37 Legit Ways You Can Make Money As A Teenager

I remember how my dad always gave us money for menial household tasks in my teenage years. Even when my siblings and I wanted to be lazy, the thought that we could gain some money was enough motivation.

Nowadays, there are several online avenues where you can make money as a teenager, both online and offline. What is more encouraging is the fact that society encourages teenagers to be able to build a sustainable income.

Financial education is on the rise, and we now have teenagers making more money than even some adults. It all starts with learning what you can do with what you have. From there, you can begin to carve a path to financial success.

In this post, I will be showing you online and offline ways that you can make money as a teenager.

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Legit Ways You Can Make Money As A Teenager

Benefits of making money as a teenager

One might wonder why a teenager needs to make money, probably because chances are your parents still pay your bills, but there are several benefits to earning money as a teenager.

It teaches you the value of money.

When you start working for your money, you understand how valuable money is, which is an excellent lesson for you. It will help you learn the value of saving and how to spend wisely.

You start saving early.

When you start earning early, you start saving early as well, and by the time you get out of college, you will already have a substantial amount saved up, and maybe you can even start your own business with it. As a teenager, you will have fewer financial responsibilities, which means you can save more money.

You gain work experience.

Working allows you to gain quality experience, especially when you work in a field that you’ll further in at college. When looking for a collar job, you already have the necessary expertise to give you an edge.

It increases your self-esteem.

When you start making money as a teenager, it boosts your self-esteem and makes you believe in yourself.

It builds your confidence.

Like self-esteem, your confidence will also be intact, and you will not see the need to compare yourself to others.

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Legit ways to make money as a teenager

Here are some ways you can make money as a teenager, both online and offline:

Tutoring

Try tutoring some younger kids in the neighborhood. Select a subject you can teach well. All you need to do is approach parents in your neighborhood and offer to tutor their kids for a little below the average rate.

You can hang up posters and make mini business cards to share with others.

Babysitting

A teenager is usually the best for babysitting, and it is an easy side hustle for most teenagers. All you need is to do an excellent job for your first client, and they’ll spread the word for you. You get to charge your rates, which increase with the number of children you have to babysit.

Pet walking

Most people need to take their pets for a walk but don’t have the time to do it. You can make money by offering to walk their pets for an affordable rate. Pet owners can consistently call you for pet walking if you do it well.

Wash cars

You can wash cars around your neighborhood for money. You might be able to set up a mini garage or offer home services to car owners around your area.

Taking surveys

Several apps and websites will pay you to take surveys. Although the pay is sometimes low, it is something you can do in your spare time.

Exchange shopping receipts for cash

If your parents go shopping and bring home some grocery receipts, you can exchange them for cash through several cashback apps. It is pretty easy and all you need to do is scan the receipts and get paid.

Be sure to tell your parents what you’re doing with all the receipts.

Pet sitting

You can get paid to watch pets while the owner is away. You either take the pets to your house or stay at the client’s house and watch the pets there, whichever is more suitable for you.

Start a blog

You can start a blog. You simply need constant monthly visitors, and you can start monetizing your blog through affiliate marketing and develop courses you can sell on the site.

Become a referee

If there are local leagues around you, you can get paid to be a referee or umpire. It will help if you put an ear out for these leagues.

Make and sell crafts on Etsy

If you are crafty, artistic, and creative, you can make different crafts and sell them on Etsy. If you are not up to 18, you should have your parents set up the store for you because you need to be up to the legal age to sell on Etsy.

Sell your old items on Craigslist

If you have unused, old items, you can list them on Craigslist and get instant money when someone buys them. You can sell things from clothes to shoes, bags, handmade crafts, and printables.

Become an influencer

Teenagers make good money on social media, which you can also earn. Although there are many influencers now, you can create a niche that is not so competitive.

Sell pictures

If you are good at photography, you can sell your pictures online and earn money. Selling photographs is pretty lucrative, primarily when you sell to stock sites and are good at what you do.

Work for Amazon

You can work with Amazon remotely and on-site in different ways. As a teenager, you can become an affiliate associate, which I think is one of the most straightforward and most relevant Amazon jobs for teenagers.

Work at a gym

You can also work at a gym and arrange the equipment that people leave behind. You might also be asked to clean the equipment and rooms. Some gyms can allow you to work out for free.

Work part-time at a restaurant

Working in a restaurant part-time is one of the most familiar ways teenagers earn money nowadays. Whether a fast-food or a typical sit-down restaurant, you can always get a job as a waiter, server, kitchen assistant, etc.

Lawn services

It’s common to see overgrown and unkempt lawns because people are too busy making money to have time for their yards. You can offer to clean up the lawns in your neighborhood after school hours at affordable prices. You can provide some gardening services as well.

Please note that this kind of work involves a lot of physical exertion.

Shovel snow

Do you want to make money as a teenager during winter? You can offer to shovel snow out of driveways, sidewalks, and parking spaces, which can get you enough money to get some things.

Become a DJ

Do you have friends who are always having a party every weekend? Becoming a DJ means you can get to make money from your friends and neighbors. You might need a bit of capital and maybe learn how to mix songs, but you will start making profits in no time.

Golf caddying

A golf caddy is also a great way to make money as a teenager; aside from the regular job pay, you can also get tips from clients. It might be time-consuming; you might also have to work only at specific times, but it is a great way to network and make money.

Check out golf courses around you and ask if they have any openings.

