How to make money as a kid – 10 ways to do it now!

When you’re a kid, getting a job is tough because, under child labor laws, pre-teens are not allowed to work. Making money at an early age is a skill that will serve you well in the future plus you’ll be able to buy some of the things you want. 

The question now is, since you can’t get a full-time job as a kid, is there a solution to your money-making worries? Yes, there is and if you are interested in making some money, there are a few ways you can do so. All you have to do is pick the one that’s the most comfortable for you. 

1. Become “mommy’s little helper” 

These days more and more parents are getting freelance jobs and working from home a lot because of the freedom they get to be their own boss. When a parent is at home, there’s no need for them to hire a babysitter since they can look after their toddler on their own, however, money can be made by being “mommy’s little helper”. 

This is similar to babysitting with the parent around, however, you can help around with other small little jobs around the house. You can also have a word with family and friends to see if they know parents who need a little helper around the house. 

2. Help out the elderly 

Advancement in medical science means that people are living longer. The world has seen an increase in the number of people living beyond the age of 70 especially in countries like Norway, Sweden, the USA, and the UK. Some elderly people don’t have family members close by meaning they are lonely most of the time. As a kid, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to make money on the side by keeping them company and doing a few chores for them. Just like the point above, you can get the word out to family and friends to see if any elderly people in the area might need some extra help. 

3. Sell some lemonade 

A lemonade stand is one of the classics in American and a little side job many kids do to earn some money. The best time to profit from this is the summertime when it’s really hot and people are looking for a quick way to quaint their thirst. 

When there’s a yard sale, this is also a good time to set up a lemonade stand and make some extra money because there’s no shortage of customers. Since different places have different laws regarding lemonade stands, always check with your parents to find out what you can and cannot do. 

4. Clean people’s yards 

Cleaning up other people’s yards is a wonderful way to get some fresh air as being cooked up in the house all day is unhealthy. If you can use a push mower, that is a wonderful way to start earning money in your local area. 

5. Walk people dogs 

Plenty of people these days have a pet and one of the most popular pets found in people’s homes is a dog. Considered man’s best friends, dogs are very energetic, easy to look after however, they like a lot of human interaction like playing and going for walks with them. 

This is something that many people with careers just simply don’t have the time for. Dogs vary in size and as a kid, looking after a dog that is very big like a Great Dane is not a good idea. Get to know dog owners and see what breed of dog they have and walk the ones you can handle. 

6. Become a pet sitter 

Carrying on the point above, people who have pets, want to take a vacation from time to time but worry about how their pet will fare when they’re away. You can make some money doing this job for your neighbors who want to take a vacation; however, it requires a high level of responsibility. 

You have little room for error and as long as you do everything right, you’ll have no issues. Dogs, cats, and fish, for example, need to be fed and have their water refreshed. It is a short-term commitment but it’s worth it in the end as long as you do a wonderful job. 

7. Offer people who aren’t tech-savvy with support 

With smart devices, computers, and phones, children are a lot more tech-savvy these days than 20-30 years ago. If you have the skills, you can put them to good use by doing some tech-related jobs for some people in your area. Some of the jobs you can do include data entry tasks like entering contact information, photo shopping, setting up a computer for the elderly, setting up a website, and more. 

8. Wash peoples vehicles 

Cars are the most commonly used mode of transportation. Before you start washing other people’s cars for money, you need to brush up your skills and see if you’re doing it properly. You can start by washing the family car as a test. 

Once you’ve done that, you can ask your mum or dad to critique your work and offer any opinions on areas you need to improve in. When your skills are up to par, you can begin asking people in your local area or family friends to see if they’d like to have their car washed. 

9. Do some tasks on a farm 

As pointed out earlier in the law, it is against the law for pre-teens to be employed but can do unharmful jobs on farms if parents allow it. You can pick fruits on a farm that goes a long way in helping your local community. 

10. Put any of your unwanted items 

This is not a job but a great way to get rid of some unwanted items for money. You can sort out any electric equipment, clothes, books, and more that you no longer need then take them to a local store for sale. There are also a few online retailers that are happy to purchase used electronics from you which they can later resale for a profit. Out of all the money-making ways mentioned above, this one is the easiest.