If your child is not yet old enough for a typical part time job but mature and responsible enough for making money, there are plenty of ways they can get started! This summer, they can supplement their allowance, tuck money into savings, or build up their comic book collection.
Some ideas I have gathered are traditional money makers and others are new needs in this modern busy world we live in.
Your little entrepreneur is sure to find something in this list of 10 ideas they can do this summer to make money! These are fantastic ways to teach responsibility, money management, and many other life skills in a real life setting.
Set Up a Lemonade Stand
The good old stand by money maker of yesterday can still be a great operation now to draw in kids and adults alike . A sweet and simple lemonade stand is a good way to teach your child some money making skills, a new recipe, persistence, marketing, and more. Set them up at the end of the driveway or a local park.
Making Crafts
Kids who like to make anything like duct tape wallets, friendship bracelets, watercolor paintings, doll clothes, pot holders, necklaces, etc.. can turn it into a little business to build up their funds. They can be sold to friends, family, and neighbors or even setup on an Etsy storefront, brought to craft shows or similar venues.
Try Craftsy!
If you’re looking for some craft ideas, try a Craftsy membership for only $2.49 your first year! There are a whole ton of craft videos you can watch!
Being a Babysitter/mother’s helper
If your child is old enough they can advertise for independent babysitting but even younger children, probably at least 8 or 9, who enjoy younger children can be a mothers helper keeping the kids occupied, making lunch, and playing with the children while mom does other tasks.
By Mowing/Pulling Weeds
Children make fantastic helpers in the yard and no doubt you have a neighbor or two who can use a little help with the mowing or pulling weeds from the flower bed. Since growing season is in the summer but many people still have to work they extra hand is appreciated.
Bring in Mail/Newspapers/Water Plants
Summer is prime vacation time and people are often looking for someone to bring in the mail, gather newspapers, and water the plants while they are gone and this is a great job for kids to get them started on responsibility and money making. You can accompany younger children and let older children go on their own.
Pooper Scooper
Those with dogs in fenced in yards frequently need to clear it all out, and it’s a job no one likes. But turning it into a money maker is a win win for both sides. Invest in bags and a long handled scoop (that your child can pay back in payments) and let them give a hand while filling their pockets.
Having a Yard Sale
When I can make money AND clean out the clutter it is a very good day indeed. Enlist the kids help sorting out knick knacks as well as clothes and toys no longer wanted/needed and have a yard sale. Let them do the majority of the work including setup, taking money, and handling customers.
Washing cars
Double duty jobs are the best! Kids can cool off and have fun while earning cash for movies, toys, and more. Car washing is a need and it seems especially during the summer when bugs, dust, and pollen are at a high! They can make signs, pass out fliers, and offer deals to get the word of mouth going around the neighborhood.
Pet sitting/Walking Dogs
While everyone is vacationing without their pets a great need is someone to come several times a day to walk and play with the dogs, clean kitty litter, feed fish, and similar tasks or while they are at work instead of paying big bucks for a doggie daycare.
Starting seeds
If your child has a green thumb (or wants to find theirs) you can have them start seeds or make cuttings for plants and sell them. Many people just don’t have the time and getting a hold of organic plants without pesticides can be difficult. Serve a need and make money by starting butterfly plants and veggies to sell in the neighborhood. You can also advertise on local Facebook groups (meeting in public place of course!)
How do your kids work to earn extra money during the summer?
Something I like to do on a semi regular basis, is to declutter the stuff in our home that is not needed anymore. Although there always seems to be some sort of mess around these parts, extra clutter drives me crazy. But before I haul everything off to the thrift store, I set aside anything I think I could sell online; it’s always nice to earn bit of extra spending money!
While I’m a fan of the traditional garage sale, selling some of our old things online is really gaining popularity in my books. I’ve found it to be less work and I tend to make more money than if I were to sell the items in a garage sale.
I’ve been dabbling a fair bit with some local Facebook Buy & Sell sites, so that’s where I have most of my experience. But Craigslist and Kijiji are also great free options for selling your stuff online. Although, I’ve found that small items typically don’t sell well with Craigslist and Kijiji so that’s why I’ve been sticking with these Buy & Sell Facebook groups. Ebay is also a great option is you have brand name items and collector items to sell.