Work in retail

Working in retail, especially with big brands, can benefit you in the long run. Some retail companies can allow you to transfer to a different store in case you go to college or move to another state.

There are different odd jobs available for teenagers in the retail industry, so ask at your local retail store.

House sitting

When people leave town, they usually need someone to watch the house while away. They might require you to stay in the place for the duration of their travel or just have you stop by to make sure things are working fine. They might need you to watch and care for their pet if they have.

Cleaning services

As a teenager, you can offer cleaning services to establishments around you like schools, restaurants, and even houses. You should create a flyer to share around your neighborhood.

Work at a theme park

Getting work at a theme park might be easier than you think, and you can do a lot of work at a theme park. The fun and joy will also make it enjoyable, which means you earn extra money while having fun.

Become a lifeguard

To become a lifeguard, you need to complete the lifeguard training and get certified. It is a great job to do during the summer, and the pay is pretty good. You can apply at the neighborhood pool and recreation centers around you.

Start vlogging

If you like being in front of the camera, you can try vlogging. If you get it right, you can even become a media celebrity. You can vlog about anything from your daily life to creating educational videos.

Sell clothes on Poshmark

If you have a lot of clothes in your closet, you can try selling them on Poshmark for extra bucks; it is a simple and fast way of making money.

Manage social media accounts

If you know your way around social media platforms, you can start managing accounts for other people. Believe it or not, people in this century either don’t have the time for social media and need a social media presence or don’t know how to use it.

It is a lucrative business, and you can work with multiple clients.

Kennel assistant

This is a way to get closer to animals if you love being around them. Your local veterinary might need a kennel assistant, so you should ask.

Help with odd jobs

If you don’t know what side hustle to do, you can carry out odd jobs in the neighborhood.

Sell stuff in school

An easy way to make money is to sell stuff in school. To do this, you need to observe the trendy things, buy them and sell them in school at a slightly higher price than the original price.

Make money from GPT sites

You can earn money as a teenager from GPT (Get Paid To) sites online. You get paid for performing different tasks daily. Some jobs might be easy, but other times, they might be difficult.

Freelance

You can freelance on several platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. These platforms allow you to sell services at your rate. Even if you are not a pro, you can test your skills and charge low pay until you are experienced enough to raise your rates.

Get paid to walk

You can convert your walking times to cash. Several apps pay you to walk; it is an easy way to make money as a teenager without any extra cost.

Delivery services

Delivery services for local restaurants and retail stores are another way to make money as a teenager. Check with these stores and work out your schedule.

Make Print-on-demand

Print on demand is a lucrative business. You can design graphics that can be used on tableware and clothes. There are several Print-on-demand stores like Merch. You must create an account if you are not up to the required age.

Sell on Amazon

Aside from working for Amazon, you can also publish your books or list items you can sell and earn royalties from them. If you write a good book or sell an in-demand product, you can make up to $1,000 per month or even more.

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What to do with the money you make as a teen

Save and keep saving

As a teenager, you have limited responsibilities, so it is a good idea to start saving. You can try to save at least 50% of what you earn.

Invest for the future

Find a good investment plan and start as soon as you verify things. Investment is more profitable than saving because your money grows with investment while it remains static when you save.

Reinvest in your business

When you start making a profit from your business, it is always a good idea to reinvest so your profit margin can keep increasing.

Reinvestment can be in the form of learning and updating your skills, registering for mentorship and online classes, etc. You also get to raise your rates when you reinvest in your business.

Buy something you want

You don’t have to be so hard on yourself, and it is okay to splurge a bit. Buy something you want and have fun with your money. It can be a way to reward yourself for all your hard work. Make sure not to overdo it.

Create your emergency fund

Create an emergency fund for the nearest future, which might be college. Keep updating and adding to your emergency fund.

Save for college

Create an envelope of savings and keep adding for college. Who knows, your profits might be enough to get you a house once you go to college or maybe a car? Either way, you can add the money you save for college to the money you’ll get from your parents to live a comfortable life.

Start your dream business

The money you make as a teenager can be the means to an end. In this case, the end may be your dream business.

Tips for making money as a teenager

Involve your parents.

Always make sure your parents are aware of the work you do, your schedule, and your employer. It is to keep you safe and accountable.

Have fun.

Whatever side hustle you decide, make sure you have fun doing it; it makes you want to do it for a long time.

Make sure your studies don’t suffer.

Your schedule should be flexible enough to accommodate school and study hours. Please do not skip school for work.

Do what works for you.

Don’t be carried away with what your friends do; make sure the side hustle works for you.

Start little.

You might not see a job that will pay you $1,000 as soon as you start, and that’s okay. Start small and think of the big picture, even if it is your own business.

Be consistent.

Remain consistent in what you do, and don’t give up too soon. Making money is never easy, but spending money is.

Research

Do your research before you agree to anything or sign any contract. Research standard rates as well so you don’t get shortchanged.

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Conclusion

Most of the ways mentioned in this post are appropriate for all teenagers from 13 to 19 years of age. Sometimes, you might have to get permission from your parents or guardian. For example, you should tell them if you are going to babysit. Or, if you want to open an online store, an older person may need to open it on your behalf.

Whatever ways you decide to make money as a teenager, make sure it is something you love and try your best to be consistent. People have built wealth from businesses they started as teenagers.

Which of these ways are you likely to try out? Have you had any challenges with any of these money-making ways? I would love to hear from you.