It’s never too early to start learning the ropes of how to make money as a kid. Even pre-schoolers can earn a little extra cash by completing small tasks or selling handmade goods. The whole point is not teaching children how to work or think about career from an early age but rather to teach them some financial responsibility and money management.
Let’s take a look at how your child could learn a thing or two about money flow by earning on their own.
Money Making Tips for Elementary Schoolers
There are a lot of ways for kids to make money from the moment they turn seven, and almost just as many ways that you can save money for their future.
Set Up a Lemonade Stand
A child can make money by selling lemonade. There are two main ways to make it: with fresh lemons or with a powdered mix.
Fresh lemonade is obviously going to be more expensive to make, but people are usually willing to pay a bit more for something that tastes better. Powdered lemonade is much cheaper to make, but the taste isn’t as good. So, what’s the right price for each type of lemonade?
Well, if you’re using fresh lemons, you could charge $1.00–$1.25 per cup. For powdered lemonade, you can get anywhere between $0.25 and $0.50.
Recycle Aluminum Cans for Cash
How can I make $100 fast? Collect aluminum cans from your neighborhood and take them to a recycling center for cash. It takes about 5,000 aluminum cans to make $100 at a price of 5 cents per pound. If the price for aluminum is higher in your area, you would need fewer cans in order to put some money on your kid’s debit card.
For example, aluminum prices in Michigan and Oregon are 10 cents per pound.
Wash Cars
How to make money as a kid in the summer? How about washing your neighbor’s car? Washing cars can be a fun summer job if you like recreational activities. It’s very flexible because you choose the hours you want to work and only schedule the car wash during those times.
Start Delivering Newspapers
This is a classic way for kids to make money, and it’s still a viable option today (as long as you’re older than 11 and you have a state permit). You can find work through your local newspaper or by asking around your neighborhood.
Help Local Seniors
How to make money as a kid (10-year-old)? Help those that are six or seven times older than you! Senior citizens, in particular, can use some assistance getting their groceries home or carrying them to their car.
If you live close by, offer to help out — even just once a week or month — and see how much joy it brings them (and how grateful they are)! Plus, you’ll get some good exercise in too.
How Mid Schoolers Can Earn Cash
There is one interesting rule for children: the older they get, the more lucrative jobs they can find. Too bad this does not follow us throughout our whole life.
Babysitting
How can 12-year-olds make money? Think babysitting. Babysitters usually start working when they are around 11–14 years old, but there is no legal minimum age requirement in most places. Only one state has a minimum age requirement for babysitters — Maryland — where babysitters must be at least 13 years old.
In addition, a child can also take a Red Cross course for babysitting (starting at age 11).
Entertainment Work
How to make money as a 12 year old? If you have any special talents (like acting or singing), you can use them to earn money. You can act or sing in movies, TV shows, or radio.
Generally, kids this age have a lot of advantages when it comes to working. Their voices are still unchanged, they’re old enough to learn new challenging things but not old enough for acne yet. There are a lot of roles for this age group in all types of media. Agents are always looking for talented kids who can act.
Making Evergreen Wreaths
How to make money as a kid during Covid? How about getting your hands dirty by doing some creative work?
Making evergreen wreaths is a perfect way to make some extra cash while you’re stuck at home. You can find evergreen branches at your local grocery store or craft store, and all you need is some wire, ribbon, and a hot glue gun.
Start by bending the evergreen branch into a circular shape, then use the wire to secure it in place. Wrap the ribbon around the wreath, glue it in place, and add extra decorations like pinecones or berries. You can sell your finished wreaths at local craft fairs or online through sites like Etsy.
Find Local Gigs Through Nextdoor
How to make money fast as a kid? Try Nextdoor! Nextdoor is a great way to find local gigs, especially if you’re looking for something short-term. This could include things like dog-walking, yard work, or helping a neighbor with errands. You can also find a job by category or location.
Just be sure to read the gig requirements carefully before applying (you need to be 13 and above to apply).
Sell Things at School (Or Online)
How to make money as a kid online and offline? One of the easiest ways is to sell things you no longer need. You can sell them at your school or online. For example, if you have old toys or clothes you don’t want anymore, you can sell them to your classmates or friends.
Another option is to sell arts and crafts. If you’re good at making things like jewelry or paintings, you can sell them online or at local art fairs.
How High Schoolers Can Make Money
The older your child gets, the more choices they have for making money on their own.
Takie Online Surveys
How can I make money fast as a kid? Easy. Take online surveys. There are two types of surveys for kids: free and paid. Paid surveys are usually offered through market research firms.
Kids as young as 13 can complete some surveys. However, to participate in most paid surveys, you’ll need to have a parental permission letter. Some of the best survey sites are LifePoints, Swagbucks, and Toluna.
Monetize Your Social Media Accounts
How to make money as a kid at home? Use your social media skills! If you’re already spending hours on Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok, why not make some money from it? There are several ways to do this, through views, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, or selling products and services.
For example, TikTok users make $40–$50 for 1 million views.
Stream on Twitch
How to make money without a job as a kid? Streaming games on Twitch may be the answer! One of the great things about Twitch is that it’s a platform for people of all ages. However, you still need to be over 13 and have your parent or guardian’s permission. I.e., they’ll need to agree to Twitch’s Terms of Service.
There are various ways for Twitch streamers to make money, but the four most common sources of income are donations, advertisements, subscriptions, and sponsorships.
Become a Video Editor
How to make money fast as a kid at home? How about becoming a video editor? This is a great way to use your skills to make money online. You can find work on sites like Fiverr, or you could start your own YouTube channel!
Become an App Tester
Do you have a smartphone? Of course you do! Hence, you could become an app tester! App testers are paid to test new apps and provide feedback.
Conclusion
How can kids make money in 2022? Doing online surveys and testing apps have taken over, though good old newspaper delivery is still a favorite for all young cyclists. Of course, this is just the beginning — there are plenty of other ways to make money if you or your kid get creative and think outside the box.
FAQs
How to make money as a 12 year old in quarantine?
It can be tough to make money when you’re stuck at home all the time, but there are still plenty of ways to bring in some extra cash. Here are a few ideas:
- Sell your old stuff online. This can be anything from your old T-Shirts to your toys.
- Teach others a skill. If you know how to do something well, such as solving math problems, teach it to your peers. Offer lessons over video chat or through a pre-recorded video series.
- Take surveys. Many survey companies will pay you for your opinions. Just make sure you qualify.
How can I make $500 as a kid?
The best way to make $500, if you’re over 13, is by streaming on Twitch. Namely, most “small” Twitch streamers earn around $500 a month from their channel. This is because they typically have 50–100 subscribers.
Again, you’ll need your parent or guardian’s permission to make money on Twitch.
How to make easy money as a kid?
The easiest way to make money as a minor is by:
- Setting up a lemonade stand (you can sell fresh lemonade for $1.00–$1.25 per cup)
- Recycling aluminum cans (5,000 aluminum cans equal $100 at a price of 5 cents per pound)
- Washing your neighbor’s car
- Helping a local senior
- Delivering newspapers
In addition to that, if you’re over 12, you can:
- Start babysitting
- Act or sing in movies, TV shows, or radio
- Make evergreen wreaths
- Find local gigs through Nextdoor
- Sell your things at school
How to make money as a kid over 14? Try becoming an App tester or monetize your social media accounts.