Here are some tips on how to sell unwanted items online through Craigslist/Kijiji, Facebook and eBay:
Research
Spend some time taking a look at items similar to what you want to sell to get an idea of what you should price your item at. It might also be a good idea to research some of the details you think buyers might want to know. (ie: dimensions, special features…etc.)
Price Your Item Well
If you simply want to get rid of stuff quickly, price your stuff quite low. If earning a bit of money is your goal, price your items by what you see similar items selling for. Quite often I’ll price something a bit higher then what I’m willing to take because it’ll be a bonus if someone does purchase it at my asking price. But I know people like to barter to get a lower price. They’ll feel like they’re getting a deal and I’m happy I was able to earn some decent spending money!
Take Good Photos
Having good, clear photos with your item is fairly crucial if you want to sell it quickly. Here are some basic tips for taking a good picture:
Find good lighting. Try to take your pictures in natural light. In a dark room, the photo won’t show clearly, and artificial light can change the color of the item.
Clean the item. Make sure you give the item a good wipe down or wash to show off the condition.
Create a clear background. Place the item in an area of your home or yard that is free of clutter. You want to make it clear what you’re selling so don’t let any other distracting items show up in the photo.
Take several shots. Take at least one shot from every angle.
Choose the Right Category for your Item
To make your item easy to find, you’ll want to make sure you choose the right category to list your item under. After all, no one is going to look for a car in the Housing category!
Write a Clear Headline
In the headline, I like to include what it is and the price. For example: Fisher Price Jumparoo, $40. Having a good headline is important because it’s the first thing people see about your ad and it’s how buyers search for items they want.
Write a Good Description
In your description, you’ll want to include:
What you’re selling. Start the ad by explaining what your item is.
Item’s condition. Briefly explain the condition of the item. Make a note of any damages.
Technical details. Include as many technical details as you can about the item.
Price. Don’t forget to state the price again. Be sure to include whether you’re firm in your price or willing to take a best offer.
Your contact information. At the bottom of your ad, note your preferred method of contact.
Be Safe
Once you have your ad up and running, and you have your buyer, you’ll want to meet in a safe place. If I’m home alone, I like to arrange a public place for item pick-up. I try to plan it with an errand I’m already running to save running around all over town. (This one doesn’t really apply to items you sell though eBay since you’re shipping the items to the mailing address your buyer provided.)
The Best time to use:
Craigslist/Kijiji
Craigslist and Kijiji are great options for selling furniture, toys, vehicles and household items. My husband has had great success selling a couple of vehicles. I have had success with selling some furniture we no longer need. It’s free to list your items, so there really isn’t any reason not to try a handful of items!
eBay
eBay is the best option for selling popular brand name items such as Coach, Kate Spade and the like that are in excellent condition. High value collector items or hard to find items are also a great match for eBay. It’s free to list items on eBay but you are required to pay a commission if your item sells.
Facebook Buy & Sell Groups
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the Facebook buy & sell groups. After all, these Facebook groups are easy to use and are free to join and list. I’ve had great success selling baby items, household stuff, outerwear and books. Search for a local buy & sell group, then ask to join. I’m fairly certain that these groups are in almost every city these days. You’ll want to be sure to read the rules of each group so you don’t end up with your listings being deleted by the administrators. (They set rules to cut down on some of the clutter that posting many items by so many people can cause.)
I’ve created, what I hope will be useful, a Stuff For Sale printable that you can use to keep track of your items as you sell them. Because I use Facebook groups mostly, that’s how I structured this printable:
While spending less is often the best thing to do financially, sometimes it’s good to earn more money if it means it will push you closer to your financial dreams faster.
But before you get excited about the idea of earning more money, it’s important to make sure you manage the money you already have well. If you’re financially strapped, there’s no point in earning extra cash if you’re just going to spend more money for short term satisfaction. Focus on getting a monthly budget figured out and learn how to maximize the money you already have before you go out and try to make more money.
