How to Make Money Quickly When You’re Young

Sell old electronic and mechanical items you no longer use. Mobile phones, MP3 players, or video cameras that are gathering dust can still have value. Remember to factory reset your devices before selling them to avoid confusing the buyer with strange calls or unwanted music. You can sell them on platforms like eBay or Amazon, or even to your friends.

Buy and Resell. Purchase packs of candy for 10,000 VND each and resell them at school for 20,000 VND. If you manage to sell 20 packs in a day, you can earn 200,000 VND. Another idea is to make lemonade and sell it for 10,000 VND per cup.

Find out if local businesses pay for promoting their work, or if you could work for them. Since it’s a business, you’ll need to meet with and convince people to visit the store or buy the products/services. Just smile and remember that most adults like kids. You have a natural sales talent, after all!

Hold a yard sale. Do you have items you no longer need or toys you’ve outgrown? Sell them! What’s useless to you could be a treasure to someone else. If you live in an apartment, it might be tough to do this. Try asking friends if you can use their yard for a day. Don’t forget to get permission from the local authorities before selling items at home.

Start your own business. For instance, you could make bookmarks and sell them in front of your house or at school, but check with school management first as some schools might not allow this. Here are some quick business ideas to consider:

• Make toys for pets. Many people love dogs, cats, birds, or fish, so why not create toys for them?
• Food decorations. Candy, fruits, and other foods can be creatively decorated for people to buy and show off before eating. This is an easy way to make money.
• Take advantage of holidays. For Halloween, why not offer pumpkin carving services? During Christmas, you could make ornaments for people to hang on their trees.
• Offer photo collection services. The photo collection industry is highly profitable for a reason: people want to preserve memories in a tangible way. You can offer to help them with this task.

Organize tutoring sessions at 50,000 VND/hour. This is a highly effective way to make money if you’re skilled in a particular subject, such as mathematics or languages. You can teach students different methods to solve problems or how to think critically in the subject. However, if you teach poorly and charge too much, students won’t return. This could be the case if parents ask you to tutor their child in a subject you’re not very good at.

Make money by playing music. People love listening to music, especially live performances. If you play an instrument and aren't making money from it, you might be missing out on a great opportunity. Try these ideas to make money with your musical skills:

• Teach others how to play an instrument you know. Whether it’s guitar, drums, piano, or flute, you can advertise lessons for 100,000-200,000 VND per week.
• If you prefer performing, find a public space, put out a hat, and set up a sign advertising your “performance.” People might give you small amounts if you play well, but you’ll earn more the more you perform. Be sure the location allows such activities to avoid issues.

Work on animation projects. Some people enjoy making animated films themselves, and if you know how to animate, you can earn 500,000 VND for a 30-second animation. Animation isn’t difficult, and it’s an excellent way to earn money. Start learning animation with simple programs like Scratch, or if you're skilled at drawing digitally (or by hand), you can check out DeviantArt.

Create a website. Many people now create websites focusing on something they know well and dedicate a section to a club for others who share similar interests, whether it's animals, food, or other topics. You could create a website like this and charge 50,000 VND per member. You can quickly get rich if people find it valuable to join. Although most popular domain names are taken, if you come up with a unique name, your website could be a success!

Upload a series of videos to YouTube to showcase your talents. Once you gain fame, you can apply to the YouTube Partner Program and start earning money. (If you're under 18, you'll need to use your parent's email, but that won’t stop you from giving it a try.) The video you upload could go viral, earning you money every month, plus potential income from future videos.

• Write guides for video games. Which video games are popular right now? If you’re really good at playing a game like Minecraft, Halo, Call of Duty, or Bioshock, many people will follow you.
• Teach others how to solve common problems. Do you know a good method for boiling eggs? Do you have a surefire way to ask someone out? Create a video on these tips and watch the views roll in.

Sell your artwork. For example, if you're a talented artist, you could paint beautiful portraits of people or take stunning black-and-white photographs. Why not make money selling paintings, landscape photos, or portraits on the street?

• There are plenty of platforms like Etsy, eBay, CafePress, Kijiji, and Facebook Yard Sales where you can showcase and auction your art to a global audience.

Teach others how to use electronic devices. Are you skilled in computers, troubleshooting easily, and can assemble or disassemble handheld electronics? If so, consider making money by helping others with their tech needs. Not monetizing your computer skills would be a missed opportunity.

• Why not create a website to advertise your expertise? Mention that you're young and will offer great prices, while showcasing evidence of your professionalism and effectiveness. Who knows, your business could take off from here!

Host a performance in your neighborhood. Who says only adults can organize performances? It could be a talent show, comedy act, or something else. If you prefer to perform alone, you keep all the proceeds. If you invite others to join, you’ll need to pay them for their participation. Each ticket could be priced at around 100,000 VND.

Create PowerPoint presentations for others. If you're skilled at designing in PowerPoint, you can gather information from clients and craft presentations based on their needs. Platforms like Odesk or Elance allow you to work part-time for others if selected.

Do chores around the house. Your parents might give you some pocket money for completing tasks, and if you earn enough, you'll quickly save up. Doing chores without being asked is a big bonus. Even if you're only getting 100,000 VND per week, it will add up quickly.

