Buzz
Teens often find themselves in need of cash for various reasons, whether it’s for personal expenses or just to have some spending money. Unfortunately, many part-time jobs either require applicants to be over 18 or won’t hire teens at all, making it hard to earn quick cash. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for teens to make money. With the right strategy, you could easily reach your $100 goal in just one week.
Steps
How to Get Cash Quickly
Babysitting your way to $100. Many families prefer hiring teens to babysit their children. If you're personable and have good relationships with families in your area, consider offering your babysitting services. It's best to start with people you already know, as this can help you earn money faster and ensure you're working in a safe environment.
- Create flyers with your contact information, complete with tear-off tabs, and post them at your local elementary school.
- Reach out to friends and family members, letting them know you’re available for babysitting, and ask them to spread the word about your services.
Turn junk into cash by recycling. In the past, people would search for cans and bottles to recycle just to earn some extra money. Today, there are still many items you can recycle if you know where to look.
- Collect recyclable materials like soda cans and plastic bottles. When you've gathered enough, take them to a local recycling center.
- Don't expect to make a fortune, but it's more efficient to sell recyclables in bulk, which reduces the number of trips you'll need to make.
- Ask your friends and family for their recyclables! More cans and bottles will help you reach your target faster.
Try dog walking or pet sitting. Many people treat their pets like family members and want them cared for properly. If you love animals, offer services like dog walking or pet sitting to help ease their concerns.
- Create flyers for your pet-sitting business with tear-off tabs that include your contact details. Post them at local libraries or cafes.
- Build your reputation by visiting dog parks. Take time to interact with the dogs and their owners, but always respect their personal space.
Work outdoors for money, exercise, and fresh air. Many people hire teens to do outdoor work as it’s more affordable than hiring a professional service. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, consider the following:
- Offer lawn care services like mowing, weeding, or raking. Either bring your own tools, or offer to use your client’s tools for a discount.
- Adapt to the season. If it snows, consider offering snow shoveling services. During allergy season, you could offer car washing services.
- If you notice broken fences in your neighborhood, offer to repair or repaint them.
Sharing Your Knowledge with Others
Become a tutor. Identify your area of expertise, find a way to communicate it effectively, and start looking for potential clients. While extreme cases of tutoring can earn up to $1,250 an hour, typical tutoring rates range from $10 to $15 per hour.
- Start by offering your tutoring services to classmates, and use flyers or word of mouth to spread the word at your school or local library.
- Depending on your preference, you can offer one-on-one sessions or group tutoring.
- Many libraries have designated rooms for tutoring, or check if your school has a tutoring center you can use.
Try quick online gigs. Many people are too busy to handle basic tasks like picking up groceries, collecting dry cleaning, or transcribing documents. Sign up on platforms like TaskRabbit, Fiverr, or Zaarly and search for jobs you can easily complete in your local area.
- Some platforms offer to pay you for completing surveys, but be cautious about scams. Always research the site before signing up.
Leverage your computer and tech skills. While it may seem second nature to you, people who grew up before the digital age often struggle with technology. Here are some ways you can make use of your knowledge:
- Offer to set up TVs with stereo systems or connect equalizers.
- Help others set up their wireless devices and accounts, like Roku, Apple TV, or Netflix.
- Teach older individuals the basics of computers, including hardware, internet security, and terminology like cookies and phishing.
Finding a Steady Job
Look for temporary labor opportunities. Many businesses hire day laborers for simple tasks. While many jobs require you to be over 18, you might still find work as a sign holder or greeter. Check local classifieds for available listings. If you’ve seen a young person working for a business in your area, consider calling and asking about any openings.
- Keep in mind that these jobs might not be long-term, and they may have unpredictable schedules.
- Not all jobs require you to be 18. Some positions are available to younger teens, depending on state laws.
- If you're curious about other teen job ideas, check out our "What's the best paying job I can get as a teen?" forum!
Make money by driving. If you have access to a car, driving for a ride-sharing service is a great way to earn money. Sign up with Uber or Lyft and work whenever you have free time.
- You can also offer rides to your classmates for events, school, or extracurricular activities.
- When driving classmates, keep your prices fair. They likely don’t have much money either, so being reasonable will help you build a loyal customer base.
Get a part-time gig. If you're struggling to find someone who will pay for your services, consider getting a part-time job. Head to the mall and start filling out applications. Fast food places are almost always looking for help. These kinds of jobs are perfect for teens.
- Retail jobs are a great option because they offer flexible schedules. Many stores and cafes hire students and understand the need to work around school hours.
Look for a tip-based job. Many paid jobs require you to wait weeks for your paycheck to arrive. But with a job that involves tips, you can earn cash instantly while also waiting for your paycheck.
- If you have a car and know your local area, delivering pizzas can be a great way to earn tips fast.
