We are in the home stretch and heading to the end of the school year. What will your teen be doing this summer? Often sports or other extra curricular activities require so much time that teens are unable to get a traditional summer job. Here are a few ways for them to earn some extra money:
Related: How to Sell Your Used Electronics to Make Real Money
Home Care: Teens can find work as a babysitter, house-sitter, pet-sitter, senior care helper, tutor and more online at Care.com. The basic listing is free and the service matches users with those looking for help. While in high school, my daughter found work as a tutor through this site.
Online Store: Do you or your teen know how to sell items on eBay and Craigslist? Your teen (or you?) can offer services to sell items for neighbors and charge a percentage of the sale. Make a list of popular items to sell and an idea of what they are worth.
Offer to sell used books, especially for college students. College textbooks can be sold to Amazon.com, Half.com and several other online book sites. Type in the ISBN number into your browser to see who will pay the highest price. In most cases you just print out a shipping label (included) and mail the books. My daughter’s friend Meghan made $87 recently. You can go to garage sales and scan the ISBN numbers of books to find out the value. Many of the college students I know have a pile of textbooks they no longer need and have not gotten around to selling them. You can start a service and split the proceeds.
DIY Services: Do you sew? Offer to do alterations for neighbors. Are you a fashionista? Offer your services as a wardrobe consultant to a busy mom. Spend time culling through her wardrobe and suggest inexpensive ways to update and freshen her look. Then offer to do the discount shopping for her. You can also take her unwanted items to a local charity or consignment store.
Planning Help: Are you organized? Offer to clip coupons for your family, do the meal planning and grocery shopping, and ask if you can split the savings. Once you become proficient, offer your services to a busy neighbor. I have articles on my website to help you or your teen get started with beginning and advanced coupon shopping strategies.
Garage Sale: Have friends looking for money too? Host a group garage sale. Post the event on your Facebook page and invite all your friends to spread the word.
Odd Jobs: Offer to mow lawns, do yard work or help with a home improvement project.
Tell your teen to make a flyer for his/her services and pass it out in your neighborhood. Use social media to spread the work that your teen is looking for summer work. Start early!
Related: How to Sell Stuff on Craigslist
Other Things Your Teen Can Do This Summer to Get Ahead
Go to School: Your teen can save money on tuition by taking a class at a local community college while still in high school. You can get a jump on your general education requirements and explore a subject to clarify your future major. You can also take a physical education class or learn a new sport. You can get one to three units of transferable college credit. (But first, check if it can transfer.) At my daughter’s college, each unit costs about $1,000, so a three-unit summer class at the community college is a real money saver.
Volunteer: Help your community. You will learn valuable skills, network, accumulate volunteer hours and gain insight for your college application essays. This can also spruce up a resume that can help one land a job or internship.
A special note to parents: Having teens searching on the internet and knocking on strangers’ doors can be a dangerous undertaking. Please monitor all activities and exercise caution and common sense at all times.
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