5 Great Ways Kids Can Earn Money

Written By Mary Beth Eastman
Last updated February 13, 2019

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Personal Finance
February 13, 2019

Simple. Thrifty. Living.

It’s never too early to teach your kids how to be financially responsible.Whether it’s giving them an allowance or teaching them how to budget, money lessons are so important at this age. No matter if your child is in grade school or if they have reached working age, the following is a list of 5 great ways for your kids to earn money.

No matter if your child is 12 or 18, dog walking can be both a fun way to stay fit as well as a quite lucrative way for kids to make money. By simply speaking to busy pet owners in the area, they can easily find enough dogs to make money and stay busy.

On another note, depending on the climate you live in, shoveling is yet another way for kids to make money. Once a major storm has hit, very few people seem to delight in shoveling themselves out. As long as your children have the proper cold-weather gear and are aware of how often they should be taking breaks, etc. this can be a fun way to make a decent amount of money in a short period of time.

Furthermore, once your child has reached working age, working at the local grocery store may be an option. Although every business is different, many grocery stores will higher younger workers as clerks, baggers and cashiers as long as they are eligible.

Perfect for younger and older teens, in most states, you kids are able to watch a child or two, as long as they have a basic understanding of how to do so and meet the age requirements. A rather lucrative way to make money, if your child has the chops, he/she could rake in some serious dough for helping to look after kids in the area.

While they have not yet reached the Uber age, your kids can make some cash by renting out their bikes, scooters, etc. Although this service should obviously be limited to those whom your children know and trust, renting out bikes is a great way to teach your kids about more passive revenue streams.

Speaking of revenue streams, while the kids are learning how to earn cash, you as their parent can be setting them up for future success by opening a 529 or even a Roth IRA. You can learn more about whether a Roth IRA is right for your child. If so, selecting one of the top online IRAs lets you get started easily.

Overall, allowing your kids to work in their early years is a great way to teach responsibility as well as the value of a dollar. Although not every child is suited for every job option listed, allowing them to explore these can be a great way to help them figure out their professional goals for the future.

About the Author

Mary Beth Eastman

Mary Beth Eastman serves as the content manager for Simple. Thrifty. Living, where she is dedicated to helping readers use money and credit wisely. Mary Beth believes that access to the right financial information paired with a growth mindset are essential tools for getting out of debt and building wealth. Mary Beth has a degree in Journalism from Bowling Green State University and has focused her 20-year journalism career on putting readers front and center, carefully considering their concerns and presenting information that will help them in their everyday lives. She has won numerous statewide journalism awards. Her writing on personal finance as been featured on numerous websites in addition to Simple. Thrifty. Living, including Huffington Post and Lexington Law blog. Mary Beth resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., with her family and two rescue dogs.

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