Look for loose change in the car or under the couch cushions. You never know how much money could be hiding there! Search any spot where adults might have left behind spare change. However, make sure your parents aren't planning to use those coins.

Ask your parents for a higher allowance. If you're not getting paid for your work, it's okay to ask for more. But don't pester them continuously. To convince them you deserve more, do a great job with your tasks, take on extra chores that need doing, and show you're genuinely helpful.

• Make a deal with your parents. For example, offer to get at least a "9" or "8" in all your subjects in exchange for an extra 100,000 VND per month. That way, both sides will be happy: Your parents will be proud of your grades, and you'll be happy to get extra money.

Run errands for your parents. This is especially effective if you have a mode of transportation, like a bicycle, but you can also do it without one. Walking is an option, as well as taking the bus or asking a friend for a ride.

Clean the house. Taking on the responsibility of cleaning the house for a few hours can help you earn money, especially if you do a thorough job. Don't forget to clean windows, porches, and gutters.

• Make sure to clean both inside and outside the house. Your parents might not want to clean the kitchen or bathroom, but your strong motivation to earn money will make it easy. Gather all the necessary cleaning supplies (multi-purpose cleaner, cloths, gloves...) and get to work!

Depending on your age, you can work as a babysitter. You might not be allowed to babysit until you're a teenager, but it's an easy job that pays well.

• After babysitting for one family, you can ask for a "recommendation" from them. You'll find it much easier to get hired by other families with a good reference, but make sure they speak highly of you and that you know them well!

Offer pet-sitting services. Ask around if anyone needs a pet sitter. Look for people who are going on vacation or simply need someone to look after their pets for the day or during their holiday.

• You can also make extra money by walking dogs, especially if you can walk several dogs at once. Start your business by posting flyers in your neighborhood, stating your rates and availability. Charge around 100,000 VND per walk; you can charge more if you have experience. You might want to begin by walking dogs for free to gain experience, then start charging for your services.

Contact your local newspaper or post office about delivering newspapers. Newspaper delivery might not be glamorous, but it's a great way to earn money. The best part is it's simple work. The downside is you'll need to wake up very early (usually) to deliver newspapers on time.

Mow lawns. Ask your parents to lend you a lawnmower, and then start knocking on neighbors' doors offering lawn-mowing services. Many people are too lazy to mow their lawns, so you can charge a relatively high fee for your services.

• Make a plan with your neighbors. Agree that you'll mow their lawns every weekend throughout the month, and offer a discount if they hire you for four consecutive weeks.
• To make mowing less boring, you can mow diagonally instead of straight lines. The grass will look amazing, and the task will be just as easy as mowing straight lines. Of course, ask the homeowner first if they're okay with diagonal mowing.
• Take photos of your lawn mowing work and show them to the homeowners. If they had any doubts before, seeing your work will help put their minds at ease.

Take on other tasks around the yard. Learn how to trim bushes, rake fallen leaves, plant flowers, or sweep the walkways. The more tasks you can handle around the yard, the easier it will be for others to hire you, meaning more money and faster wealth accumulation.

Rent a pressure washer on weekends. Renting a pressure washer will cost around 1 million VND. First, you need to make arrangements with as many people as possible to clean their driveways, charging around 200,000 VND per service, and you’ll start making a lot of money in just one week.

• Be cautious: pressure washers can damage property, spray dirt onto cars, and cause eye injury. So if you decide to go ahead with this, be careful when using the machine and avoid playing with it. Ask your parents how to operate a pressure washer before using it.

If you're in the U.S., during the winter you can shovel snow from driveways, sidewalks, or clean snow off cars. Start with a low price and gradually increase it. Begin by cleaning your own driveway, then ask your neighbors if they need the same service. Some people don’t have the time to shovel snow before heading off to school or work. You can earn a good amount, charging 15-20 dollars per customer.

• Be creative! People will pay for unique and eye-catching items.
• Manage your money wisely by carefully planning all the steps of money management.
• Avoid creating items that are too expensive because people won’t buy them.
• Always be polite, and never pressure anyone to buy your items.
• Check to make sure selling in your neighborhood is legal, as not all areas permit it.
• Work efficiently, kindly, and courteously; employers might even tip you extra.
• Find a safe place to store the money you earn.
• Don’t ask others for money unless you’ve done something for them in return.
• Try baking treats or snacks to sell.
• Don’t sell at school unless you have permission.
• Knitting scarves or hats to sell (if you know how) is also a good option.

• Be cautious when working with strangers. Avoid taking jobs from them and never enter their homes. If a customer behaves suspiciously, leave immediately and seek help from a trusted adult.
• Always be polite when approaching potential employers. They won’t hire you if you come off as selfish or immature. Maintain a courteous and respectful attitude!
• Don’t take on tasks that are beyond your ability. If you can’t control a 50kg dog from running into traffic, don’t agree to walk it.
• First, ask your parents for permission before taking on any jobs. Clearly explain each task to them to gain their approval.
• Be persistent. If your parents refuse to give you more pocket money, don’t get upset. Show them that you’ve grown and matured.
• At some schools, selling things on campus can lead to serious problems.
• If you make a mistake, don’t keep it a secret. Stay calm and inform an adult.
• Take on no more than one or two tasks at a time. Otherwise, things may get out of hand.