Even if you're not old enough to find a real job yet, you can already start earning some money by helping your relatives and community members. Using your creativity, you will be able to find the perfect opportunity. Here are some tips on how to earn pocket money by working for relatives, neighbors and friends.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making Money Working for Your Parents
Step 1. Ask for pocket money
Do you take out the trash, sweep the floor when needed and do your homework to keep the house tidy? Many of these activities can be considered a normal part of home life, but in some cases you will be able to earn something from your commitment. Many parents are happy to see their children trying to become more responsible with money, so don't be afraid to ask for a weekly or monthly allowance.
- Negotiate an amount appropriate to your job. Don't expect your parents to give you € 20 if you don't do anything. Once they pay you regularly, they may expect you to get busy around the house.
- Think about how you might justify your pocket money. Why do you need it? Why do you deserve it? Be prepared to give your parents good reasons if they ask you.
- Here are some very common activities parents pay their children for: sorting the room, emptying and loading the dishwasher, vacuuming, doing laundry, and dusting.
Step 2. Offer to complete specific tasks
Look for income opportunities by doing special activities. Think of all the projects your parents said they "someday" want to complete. Does your dad keep saying he has to tidy up his tools in the garage? Has your mother been promising for months to tidy up the pantry? Great! Make a plan to complete these activities and present it to your parents, complete with compensation for your work. Present a reasonable program with a realistic price and once you complete it, you can cash out.
Step 3. Be respectful of your family
If you are trying to get paid by your parents, avoid misbehaving so as not to ruin your chances of succeeding. Arguing with your siblings, responding badly to your parents and breaking the rules could have the opposite result: you could be punished or forced to work without receiving anything.
Step 4. Use the money you receive from your parents wisely
If they give you money to buy you food and drink when you go to school or hang out with friends, spend it wisely. Don't use them all, just grab a soda and save the rest. This way you won't have to give up everything, but you can set aside something to use later.
If your parents send you to buy something, ask if you can keep the change. If they don't accept, ask if you can at least keep the coins. Pennies and other pennies can form a small nest egg in a short time
Step 5. Make your savings pay off
If you already have a bank account, ask your parents to move your money into a savings account, which allows you to accrue interest. They may not know this type of account and in that case you can ask to be accompanied to the bank, where you can gather information on the best ways to make your money work.
Method 2 of 3: Earning Money Working for the Community
Step 1. Start a neighborhood business
Your neighbors may be willing to pay you for many services. Think about the activities you need the most, the ones you do best, and the ones you are physically capable of doing. Here are some ideas:
- Take care of your neighbors' lawn. You can mow grass, rake leaves, pick up trash and shovel snow. Establish your rate based on the size of the garden and the scope of the work. Remember, always try to be fair and reasonable.
- Take the animals for a walk or take care of them. Suggest that your neighbor take his dog out, or feed his cat when he is out of town. For the pet sitting job, you can ask for a daily rate. Just make sure you like animals, because to be a pet sitter you have to get your hands dirty.
- Bathe the dogs. Wash your neighbor's dog and brush his fur afterwards.
- Wash cars. Wash the neighbor's car and clean the interior. If you get a few friends to join you, you can open a car wash in the neighborhood.
- Spray the house numbers on the sidewalk. This can help emergency response vehicles to find a home when the house number is not visible. All you need to do is spray paint and numbered stencils.
Step 2. Babysitter
It is one of the most common jobs among young people. Let parents who have young children know that you are willing to work for them.
- Think about why you are qualified to babysit. Most parents want to make sure you are responsible and have worked with children before. If possible, collect references from people you babysat for in the past, or from relatives who have observed you caring for your younger cousins at family reunions.
- Make sure you're ready to babysit. This is not an easy job, but a huge responsibility. You are responsible for the safety and health of the child as long as it is in your care. If you don't feel like you can handle this burden, find another job.
Step 3. Propose yourself as a handyman
Instead of limiting yourself to just one job, you should be willing to take care of all the jobs available in your community. Adults have a lot of commitments they don't want to complete and are often willing to pay someone to do them for them. All you have to do is propose yourself. Cleaning the windows, tidying up the garage, tidying up the garden or cleaning the gutters are just a few examples of the activities you can do. Ask your neighbors for information so you can find out what jobs they are willing to pay for. Make sure everyone knows that you are ready to take care of anything.
Step 4. Help the elderly
In some cases, older people need help with tasks they cannot complete or with simple household errands. Offer your help and take care of solving problems, such as going to the grocery store or the post office.
Step 5. Let everyone know that you are available
A sign advertising your skills and experience can bring you job offers from community members. In schools, libraries and churches you can find notice boards where you can post your flyers. Ask your parents for suggestions on where to advertise yourself and what contact information to make public.
- You can use your home computer to print flyers or business cards to distribute in your community. In the text, describe who you are, what types of jobs you offer and how to contact you.
- Show up door to door. When you start a business, you need to promote it. In addition to handing out flyers, try knocking on neighbors' doors to introduce yourself. People may be more inclined to hire you after meeting and seeing you in the face.
- Don't be discouraged if you get rejections.
Method 3 of 3: Earning in Other Ways
Step 1. Sell the items you no longer need
Grab the old-fashioned clothes, toys and all the other things you can do without and sell them. This is a great way to earn some money and get rid of the clutter.
- Ask your parents to help you sell your stuff on eBay or Craigslist or those kinds of sites.
- Bring clothes and shoes to a junk dealer. You will receive some money for your used clothes. Some thrift shops also accept toys. Make sure the items are in good quality, so that you can get a good price.
- Sell old video games and consoles you no longer use. Take them to a video game store or try selling them on eBay or Amazon.
- Organize a market at your home. This solution is not easy, because your parents will have to help you a lot. Maybe you could convince them to share some of the profits with you if you put in a lot of effort in organizing the event.
Step 2. Tutor students younger than you
Are you good at math, art or science? Do you always get top marks? In this case, you may want to give tutoring to the kids in your community. Classes usually last 30 minutes or an hour and are scheduled once or twice a week.
Step 3. Offer music lessons
If you are an experienced musician, you can give music lessons to other members of your community, young or old. Teaches to play the piano, guitar, flute or violin. Use the years of hard work to your advantage.
Offer your musical expertise at local events. Play the piano at a reception, play the guitar at a wedding, or play the violin at a local festival
Step 4. Earn money from your individual skills
Do you know sign language? You can get paid as an interpreter. If you are familiar with HTML or a programming language, companies or individuals can hire you to create websites and applications.
If you are good at drawing and painting, you can make portraits of children at birthday parties for a small fee
Step 5. Earn money with Christmas themed jobs
Holidays are an extremely busy time for families, so you can help them in many ways. Offer to decorate homes, bake cakes, wrap gifts, and write greeting cards. At that time of the year, people always need help.
Step 6. Use your ability to create
Cooking, crocheting, embroidering, sewing and crafting can be extremely profitable businesses. Make and sell cookies, cupcakes, cakes, pies and treats. Embroider scarves, hats and gloves. If you are really good at crochet, you can even make some small animals. If you are good at sewing, make clothes and repair broken ones.
Step 7. Recycle
Some states offer money for cans, glass and plastic bottles. Others for aluminum. Find out what recycling incentives are in your area and start collecting. Start with the cans and bottles you have at home, then broaden your search to the whole neighborhood. You will earn money and do a service to the community by cleaning and protecting the environment.
Advice
- Don't rush to find a job, it can take time.
- Plan your budget. Prioritize the things you really want to buy so you don't waste money on unnecessary items.
- Don't spend all the money you've earned right away.
