family and friends. 

Here are some examples of yard work you could do:

• Mow lawns
• Weeding
• Trim Brushes
• Rake leaves
• Shovel snow
• Water plants

32. Assisting Senior Citizens

Many senior citizens prefer to live in their homes rather than living in a senior home. As a teenager, you can help with basic houses and chores. This is a great way to make money as a teenager as well as keep them company to ease the loneliness.

33. Clean Pools

There are pool owners that don’t want to be bothered by cleaning their pool.  Offer to clean your neighbors’ pool to make extra money.

34. Rent Your Video Games

If you’ve got a lot of video games or books, you can rent them to friends and neighbors for a fee. Charge a fixed amount to rent the game for a week, let them know of the late fee if the game is not returned on time. 

Other Ways To Make Money as a Teenager

35. Photography

If you love to take pictures, you should look into turning your hobby into a great side income. Selling your photos online is a great way to make money as a teen. License your photo through stock photography sites like Shutterstock, Pexels, Pixabay, etc.

36. Search Engine Evaluator

Search Engine Evaluators rate the search results so that the best results are offered to the users. The evaluator jobs are there because search engines are constantly changing and getting better, but algorithms can’t do everything humans can do. 

37. Shop with Rakuten

If you do your shopping online, you can shop through Rakuten.  Rakuten offers cashback for purchases made online and in stores. You also receive $25 per qualified referral.

Earn $10 free when you sign up today and earn your first rebate.

38. Sell CDs, DVDs, Tech, and LEGO® with Decluttr

Decluttr is a site to sell your unwanted CDs, DVDs, games, tablets, and more for quick cash. This is the easiest way to make money on outdated technology. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

39. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create appealing design websites, logos, flyers, magazines, and a variety of visual graphics using computer software, to communicate ideas to an audience. 

40. Tutoring

If you excel in any subject area, you can become a tutor.  Advertise through word of mouth to your peers, place flyers at schools, and community centers.

41. Window Cleaning

I personally don’t like cleaning windows and I am sure there are many adults like me who feel the same way.  This is a not so difficult way to make extra money as a teenager.  If you see a dirty window, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they need it cleaned because most times people don’t really think about the window.

How To Make Money As a Teenager Buying and Selling

You could sell your gently used clothes. Plus you can buy at garage sales and thrift stores and sell practically anything you get your hands on.

Sell Your Clothes and Clothes from a Thrift Store or Garage Sale

Sell your clothes and shoes that you no longer use, items from garage sales, and thrift stores.  Try selling the clothes on Facebook Market Place, ThredUp, Poshmark, or eBay to earn more than you paid for it.

BECOME AN AMAZON SELLER

If you enjoy shopping for bargains, this can be a great way to make money as a teenager. Retail arbitrage is when you buy low from stores like Ross, Target, Walmart, and resell on Amazon at a higher price. 

Ways to Spend Your Money

Now that you are earning your own money you have the right to spend the money the way you want, but it’s best to spend wisely.

Spend on Yourself

Teenagers who take time out to find ways to earn money, are an exception because not many teenagers are looking for ways to make money.

When you start making money, reward yourself. Buy something within reason that you’ve been wanted that you’ve not been able to afford.

Reinvest in Your Business

If you’ve started a blog, for example, invest some money in learning how to make your business better.  Every business needs money to keep growing.

Save Your Money

The best habit you can form at such an early age is to budget and save money.  You can towards purchasing a car or saving for college. The sooner you begin saving money the better off you’ll benefit later on in life.

Tips for the Teenager

• Be Professional – Be sure to have a professional attitude as an employee or business owner.
• Do your best – If you want your business to grow, you have to put in 100% effort. People are aware when you do a good job and are willing to give good recommendations.
• Start – Everyone has to start somewhere.  Find what works and start.
• Imagination – Use your talents to earn money.  Find what you are good at doing and find ways to monetize your skill.  

In Conclusion

There are many options to make money as a teenager as early as 13 years old.  As a teenager, you don’t have to get a traditional job but with a little creativity, you can begin to earn money. 

What is your advice on how to make money as a teenager? Let me know in the comments below!