How Can You Get Money at a Young Age?

Earning money at a young age offers a valuable pathway to developing financial literacy and independence. This experience provides an opportunity to understand the worth of effort and the basics of managing personal finances. Young individuals can cultivate important skills such as responsibility, communication, and problem-solving through early earning endeavors. Engaging in these activities also fosters a sense of accomplishment and prepares one for future financial decisions.

Earning Through Local Services

Young individuals can find opportunities to earn money by offering various services directly within their local communities. Babysitting remains a popular option, where individuals provide childcare services to families in their neighborhood. Rates for babysitting can vary significantly based on location, the number of children, and the duration of care, typically ranging from $16 to $28 per hour, with a national average around $25 per hour in 2025. It is advisable to discuss rates upfront and agree on payment terms before starting.

Pet care, including dog walking or pet sitting, presents another viable service opportunity. Many pet owners require assistance with walking their dogs during work hours or caring for their animals while on vacation. Dog walking rates often fall between $20 and $30 for a 30-minute walk, or $30 to $60 for an hour, depending on the area and number of dogs. Offering lawn care services, such as mowing, weeding, or raking leaves, can also generate income, particularly during warmer months, with hourly rates typically between $30 and $65 per hour or flat fees from $50 to $250 per visit for mowing.

Tutoring younger students in subjects like math, reading, or music offers a way to leverage academic strengths. Tutoring fees generally range from $25 to $80 per hour, influenced by the subject’s complexity and the tutor’s experience. To initiate these services, individuals can inform family friends, neighbors, or local community groups about their availability and specific offerings. Clear communication about services, availability, and pricing helps establish expectations and attract clients.

When engaging in local services, safety is paramount, especially for younger individuals. Always inform parents or guardians about where and when services are being performed, and ensure they approve of the client and location. It is also prudent to have a parent or trusted adult present for initial meetings with new clients. Delivering reliable service and maintaining good communication with clients helps build a positive reputation and encourages repeat business.

Earning Through Creating and Selling Items

Another avenue for young people to earn money involves creating and selling tangible goods or reselling items they no longer need. Crafting handmade items, such as custom greeting cards, unique jewelry, or small art pieces, allows for creative expression while generating income. Materials for these crafts can often be sourced affordably from local craft stores or through online suppliers, and the cost of materials should always be factored into the final selling price. The pricing of handmade items should reflect the cost of materials, the time invested in creation, and a reasonable profit margin.

Baking and selling treats like cookies, cupcakes, or specialty breads can also be a profitable endeavor, especially for those with culinary skills. Before selling any food items, it is important to understand local health and safety guidelines, which may vary. Selling avenues for created items include setting up a small stand at a local community event, participating in school craft fairs, or even selling to family and friends. For items with broader appeal, online marketplaces can be utilized with parental supervision and compliance with platform-specific age requirements.

Reselling gently used items provides an accessible entry point into earning money without needing to create something new. This could involve selling old toys, books, clothes, or electronics that are still in good condition. Items can be gathered from personal belongings, family donations, or even through responsible sourcing from yard sales or thrift stores. Determining a fair resale price often involves researching similar items’ current market values.

Selling used items can be done through a variety of channels, including yard sales, consignment shops, or online platforms such as dedicated resale websites or local online classifieds. Parental involvement is crucial for online transactions, ensuring safe interactions, secure payment processing, and adherence to platform policies. Regardless of the item being sold, clear descriptions, good quality photos, and transparent communication with potential buyers are essential for successful sales.

Earning Through Digital Platforms

The digital landscape offers numerous opportunities for young individuals to earn money, leveraging online platforms and digital skills. Participating in online surveys, while not providing substantial income, can be a simple way to earn small amounts. Many survey platforms have age restrictions, often requiring users to be 13 or older with parental consent. Earnings per survey can range from a few cents to a few dollars, and payments are often made through gift cards or digital payment services.

Creating engaging content for platforms like YouTube or TikTok allows individuals to share their interests and potentially generate revenue through advertising, sponsorships, or direct fan support. Monetization on YouTube generally requires creators to be at least 18 years old or to have a parent or legal guardian handle payments through an approved AdSense account. Content should be age-appropriate and adhere to platform community guidelines, with a strong emphasis on online safety and privacy settings.

Online tutoring can be a viable option for young individuals who excel in particular academic subjects. Many online tutoring platforms connect students with tutors, and while some may have minimum age requirements, others, like Schoolhouse.world, welcome high school students as tutors. Earnings for online tutoring typically range from $25 to $80 per hour, depending on the subject and the tutor’s experience level. This method requires a reliable internet connection and a quiet space for sessions.

Earning through competitive gaming or streaming also presents a digital income stream, though it often demands significant skill, dedication, and time investment. Professional esports tournament winnings and streaming income are generally considered taxable income in the U.S. If a minor earns over $600 from tournament prizes, they may receive a 1099 form, indicating the income is taxable. For tax year 2024, a minor who is a dependent generally needs to file a tax return if their earned income exceeds $14,600, or if their unearned income (like from investments) is over $1,300. If a minor has self-employment income over $400, they typically need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. For all digital earning methods, parental oversight of accounts, transactions, and online interactions is important to ensure safety and compliance with platform terms of service.