How do you make money as a 13 year old? Since you can’t legally work in the US at that age, it may seem impossible. However, the options to make money as a 13 year old are plentiful, and they may surprise you.
It’s always good to teach kids the value of money and a hard day of work. However, many of the ways to make money listed here won’t require you to get a job or jump through many of the hurdles you would expect with the process.
Table of Contents
28 ways to make money as a 13 year old
1. Babysitting
Babysitting is one of the most popular ways for a 13 year old can make money. There will always be a need for babysitters, and teenagers are the best options because they work cheap and can run quickly after the children.
2. Online surveys
While these sites sound sketchy, several legit companies offer quick and easy money for taking surveys. Many of the legitimate companies will pay you via PayPal.
3. Become a personal shopper
Teenagers can make money by going to the store for people in their neighborhood. Some of the tasks they can do are placing an order for groceries, picking up items, and more.
4. Sell unwanted items at a garage sale
It’s always a good idea to have a garage sale, which could help you make some money. You can sell all kinds of stuff, from your home to your old toys to game consoles. Kids always have toys, games, and clothes that they’ve grown out of that can be sold.
5. Make money washing cars
This is an easy way for anyone 13 and up to make a quick buck. You can find a space at a busy intersection and offer to wash cars for $5 per car. If you want to do a more thorough cleaning, you can allow the car to come over to your place, and you can clean it better and charge more.
6. Tutor students who have difficulties learning
Chances are you probably know at least one subject in school like it’s the back of your hand. There may be parents who are willing to pay you to tutor their child.
7. Create YouTube videos
It’s easy to start making money with a camera and some editing software. YouTube is the best place to start because its website will do all the heavy lifting for you, and you can easily monetize your videos.
8. Make and sell crafts
There is a big market for handmade things. Making jewelry, hats, or bags can help you make some money by selling your crafts to your friends or at flea markets
9. Design t-shirts and sell them online
Print on demand is big because you can custom create a design that can be a hit with people worldwide. All it takes is one design to take off and put quite a bit of money in your pocket.
10. Lemonade stands are a great way to make fast cash
There’s nothing like a glass of cold lemonade on a hot day. It’s an age-old classic way to make money. It’s all about the location, and you can make quite a bit of money with a properly placed lemonade stand during the summer.
11. Perform odd jobs
You can mow lawns, rake leaves, wash cars, or do any number of things that people may need help with. You can even work for companies that need help on construction projects, or they may be willing to give you some money to pay for your services.
12. Start your own blog
Blogging is a great way to make money as a 13-year-old. All you need is a domain, web hosting, and a topic you love to write about. You can set up your website with HostGator and snag a free domain name while you’re at it.
13. Sell your artwork online
If you’re an artist, like they say, then you have to paint. You could sell your paintings online or at a local arts fair. Or perhaps there are some clothes that you can sell on eBay or Amazon.
14. Become a dog walker
Dogs love to get exercise, but not all dog owners have the time to take them for a walk. Dogs need to be walked every day, and if you’re looking for a way to make money, this is a great way to do it.
You can walk the dogs around your neighborhood or take them to the park where they can experience a little more freedom.
Want to get started as a dog walker or dog sitter? Sign up at Rover to list your services.
15. Be a mascot for a sports team
If you’re outgoing, talented, and love sports, then you can become a mascot for a local sports team. Many teams will pay good money to attract a crowd during the game, or people may pay to have their kids come to practice.
16. Sell your clothes online
If you have any of your old clothes that you’re not wearing, then you can sell them on sites like Craigslist or eBay.
17. Write and publish books on Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle allows everyone to become a writer. You don’t need an agent or anything like that to write and sell books on Amazon Kindle. You only need to write the book, create a book cover and upload it to Amazon.
18. Paper route
Do people still read newspapers? Well, some people do. A paper route doesn’t take much work, and you can do it in an hour or less per day to make some money.
19. Start a YouTube channel
YouTube is a great way to make some money if you’re 13. You can get paid directly from YouTube from the ads on your videos, or you can do affiliate marketing or sell a product. YouTube gets a ton of traffic, and it’s not difficult at all to create videos that get lots of views.
20. Social media assistant
Do you love to hang out on social media all day? If so, people and companies are willing to pay you to help them run their social media accounts. Social media is a huge business, and it’s something that you can make a steady income with throughout your entire life.
21. Bake cookies
Baking is still one of the most popular hobbies for people of all ages. So many people like to bake, and you can sell your cookies to your friends, neighbors, and family.
22. Sell scrap metal
You can collect scrap metal like old toys, pipes, or any number of things and sell them for cash. It’s not hard to find a scrap yard that will pay you to take your old stuff away.
23. Do yard work
You can always check to see if your neighbors need any yard work done. Then, you can offer to mow the lawn, weed their flower bed, or rake leaves. Homeowners always need help around the house, and many will pay you a buck or two for a helping hand.
24. Shovel snow during the winter
If you live in an area where there’s lots of snow, you have ample opportunity to make some money shoveling it. Unfortunately, busy people don’t have time to shovel snow, and older people can’t do it. So take your shovel, go from house to house, and ask if anyone would like their sidewalk and driveway shoveled.
25. Design websites
You might be only 13, but you can make money from website design if you have a knack for it. You can work as a freelancer and find people who need sites built. It’s a great way to make money during the summer or the weekends when you have nothing to do.
26. Freelance writing
Freelance writing is one of the most popular ways to make money online. If you’re a good writer, tons of publications and websites will pay you to write for them. You can also search the internet for customers on your own and get paid for each article you write.
27. Sell handmade items on Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace where you can let your creativity shine. Handmade items on Etsy sell like hotcakes, and you can make good money there. Search Etsy and see what other people are selling and put your own unique twist on it.
28. Paint houses during the summer
This is a tough job that requires hard work, but you can make quite a bit of money painting houses. It’s a hot dirty job, but every summer, many homeowners want their house painted. You could get a job painting houses or helping people who paint the houses who need a helping hand doing other tasks such as cleanup and preparation.
How to make money as a 13 year old: The bottom line
Many of us have that desire to make money at a young age. However, you can easily find ways to start your own business or do something you love and make money. The options are endless, but the best way to find out is to think outside the box and start trying things out.
You don’t have to wait until you’re older when you can make money doing various things that will put cash in your pocket. The summertime is a great time to explore different money-making possibilities because it gives you the chance to see which ones you like the best.
Enjoy your childhood. Don’t work too hard. Try to find a balance between working, playing, and studying so that you can enjoy your teenage years.
