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Best Sites to Make Money Online as a Teen
Branded Surveys 13+
$0.50 – $5 on average per survey with bonus points ($1 sign up bonus)
Average survey length is 10-20 minutes and minimum payout is $5
Collect rewards in PayPal, Direct Deposit or gift cards (100+ brands)
Swagbucks 13+
$0.50 to $1.50 per survey – earn up to $100 each month using Swagbucks
18 unique ways to earn money and free gift cards, plus $5 sign up bonus
Redeem e-gift cards from $1 or withdraw $5 minimum payment from PayPal
Survey Junkie 16+
$0.50 – $3 per survey + extra ways to earn up to $100 with focus groups
Each survey time varies, but on average it takes 15 minutes to complete
Redeem rewards using PayPal, e-giftcards or bank transfer ($5 min)
How to Make Money As a Kid in The Summer
Complete Online Surveys (Swagbucks)
Swagbucks Summary
18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards$5 sign up bonusUp to 10% cashback when shopping online$1 minimum e-gift card withdrawal
Completing online surveys is a great way to make money as a kid in the summer. Some companies do market research on kid’s products and therefore create special surveys for kids. Most of these websites accept kids between 13 and 16 years of age.
Like the adult survey versions, you can earn between $0.50 to $2.50 per survey.
One such site is Swagbucks which allows kids as young as 13 to join.
To sign up with Swagbucks is free; however, you need to seek permission from your parent or guardian before signing up.
To get started, you can follow the steps below;
Sign up with your email address and choose a unique password.
Next, earn SB points when you complete surveys.
Redeem your points for gift cards via retail shops such as Amazon or Walmart. Alternatively, get cash directly to your Paypal wallet when you reach a minimum $1 withdrawal.
Besides surveys, you can earn SB points by watching videos, shopping online, or searching the web.
You can also download the Swagbuck app from Google Play or the App Store and fill surveys on the go, which maximizes your earning potential.
Play Games on Your Phone (Mistplay)
Mistplay Summary
Redeem rewards from as little as $5Gift cards are processed within 48 hours5 different ways you can earn moneyGet 100 points by inviting your friends
If you are 13 years and above, you can play video games on your phone and make money. Some apps like Mistplay allow teens to play games for money. It has a loyalty program that will enable you to earn points that you can redeem as steam credit or gift cards.
To get started, you need to download Mistplay from Google Play to your phone.
Next, allow the app to display over other apps. Also, disable the power-saving mode on your phone.
You can now earn points by playing online games. Once you accumulate enough points or units, you can swap via Tango card or redeem them as gift cards from online retailers such as;
Amazon
Xbox
GameStop
PlayStation
Google Play
Here is a table to illustrate the redeemable Mistplay points.
Mistplay pointsRedeemable valuePayment gateway1500 units$5Visa card3000 units$10Steam credit
After each game, you may answer questions and give honest feedback about your experience. Worth noting Mistplay doesn’t work on IOS devices.
Start a Blog (Siteground)
SiteGround Summary
Fast-responding, quality customer service. Support is offered promptly for any kind of issueIt performs daily backups, securing your data and making updates safe and fast30 days money-back guaranteeHeavily optimized for better speed and better user experience for its customers
You can start blogging as young as 13 years; however, younger kids may require guidance from their guardians or parents.
At 13 years, you can earn up to $1000 per month by writing topics that interest you. There are multiple options to start a blog, including;
Self-hosted where you have your own domain
A hosted blog that is free but with many limitations
The self-hosted blog is ideal because you can monetize and make money. Here, you start by choosing a site hosting company such as Siteground and registering a domain.
The startup plan is ideal for beginners as it only costs $3.95 per month. Plus, it has other perks such as unique themes, free domain, and site builder.
Once you’ve built your website, you can now create your posts.
The main goal of blogging is to get traffic to your site, boosting your income. In this respect, you can use search engines, referrals, and social media to get more people to read your topics.
Sell Items on eBay
eBay Summary
High user traffic – over 187 million usersNo listing fees for small scale sellersPromote your listing from as little as 1%Quick processing time for payouts
Another way to make money as a kid in the summer is to sell items on eBay. However, eBay policies are strict because they only allow teens above 18 years of age to sell on the platform. If you are below 18 years, you can sell through your parent or guardian’s account.
Once your parent opens an account, they need to register as a seller. After that, you can list the item that you want to sell. Don’t forget to give a short description of the item, including the price and general condition. You can also attach a photo of the item besides the description.
Whenever a buyer gets interested in your item, you’ll ship it to their location. Therefore, you must package and label the item for easy delivery. After selling, you can get paid via your parent’s account.
Example of items you can sell on eBay includes;
Old toys
Old books
CDs
Used clothes
Old bike
In this regard, you can earn between $10 to $50 to sell old toys on eBay.
Babysit
Babysitting is an ideal way to earn money for teens between 12 and 18. However, you may not babysit very young infants since you need CPR or First aid training.
In this respect, you can babysit older kids between 7 and 10 years old and make up to $10 per hour.
Typically, you can get babysitting jobs in your neighborhood. Let your neighbors know you have free time to babysit their kids when they are away.
You can get referrals from your family, friends, or parents’ colleagues at work.
