MONEY MAKING FOR TEENS

With summer here, many teens are looking for ideas to make money. While older teens may be working for the summer, those in between years can be a challenge. Fortunately, with a little thought and some creativity, teens of all ages can make money, learn new skills and have fun. Coming up with new ways to make money is a great chance for a teen to experiment with entrepreneurship, business management, and even learn to do their own advertising. Teens may also find work in restaurants, shops, or summer internships pursuing a long term interest of one sort or another.

Some of the traditional ideas that teens have used to make money still make sense today. Lawn care of various sorts, including lawn mowing is always needed in the summer. A teen with a green thumb may even find that offering landscaping services of various sorts can provide an additional challenge and make the work more interesting. Little is needed to start mowing lawns. A mower and trimmer are essential; however, beyond that you need little more than a few fliers, some inexpensive business cards, and perhaps an ad on local online message boards.

Babysitting is another possibility for teens. Many families find themselves in need of summer babysitting or even a summertime nanny. Teens should be sure that they have current CPR certifications and have taken local babysitting courses if that is an option. Have references available for potential clients and charge a fair market rate. If you come prepared with some inexpensive and fun activities and take good care of the children you are watching, you can stay busy and fill your wallet with summer work as a babysitter.

Other possibilities may be decidedly more modern. Teens with good computer skills may find that with some marketing savvy, they can sell their skills at web design, desktop publishing, or video production. PC tutoring or computer repair are also possibilities for tech-savvy kids. Crafty teens may find that starting an online shop to sell handmade goods can put money in their bank accounts while still allowing them to do something that they enjoy. Online options like etsy.com can be a great choice. Starting a cleaning or organization business, a car detailing service or a pet care service are other possibilities that can work for young teens looking to earn an income on their own.

For more ideas on money making jobs for teens, see fool.com/teens/teens02.htm and teenmoneymakingideas.com. Teens should be sure that they keep appropriate financial records and file taxes should they make enough for it to be legally required in a given year. The experience of running your own business in your teens teaches responsibility and can help make it easier to pay for school clothes, a new car or even a college education.

15 and Up Teens

I know some companies such as Braum's Dairy (known as fast food type of restaurant in some states) hire you when you are 15 and a half. Teens are also targeted for employment at seasonal jobs such as Six Flags, Frontier City, and Hurricane Harbor. You can find good hours but low seasonal pay at amusement parks but if you have some easy-to-learn qualifications you can get a higher pay lifeguard duty.

I started my first job working at a local amusement park for under minimum wage with a side job of mowing lawns. Teens have a lot of energy and lots of creativity to add to the workforce especially during the afternoons and when school is out.