7 Ways for Teens to Make Money
Courtesy of Photos8.com
With the economy still sagging, it’s not easy for a teen or college student to make some money. Many adults are now working in retail sales or restaurants, increasing competition for teens who typically hold these jobs. But that doesn’t mean you can’t earn a few bucks (or more!) on the side. Listed below are some of the best ways to make money, especially if you’re young and have some free time.
1. CashCrate. CashCrate is a website where you complete “offers” (basically viewing advertisements) and you’re paid 25 cents to a dollar for each one you complete. CashCrate has glowing reviews all over the Internet because of its generous referral program (which I am a part of), so few people are willing to tell the whole truth. However, I can say that it’s not a scam and you really will get paid. The main problem is that CashCrate is boring! The clicking can become very tedious! Another positive is that you can make quite a bit with the referral program. I’ve seen people with $300 dollar checks on the message boards.
2. Start a small business. You don’t have to sell the next iPod, but think about a simple service you could provide to your community. Good at fixing computers? Love watching children? Enjoy photography? All of these activities can be transformed into a business by just printing up some flyers and hanging them around your town. Print up some simple business cards from VistaPrint for free
3. Check out school opportunities. A good friend of mine works for our athletic department, handling admissions at football, volleyball, and basketball games. Tutoring can also be a viable option, but make sure you know your subject cold before you start!
4. Start a blog. This won’t make you money right away and you need to have decent writing skills, but blogs can definitely earn a solid income if you work at it. This girl makes $700 a month from her blog! To start, register your own domain name and get web hosting set up. For both of those, I use DreamHost. I’ve had no problems at all with them.
5. Online surveys. Currently, I complete surveys through Survey Savvy. This isn’t a fast earner, but they are completely legitimate and mail out a check whenever you’re ready. I think the vast majority of survey opportunities are for those who are 18 or older, but I still receive at least 3 per month and have for the past few years. Sign up here.
6. Arts and Crafts. If you can make quality, homemade items, you might have luck selling them at local craft fairs or community auctions. The emphasis here is on quality and originality. Also check out Etsy, the online place to sell homemade goods.
7. Sell stuff! Check out eBay and Craigslist. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to use a parent’s account so make sure they’re in on what you’re doing. Even broken iPods and “junk” can be sold for a bit of cash. Also see if you can sell your parents’ stuff and ask for a cut of the profits.