Examples of babysitting jobs include;
Providing care and attention to kids
Performing light house chores
Playing with the kids
Ensuring the kids’ area is tidy
Helping with homework and tuition
Ensuring the kids’ feed as per schedule
If you are at least 16 years old, you can promote your services on Craigslist or community boards. Here you may find plenty of babysitting jobs near you. However, be sure to check whether your state or city permits kids 16 years of age to babysit.
Dog Walking
Dog walking is one of the easiest ways to make money for both kids and adults.
Typically, kids above 10 years shouldn’t walk large dogs independently. However, from age 10 to 16, you can walk a dog, groom, feed, and play with them.
Likewise, at above 12 years, you can make up to $20 per hour to walk a dog. However, you need to have dog handling skills because some dogs can be violent and may want to start a fight.
To get started, you can talk to your neighbors who have pets or attach posters around the neighborhood. In addition, you ask for referrals from relatives and friends.
Self-Publish a Book
Whereas kids may not get book deals, you can still have your book self-published with the help of your parent or guardian. Writing a book is one of the creative ways to make money.
A published kid’s story can cost up to $10. The best thing about it is that there is no age limitation to writing books as a child.
To get started, you need to find inspiration about something such as a story, event, or family history. Secondly, you need to read many books, research and polish your writing skills.
Here are the steps to follow when writing a book;
Write an outline
Write a draft
Capture scenes, dialogues, places, and events
Be descriptive
Read and edit
Polish the draft
Publish your book
Once your book is ready, you can publish it online under platforms such as Amazon Kindle.
Tools such as Scriblitt can also help you design a book, have it printed, and mail you a copy.
After you get a hard copy, you can now sell it to other kids in the neighborhood or list it on Craigslist. Also, you can send the final copy to kids magazine for publication.
Tutor Online
If you are a top performer, you can make money during summer by teaching other students subjects such as Maths, Arts, English or Science. This job is ideal if you are above 12 years and can earn you up to $20 per hour.
To get a job as a tutor, you can join platforms that allow kids below 18 years old to register and offer tutoring services. In such a situation, the services are only available under the supervision of your parents or guardian.
One such platform is Peply, an online platform where you can find learning groups, connect with other classmates, and share class notes.
Other than that, you can get a peer-to-peer tutor’s job that pays up to $20 per hour. Subsequently, after joining the platform, you’ll get email notifications of upcoming opportunities when you join this platform.
Besides traditional subjects, you can still make money teaching other kids specific skills such as;
Playing baseball
Baking
Painting
Playing musical instruments such as pianos and ukulele
Listen to Music (Nielsen)
If you are a music lover and have some free time, some platforms will pay you up to $20 per month to listen to your favorite tunes. One such platform is Current.us which pays you to listen to your playlist. This job is ideal for kids above 13 years old.
To get started with Nielsen, you need to download the app from Google Play or Play Store;
After downloading, you’ll allow the app to access your playlists.
The app can now access your playlist and pay you for participating in their market research.
Some of the research parameters for Nielsen include;
Music streaming platforms people are using
The type of music people are listening
The marketing schemes people respond to.
They then sell the findings to music distributors and music labels.
Design T-shirts and Sell
During summer, people love to dress in casual wear; thus, you can design trendy T-shirts and sell them. You can use platforms such as Teespring to design and promote your T-shirts.
Signing up for Teespring is free and will only take you 2 minutes to create an account. There is no age limitation to participate; however, you may want to involve your parents in setting up an account and payment gateways. You can now access the tools to create designs.
After creating a design, you can share your sales campaign via your social media platforms or website.
Customers who order will have their T-shirts printed and shipped to their addresses. Subsequently, you’ll be paid via Payoneer or PayPal. One T-shirt can sell at between $10 to $20.
Become a Freelance Writer
Fiverr Summary
Set your own prices for your servicesChoose from over 500 service categories3 different options for cashing outProtection from fradulent chargebacks
Like adults, children too can get writing jobs and make money. If you are 13 years of age, you can join freelancing platforms such as Fiverr, create a profile and become a seller.
Initially, you can make up to $5 per hour; however, with experience and good ratings, the price can get to $100 per hour.
To get started with article writing, you need to polish your reading, research, and grammar skills.
With experience, you can set up a blog and start making money through ads, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.
How to Make Money as a Kid in The Summer FAQ
Is A Kid Allowed By Law To Make Money In The Summer?
Kids are considered minors and hence not allowed to join meaningful employment until the ages of 14 to 16. However, this may vary from state to state. Nonetheless, some lawful activities can earn you up to $20 per hour working part-time.
Some of the activities that can earn you money during summer include; dog walking, babysitting, blogging, freelance writing, and playing games on phones.
Can A 13 Year Old Work In Walmart In The Summer?
A 13-year-old cannot work in Walmart in the summer because the company policy stipulates that you must be 16 years and above to work there.
Can A Kid List Items For Sale On ebay?
eBay does not allow children below the age of 18 to sell or list items on the website. You can only list items for sale on eBay through your parents’ or guardians’ credentials.
Can A 12 Year Old Get A Job?
A 12 year old cannot get a job in gainful employment. However, they may handle certain tasks such as taking care of the elderly, dog walking, or assisting with house chores and earn up to $10 per hour.
