How to Make Money (For Teenagers)

Work for yourself. Treat it as a program or a business. You can work solo, or you can start a small company by collaborating with friends. Yes, teamwork means profits need to be shared, but it also means many tasks can be completed quickly, and more importantly, it’s safer, giving you more flexibility.

• When working with friends, divide the tasks fairly and evenly (rotate tasks if possible to keep everyone happy), gather after school or on weekends to go around the neighborhood and offer a variety of quick, fixed-price services.
• Many people might turn away a teen knocking on their door because they find them suspicious. But if they see you working in a group, they'll trust you and let you in and out without disturbing the neighbors.
• If you’re earning money for a specific goal (e.g., buying an instrument, going on a school trip), let people know. They are more likely to buy from someone with a clear purpose and might even tip you a little extra.

Consider taking on regular tasks. Babysitting, walking dogs, washing cars, or even recording and posting videos online in collaboration with a legitimate company can be profitable. Alternatively, you could mow lawns for your neighbors. You can earn a decent amount, but it will require hard work and weekend time. If you get distracted or feel frustrated, remind yourself that consistent effort will yield real results.

• Create a team for unique tasks like landscaping: one person mows the lawn, another clears gutters, one trims the hedges, and someone else moves piles of bricks. Ask your parents or friends' parents to lend you the necessary tools, or you could rent them from a local store.

Shoveling snow. If you live in a cold climate, snow removal is an essential task for most families when winter arrives. You can earn $10-20 per snow removal session for a neighbor, or $30 for a full week of shoveling. This job is available every time it snows. You might even get paid in advance for the month if you're familiar with the homeowner or do a good job.

Doing household chores. Negotiate with your parents to take on additional chores at home. Try choosing tasks that they might have to hire a professional for, like cleaning the toilet, and offer to do it for half the price. Ask your parents if you can clean the house weekly. Do your own laundry and wash your own dishes.

• Make sure you do the chores well, or your parents may think you're not earning the money fairly.
• If there aren’t many tasks available, come up with other ways to earn money (e.g., 'If I really work to save water and electricity, could you pay me the amount saved on the utility bill compared to last month?').
• Occasionally, your parents may be willing to help if they understand your plan, so be sure to share the details with them.

Running errands for the elderly. Going to the store, lifting heavy objects, fixing computers, or helping with any tasks they might struggle with. Try to build a good relationship with these people; remember, they may feel quite lonely and might enjoy spending time with young people like friends (making them feel younger). The more they enjoy being around you, the more they'll pay for your services.

Taking out the trash. Before the garbage truck comes, go around all the houses in your neighborhood and offer to take their trash to the curb for 10,000 VND. (Don’t ask for more; it’s a simple job, so you should maintain a fair price to keep people interested.) If you collect trash for twenty families, you could earn up to 200,000 VND with minimal effort.

• You might be luckier if you work in a senior community or an area where you know there are many elderly people living.
• Don’t do this job in desolate areas or enter the houses of strangers for any reason. It’s better to have a partner for some situations.

Start with car washing jobs. Washing cars and providing vehicle care is a great money-making idea. With just a few people, the entire job can be easily completed: one person washes and scrubs the car, one cleans the windows, and two others handle the interior. Remember to vacuum thoroughly inside the car, polish the tires with tire wax, scrub plastic surfaces with a brush (if plastic), and be thorough. Keep in mind that if people are unhappy with your work, they can hire professionals who might do it for a cheaper price. Always remember who you’re competing against.

Sell your old items. If you have a yard, consider selling items you no longer use. You’ll be surprised how quickly they sell. Clean out your closet, attic, basement, and gather anything you no longer need, then advertise for a yard sale. Every item can bring in a little cash.

• "Sweeten" the deal by offering drinks and snacks to customers. You could offer lemonade or popcorn if the weather is nice; or a warm cup of tea if it's chilly. You can sell items at a "bargain" price (since it's all secondhand stuff), almost giving things away or offering free items while accepting donations (some people may be more generous than you think).
• If you have time, you could also make things to sell. Just make sure you’re still making a profit! You need to consider the cost of materials as well.
• If you're serious about selling items, learn how to negotiate.

Sell or buy items online. If you find valuable items, sell them separately on classified ads and/or Craigslist to attract buyers looking for those specific items; they will be willing to pay a reasonable price for it (unlike garage sale buyers, who usually look for cheap items and try to haggle over your nice stuff). Again, be sure to talk about safe transactions on Craigslist with your parents beforehand or, better yet, have your parents represent you during the transaction.

Sell on behalf of your parents. Your parents may have more valuable items than you, but they might not have the time or energy to deal with it. For a percentage of the profits, sell these items on eBay, and for the rest, you can sell them in a yard sale. Be sure to agree on the price beforehand and decide how much you’re willing to lower the price if someone tries to negotiate with you.

Sell your existing photos. If you have a good camera and know how to take photos, try snapping pictures and selling them online. The money you make per photo might be small, but it's a fun job that allows you to make money while also developing your hobby. If you have a nice camera, consider taking black-and-white shots, editing them yourself (or with some help), and then selling the printed photos, framed or unframed.

