If you have a teen, you’re probably being hit up for cash all the time, as they’ll want the latest fashions, hottest video games and money to hit the mall and grab a bite.
A lot of people pay an allowance, but that often doesn’t cover what they want, so a good idea is to have your teen take some sort of job in the neighborhood.
For those that have recently moved into a new neighborhood with a teen, introducing your family on a Facebook neighborhood page or at a local event is a great way not only to make new friends, but to get your kid in front of the people who may have needs for services such as babysitting or dog walking.
Here are some suggestions for your teen to earn some money and stop mooching off you.
- Babysitting:
This is one of the most common ways for teens to make money, and with a little marketing on social media and talking up your kids at parties, you can soon get your teen being in demand. Once they find a family who likes them, there will be others texting looking for babysitting as well, as word travels fast in neighborhoods.
- Pet sitting or dog walking:
If your teen is a pet lover, pet sitting while people are away on vacations or walking a dog after school is a great way to earn some cash. Again, marketing is key, and your teen should post some photos of them with animals on social media or on flyers around the neighborhood advertising their services.
- Collecting recyclables:
Some communities don’t offer glass pickup as part of a recyclable contract anymore, so a savvy entrepreneur with a car could pick up glass bottles from neighbors once a week for a small price and drop it off at the nearest glass collection site. And if they get the whole neighborhood, that could be some nice money for just a few hours work.
- Shoveling snow:
People love seeing snow in the winter, but very few enjoy going out to shovel. When a storm comes, have your teen go door to door early on and beat others to the punch. There’s some good money in shoveling, and sometimes it comes with some hot coco to boot.
- Tutoring:
Maybe you have a math whiz on your hands or a kid fluent in a second language. A lot of parents are looking for tutors for their younger-aged kids, and often they respond better to a teenager who is closer to their age than they would an adult. This is a great chance for them to earn some money and brush up on some schoolwork at the same time.
