Earning Money

If you want to spend money, you have to have money to spend. Even if you get an allowance, it may not be enough to cover everything you need or want. Since robbing a bank is against law, in order to get money to spend, you have to come up with creative ways to earn money.

Get a Job

One of the easiest ways to earn money is to get a job. Most companies will not hire teens until they are at least 16, but some grocery stores will hire teens as young as 14 to bag groceries and retrieve shopping carts for a few hours a week. In the summer, you may also be able to get a job as a counselor at a summer camp or helping out with summer sports programs. If you like getting up early, you could also get a paper route.

Some places I could get a job include:

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Start Your Own Business

You are never too young to start your own business. In fact, some teens have even turned their business ideas into millions of dollars. Think about what you are good at and then think of ways to make money doing it. For example, if you are good with kids, you can start your own babysitting business or become a mother’s helper, getting paid to tag along and entertain the kids while a mom runs errands. If you like fixing things, you can start your own handyman business, doing odd jobs for people around the neighborhood. Don’t forget the traditional lemonade stand either. You can make money by setting up a lemonade stand, a cookie booth or by making and selling unique crafts in your own front yard.

Some businesses I could start include:

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Sell Your Things

Chances are you have a lot of things you do not use anymore. Instead of keeping those things around your house, why not sell them? You can sell clothes you no longer wear, toys you no longer play with and music you know longer listen to. While a garage sale is an easy way to sell things, you can also think outside of the box. For example, if your clothes are in good shape or have designer labels, consider taking them to a consignment store and sell your books at a local used bookstore. You can also sell things online using auction websites and websites with free classified ads, but make sure to get your parents’ permission first.

Some things I could sell include:

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Cutting Back

Of course, you can also earn money by cutting back. Do you really need to buy that expensive pair of jeans or eat at a fast food restaurant multiple times a week? The more you cut back on the little things, the more money you will have to spend on things you want.

1. Choose one strategy for earning money from above and write out a plan to make it happen.
2. Make a list of all the things you are good at and then write possible ways you could use those things you are good at to make money.
3. Plan a garage sale. Choose a date and time. Ask friends to get involved. Go through your house and find things to sell.

1. What are some ways you can earn money?
2. How can technology help you earn money?
3. What are some adjectives that describe what it takes to earn money as a teen?