Once you have that out of the way, you can read these ideas to help you earn extra money:
Earn money from your hobbies
I’m sure many of you have a hobby that you enjoy and are quite good at! Why not turn that hobby into extra income? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Earn Cash-Back for shopping like you normally do with Ampli(Canada only)
Sell your baking during coffee breaks to local businesses
Enter your work in contests with cash prizes
Paint business windows for the holidays
Bonus idea: If you love visiting websites or blogs, sign up for UserTesting. You’ll be paid $10 for each website or app that you complete a set of tasks on, while speaking your thoughts out loud.
Sell things you no longer need
Clear up some space in your home by selling things you no longer need or care for. Have a garage sale or try selling items on Kijiji, Craigslist, or eBay. Or give a Buy & Sell group on Facebook a try.
Rent out your space
If your home has an extra bedroom or empty space, you could become a landlord. Students and recent graduates are often especially eager for affordable and small spaces to call “home”. Your extra garage space might also be perfect for someone needing to store their collector car, for example.
Try a paper route
Earn a bit of extra money by doing a paper route. Get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it!
Offer to babysit
Give some friends or even neighborhood families some time away from the kids so they can go on a date or get errands done by offering your services as a babysitter.
Start a part-time business
If you have a bit of time to devote to money making, why not consider starting a part-time business from home? You could try these ideas on for size:
Life/Business Coaching – are people always asking your advice on a particular subject? Consider charging a fee for your advice.
Teach English at Home with VIPKID
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a US or Canadian University as well as experience with children (such as: teaching, mentoring, coaching, tutoring, babysitting, etc.) you could possibly earn up to $22/hour (USD) teaching online with VIPKID. VIPKID needs thousands of work-from-home teacher’s to teach English online to kids in China. This is an amazing work-from-home opportunity – and don’t worry, you do not need to know any foreign language or have formal teaching experience. Find all the details here.
All in all, get creative or meet a need you see around you to earn a bit of extra money you can put towards reaching your financial goals!
What are your ideas for earning extra money? Do you have any stories to share about how you’re currently earning extra cash? Please share in the comments!
Is your garage stacked to the ceiling with stuff? If so, it might be time to give it a good cleaning. Cleaning out your garage can not only give you more space in your home, but can also net you some cash in your pocket! Want to know more? Take a look below at these 5 ways to make money by cleaning out your garage, I’m sure you’ll find something you can sell!
5 Ways to Make Money By Cleaning Out Your Garage:
1. Sell your old/unused tools.
Are you a tool hoarder? Tools have excellent resale value. Sell your usable power tools Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Buy & Sell groups or place an ad in the local paper. Older tools might be valuable to collectors, so do your research on them and see if they might be worth anything. You typically need just one of each tool, so part with any extras to make some quick cash.
2. Scrap that metal.
Is your garage full of metal pieces? If so, you can scrap them for cash. Old appliances, fencing, old copper, brass, or even aluminum are all worth cash at a local metal recycling center. You don’t even need to clean the pieces, just haul them to the center, have them weighed, and collect your cash.
3. Sell your old bikes.
Bikes both old and new can find a new home on Kijiji, Craigslist, ebay, or your local paper/garage sale site. Collectors are always looking for bike parts and will be willing to take the old bikes off your hands, while college students are always looking for used bikes they can snag for a song. If you have any bikes either old or new, broken or functional, sell them for cash.
4. Hold an odds and ends garage sale.
Get rid of the random clutter with a garage or yard sale. Advertise your sale for free in Facebook Buy & Sell groups as well as sites like Kijiji or Craigslist. Price your items to sell, create a neat and organized display, and you are sure to not only pull in some cash but create some extra space in your garage as well. Just haul out those items, give them a good dusting, and stick a tag on them. It’s that easy!
5. Donate for a tax write off.
Remember, you can get a tax deduction for any donations you make to not for profit agencies. If you have functional items such as toys, hoses, lawn tools, appliances, bikes, wagons, etc. then why not donate them? You will get a receipt for your donation and you will be able to write the amount off on next year’s taxes. That’s like cash in the pocket!
Don’t deal with that cluttered garage any longer. Instead, give these tips for finding money in your own garage a try and you will not only make space, but make some money as well.
Have you found any treasures hidden in your garage lately? Let me know in the comments.