- Waitstaff, servers, busboys, and hosts in restaurants also make good money from tips. Be a great server, focus on your customers, and you're likely to earn 20% of the bill in tips.
- If you’re into golf, working as a caddy can earn you generous tips, especially if you help someone have a great round.
Clearing Out Your Unused Items
Check for clothes you no longer wear. Many teens have clothes tucked away that no longer fit or are no longer in style. Gather up a box of these items and ask your parents to go through them with you. They can help decide what’s okay to sell and what should stay in your closet.
- Sell your clothes online or at a yard sale. If you’re too young to sell online, ask your parents to list them for you.
Get rid of old toys and hobbies you’ve outgrown. Just like with clothes, teens often outgrow their childhood hobbies. Look around for things you no longer use, like old toys, dolls, or even child-friendly telescopes. These items can be sold for a good price—especially if your room is filled with clutter.
- This doesn’t mean you have to part with everything. If your childhood bear still holds sentimental value, keep him, even if he’s just sitting on your shelf.
Sell your old video games. You can sell your games either at a local store or online. Avoid waiting until your game system becomes outdated, as it will lose a lot of its value. However, some video games can be worth more than $100 if sold at the right time.
- Vintage games, however, might bring in a lot more money than expected. Don't assume anything—research online first. You may have valuable collectibles on your hands!
Host a yard/garage sale. Once you’ve gathered some boxes of clothes and old toys, it’s time to sell. You’ve probably seen yard sale signs in your neighborhood before. Put up large, easy-to-read signs, set up tables, and get some change for when you begin selling.
- Get your family or several families together for a community garage sale! This will attract more customers and increase your chances of making sales.
Exploring Jobs, Opportunities, and Goals
Ask family members for help. Your relatives are often happy to hire you for tasks around the house. Let them know your strengths, but be willing to take on whatever job they need. If they relate to your situation, they’re more likely to offer you work.
- Older family members often need assistance. Ask your grandparents if they need help moving or carrying anything.
- Do your siblings leave their rooms in a mess? Offer to clean up for a small fee.
- Watch for times when your parents are overwhelmed. For instance, if your mom is bogged down with chores and wants a break, offer to help out for some cash.
Advertise your services around the neighborhood or community for things like lawn care and babysitting. This way, you’ll ensure that only people from your local area, ideally those you know and trust, will hire you.
- Post flyers at your local community center’s bulletin board. Make sure to add tear-off tabs with your contact number so people can easily reach you.
Advertise online. The simplest way to promote your services is through internet classifieds. Ensure that you don't share any personal details like your address or identity in the ad. Only respond to trustworthy-sounding requests. There are numerous methods to advertise locally online.
- Post an ad on Craigslist. Choose your local city, search for job listings that match your skillset, and post an ad offering your help. Alternatively, you can respond to the "odds and ends" section for quick gigs.
- Advertise on Facebook. This platform is great for reaching out to your extended family and friends who may be willing to support your work.
- Create a basic website and use it to market your services. There are many creative ways to earn money using a simple website.
Try traditional print or newspaper classifieds. While less popular than online classifieds, many people still browse print ads for products and services. This medium can help you reach an older demographic who may not be as tech-savvy. Tailor your ads to suit their needs.
- For example, an elderly person might be more interested in help with grocery shopping or yard work rather than babysitting.
Clarify why you need the money. When asking family, friends, and neighbors for work, it's important to understand that it’s more of a favor to you than a job for them. Your reason for needing to earn $100 quickly can influence whether they hire you. Without a solid reason, they might be less inclined to offer you work.
- Good reason – You want to improve yourself by taking a music course at the local community college.
- Good reason – You need funds to register for a charity 5k with your sibling.
- Bad reason – Buying a new smartphone because you broke your current one may seem irresponsible.
- Bad reason – Repaying a classmate for something you didn’t actually need in the first place.
The advice in this section is based on real experiences shared by Mytour readers. If you have a valuable tip to contribute, feel free to submit it in the field below.
- You can make quick cash by selling snacks at school. Buy in bulk at a low price, then sell them for a bit more. However, selling at school may violate school rules, so make sure you're aware of the risks! Popular items include candy, chips, gum, Takis, and cookies.
- If you come across an online ad claiming huge fast earnings, be cautious. Many of these are scams pretending to be work-from-home jobs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Important Warnings
- Always ask your parents or anyone who purchased something for you before selling it. It's important to get their permission first.
- Never accept work from someone you don't know or trust. Make sure you're comfortable with who you're working for.
- Don’t annoy family or friends by constantly asking for work. They’ll likely get frustrated with repeated or desperate requests. After offering once, they’ll remember you when they need help with things like yard work or babysitting.
- If you take on a part-time job, don't quit just after making a small amount of money. Businesses invest time and resources to train you, and quitting shortly after starting can negatively affect your reputation. It can make it harder to find future jobs, and you won’t be able to use them as a reference.
