It can be hard to make extra money, especially if you aren’t old enough to get a part-time job. However, there are still ways that kids can bring in a little extra cash.
Most of these ideas will require the permission or assistance of an adult, although the bulk of the work can be done by a child. It’s important for children and their parents to clearly communicate appropriate ways to make money.
Below are 19 of the many ways kids can make extra money.
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Rake leaves or weed gardens.
There’s a lot of yard work that kids and teens can do to bring in a little extra cash. Talk to neighbors to find out when they need yard work done and arrange a time and price for the work.
During the fall months, leaves need to be raked. Raking leaves is an easy way to make a few extra bucks, especially when people are too busy to rake their own yards.
Shovel snow in the winter.
Snow-covered driveways are a serious problem for some areas during the winter months. If your town gets regular snowfall in the winter, shoveling snow is a great way for kids to earn extra money.
Because snowfall is irregular, it’s best to be ready to shovel snow when it comes down. Friends, family, and neighbors will often be willing to pay a child to shovel snow from their driveway and sidewalks.
Have a lemonade stand.
There’s a reason lemonade stands are so popular with kids. These little booths can be set up in your yard and driveway and can attract customers looking for a cool drink.
If your house is in a busy area, the potential money made by a lemonade stand is increased. Offer extra flavors, mix-ins, or baked goods to increase your overall sales.
With fewer people carrying cash, set up a digital method of payment like Venmo or Cashapp. These options can capture sales of people who might otherwise drive past.
Sell baked goods.
Bake cookies, cakes, and pies to sell to friends and neighbors. When these items are baked after orders are placed, no food will go to waste or remain unsold.
Homemade baked goods often sell best during the fall and winter holidays. Children can take orders for Thanksgiving pies or Christmas cookies as a way to make a little extra money.
Complete cleaning tasks.
Whether they clean for extra cash at home or in the home of a friend or neighbor, kids can make extra money by doing cleaning tasks. Mopping, scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks, doing dishes, and other tasks can all be done by a kid to make extra money.
If you have an elderly neighbor who needs more assistance around the house, regular cleaning income might be possible. Set up a schedule, agree on payment, and show up to regularly complete the commissioned work.
Wash cars.
Car washes are a popular choice for kids looking to make some extra money. Whether it’s done with a group or alone, a car can be a good way to bring in extra money, especially during the summer months.
If washing cars for friends and family, kids can also offer interior detailing services. They can remove trash, vacuum carpets, and gently clean seats and other surfaces in the car.
Offer babysitting services.
Older children are often called upon to babysit for friends and neighbors. Babysitting can be a lot of fun, especially if you know the family and the kids well.
Offer babysitting services to friends, family members (like aunts and uncles), and neighbors. Be sure to agree upon a price before babysitting, and don’t be afraid to get an adult involved if a person doesn’t pay.
Walk dogs for people.
Pets take a lot of hard work, but many people are too busy to keep up with the daily demands of caring for a dog. Kids can make extra money by walking dogs for neighbors.
Dog walking can turn into a regular source of income for kids. If a few neighbors hire them to walk the dogs each day after school, that income can add up pretty quickly.
Sell handmade crafts.
Creative children can bring in some extra money by selling the things they create. Jewelry, clothing, household items, and more can bring in some extra money.
It’s important to consider the cost of materials and the value of time when setting a price for handmade items. However, creating and selling handmade items can be a great educational opportunity for kids interested in business.
Although an adult would need to set up an Etsy account, kids can make stuff to be sold online. Between purchasing materials, making items, taking photos, and taking care of shipping, this small business could be a meaningful first job for a kid.
Organize a garage sale.
Many people accumulate things in their homes that need to be donated or sold. Kids can help set up, manage, and profit from a garage sale.
Although they may bring in some money from their own items for sale, parents might choose to give their children a share of the profits if they help organize the sale.
Collect recyclables and turn them in for money.
Public trash cans often end up filled with recyclable goods that can be traded in for money. Children can either pick up recyclables from public trash cans or by going door-to-door in their neighborhood.
Although there isn’t a lot of money to be gained in collecting recyclables, it can be a great way to make a few extra bucks while contributing to green initiatives.
Take online surveys.
Many online survey sites allow children and teens to sign up. Find out which sites offer surveys and other tasks to kids, then sign up to make money.
Swagbucks has been popular for a long time as a way for kids to make a little extra money online. They can earn money by searching online, watching videos, filling out surveys, and referring their friends.
Run a hot chocolate or spiced cider stand.
This idea is just like setting up a lemonade stand, except it’s meant for colder weather. Kids can set up a booth with warm drinks during cold weather.
In the weeks before Christmas, a booth like this could be particularly profitable. If a kid is comfortable doing so, they could sing Christmas carols to boost interest in their hot drinks.
Wrap Christmas gifts.
Some kids have a knack for wrapping presents. For a child who is detail-oriented and who enjoys wrapping presents, this can be a great way to make a few extra bucks.
Offer gift-wrapping services to neighbors, relatives, and friends. Watch for people on social media complaining about having to wrap gifts; these people can become great customers!
Clean up after someone’s pet.
Scooping litter boxes or shoveling dog poop aren’t glamorous jobs, but they’re jobs people are willing to pay decent money to do. Kids can clean up after pets to bring in some extra money.
Other cleanups may also be helpful to people with pets. If a pet leaves hair in the car and on home surfaces, a kid may be able to make money cleaning up that hair.
Provide tech support for older relatives and neighbors.
It’s no secret that kids have an edge when it comes to understanding technology. Kids can offer this expertise to older relatives and neighbors in need of extra assistance.
They can fix computers, help install smart home devices, and assist in programming remotes and other devices. Although tech support work may be irregular, it can be a great way for a kid to make a few extra dollars on occasion.
Help with a family-owned business.
If a kid’s family owns a business, they may be able to do some work from home to help with operating the business. Kids can design posters and flyers, do data entry, research ideas, and more to help contribute to the family business.
Stream through Twitch.
Twitch has become a popular platform for streamers to share content while playing video games. If a kid has an interest in video games and the proper permissions to stream on Twitch, monetizing those streams can be a fun way to make some extra money.
Take and sell photos.
Sites like iStock and Shutterstock allow you to sell the photos you take online. Although it may require an adult to create an account and attach a bank account, you can put in the work taking the photos uploaded to the site.
Most phones these days shoot photos in high enough resolution that they can be used as stock photos. If a child enjoys taking photos, this can be a great way to make a little extra money.
Conclusion
Kids may not be able to get part-time jobs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make some extra money. The above are just a few of the many ways children today can make extra cash.
