How Can a 13-Year-Old Make Money Safely?

For a 13-year-old, understanding how to earn money provides valuable early financial experience and fosters a sense of responsibility. This journey can help young individuals learn about the value of work, set personal goals, and begin to understand financial independence. Engaging in age-appropriate earning opportunities allows teenagers to develop new skills and gain confidence. Starting early can lay a foundation for sound financial habits that will serve them well into adulthood.

Age-Appropriate Earning Opportunities

Thirteen-year-olds can earn money by providing neighborhood services like babysitting, which involves caring for younger children, supervising playtime, and preparing snacks. Clients are often found through family friends or trusted neighbors. Pet sitting and dog walking also offer flexible earning, with duties ranging from daily walks and feeding to overnight stays. Clients can be identified through local community groups or direct outreach.

Lawn care services, such as mowing, raking leaves, or shoveling snow, require basic equipment like a lawnmower, rakes, or shovels. These can be borrowed or purchased with initial earnings. Car washing services, performed at a client’s home, involve cleaning vehicles with supplies like soap, sponges, and a hose. Tutoring younger children in subjects like math or reading is another option, requiring subject understanding and patience.

Online and digital endeavors offer earning potential. Selling handmade crafts or art online through platforms like Etsy requires a parent to set up and manage the account. This involves creating and listing items like jewelry, paintings, or personalized gifts. Basic digital content creation, with parental supervision, might include simple graphic design for local businesses or creating short, family-friendly videos.

Creative and skill-based ventures include baking and selling homemade goods like cookies, cupcakes, or brownies, which appeal to neighbors and friends and require kitchen supplies. Creating and selling original art, such as drawings, paintings, or small sculptures, allows monetizing artistic talents. Offering minor tech help, like setting up new software or organizing digital files, helps those less technologically inclined.

Earning money through extra chores or specific tasks for family members or close relatives is a straightforward method. This includes tasks beyond regular household chores, such as organizing a garage, cleaning a shed, or house-sitting for vacationing family members. These tasks offer a controlled environment and valuable experience without external clients. Opportunities can be negotiated directly with family, ensuring clear expectations and agreed-upon compensation.

Legal and Safety Considerations

When a minor earns money, the legal framework surrounding child labor must be considered. Federal laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, set guidelines for minor employment, including age, hours, and permissible occupations. States often have more restrictive child labor laws, covering minimum age, maximum hours, and prohibited work types. Parents should research their state’s requirements to ensure compliance.

Parental involvement and supervision are crucial for all earning activities. For work involving interactions outside the immediate family, parents should be aware of arrangements and ideally be present. This includes coordinating schedules, discussing payment terms, and ensuring a safe working environment. For online activities, parents must manage all accounts, monitor communications, and vet platforms or clients to protect their child’s privacy and security.

Implementing general safety practices is crucial. If meeting clients, meet in public places or at the child’s home with a parent present. Always inform a parent or trusted adult of whereabouts and work nature before starting. Avoid sharing personal information, like address, phone number, or school name, with clients or online contacts. Verify the legitimacy of online opportunities to prevent scams or inappropriate requests.

Earnings for minors may have tax implications. For the 2024 tax year, a dependent generally does not need to file a tax return if their earned income is less than $13,850. A tax return may be required if unearned income (like interest or dividends) exceeds $1,300, or gross income exceeds the larger of $1,300 or earned income plus $450. Parents should keep records of earnings and consult a tax professional if income approaches these thresholds.

Managing and Saving Earnings

Once a 13-year-old earns money, basic financial literacy is valuable. This includes understanding needs versus wants, which aids informed spending. Simple budgeting can allocate earnings towards immediate spending, short-term savings for desired items, and long-term savings for future goals. This builds discipline and practical money management skills.

Opening a bank account for minors, often a joint account with a parent, provides a safe way to store earnings. These accounts allow secure deposits, withdrawals, and balance tracking, typically without fees. A parent’s co-signature provides oversight and legal authorization, guiding the child through banking procedures. This teaches about financial institutions and account management.

Setting realistic financial goals motivates saving and responsible spending. Short-term goals, like saving for a video game or outing, are achievable within weeks or months. Long-term goals include saving for significant purchases like a bicycle, computer, or future educational expenses. Regularly reviewing progress reinforces saving habits and demonstrates financial planning rewards.