Work through apps. If you own a smartphone, look for apps that require you to complete tasks for a payment (or apps that direct you to local businesses that pay for certain tasks). Many of these tasks don’t pay much but are incredibly simple (like taking photos of yourself at specific locations for marketing research purposes), and the money can add up quickly. Apps like GigWalk, WeReward, and CheckPoints are examples. Be sure to check if the program allows teens to participate before signing up.

Complete online surveys. Market research is crucial for big companies, and many websites pay for your opinions. Look for survey sites that accept teens (not all do), avoid those that require deposit fees (they are unnecessary), and seek sites that offer payment in cash (or points that can be converted to cash). You can read more about How to Make Money with Free Online Surveys for more detailed information.

Work through a YouTube channel. High-quality videos that reach a broad audience can easily make you money. YouTube will run ads before your video if it becomes popular, and you'll receive a share of the revenue generated from those ads. You may need to invest in a good camera, editing equipment, and understand what makes your videos attractive to viewers, but these efforts are well worth it.

Host a party and collect all recyclable items. Ask everyone to bring bottled soda (no need to explain why), and in return, offer them some chips and dip (along with a clearly marked recycling bin). Once the party is over, take everything to a recycling facility. If you're not allowed to host the party at home, consider holding it in a park and bring along light plastic plates for playing games like football, etc. Alternatively, you could attend a party at a friend’s house and offer to stay behind and help clean up.

Create crafts to sell. A friendship bracelet, a bag made from paper beads, or a dolphin made from plastic straws might not significantly fill your piggy bank, but at least 50% can be achieved (and each item you make will get quicker and easier with time). Since you may not be allowed to sell in school or in most public places, gather your creations into a collection and sell them at a garage sale at your house. Or, if the items are unique enough, you can post them on craft sites like Etsy.

• Gather craft items to sell. Crafters love to incorporate natural materials into their works. Do you live in a nature-rich area, have a yard, or know someone who does? Try collecting dry twigs and vines. Believe it or not, people will pay a decent amount for items like rhododendron branches, curly willow twigs, bulo wood branches, horsetail stems, and other uniquely shaped pieces. (Check around local craft spots for ideas and see if you can find anything abundant in your area.)
• Create crafts to sell. Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and if you’re skilled at making crafts, consider making some star-shaped lanterns to sell at affordable prices. Local kids might be your potential customers!

Join local research studies. Not all studies allow teens to participate, but whenever you're selected, you could earn decent money without investing much time.

• Find focus group interviews in your area. Focus group interviews are simple group surveys where each participant completes a survey for marketing research purposes. Unlike online surveys, these types of surveys could pay you between 880,000 VND to 2,200,000 VND per hour. Since teens are considered valuable demographic models in marketing, you may be selected for a survey in your field.
• Look for medical studies in your area. Before you dismiss this as something strange, understand that medical testing doesn't always involve taking experimental drugs or getting injections. Some studies may just require you to perform tasks while being monitored, or you could act as a healthy control for an experiment involving a specific condition. Look for legitimate medical research centers or medical schools in your area, and if possible, ask to be placed on a waiting list for simple, non-invasive trials.

Get paid for things you're already doing. If you're great at sports or games, participate in tournaments. You could even get weekend jobs officiating at sports events. If you excel at a particular subject in school, check the rules in your area to see if you can earn some money as a tutor. While you may not be allowed to work or advertise at school, that doesn’t mean you can’t teach independently to other students, for example, at the local library or at your own home.

Organize a fundraiser. If you're committed to a personal charitable cause (not fundraising for an iPod), consider going out and asking people to donate. Be sure to set a clear goal, plan the fundraising steps, and explain exactly how the funds will be used—no one wants to throw money at a half-baked idea from a stranger. Go door to door, sell baked goods, offer car washes, organize a fun run, or even set up a fundraiser on online platforms like GoFundMe. Ask your parents for advice to help ensure success and avoid any invasiveness, as they might have experience handling fundraising events and can guide you on useful tasks versus ones that aren't effective.

The more you save, the better. Keep in mind that every little bit adds up. Reducing unnecessary expenses will eventually result in more money in your pocket. No one ever regrets saving. It's crucial to balance your immediate needs with your long-term objectives.

Set a savings goal. Try to save half of what you earn. If your parents are helping, it's not too hard. Earn 2,200,000 VND on Sunday by taking care of the car? Set aside 1,100,000 VND and spend the rest. With a clear savings goal, reaching it will become easier, and you'll have something tangible to work toward.

Open a savings account. Find a secure place to store your savings. If you simply hide money in your shoes or under your bed, it will be too tempting to spend.

Save for a specific purpose. Having a reason to save will keep you motivated. Whether it's for a new gaming console or a community college course you're eager to take, setting a purpose for your savings will give you the drive you need to stick with it.

Don't rush into investing now. It's not a priority unless you're 18 and ready to save for retirement (if that's the case, congratulations!). Otherwise, simply set aside your savings for now. You don't want to risk losing that money before you can use it for the right purpose!