Your children don't have to wait until they turn 18 to start earning money. With the right know-how, they can equip themselves to earn some cash outside of school. There are many ways that kids can start making money, whether it's setting up their own business or doing chores for an allowance.
If they're keen to make money but not sure how to go about it, they can start thinking about what they like doing. Perhaps they have some skills that they could put to good use or start earning money from their hobbies.
Learning how to make their own money is a great skill for kids to develop that will benefit them for their entire life. It helps them learn the value of a hard day's work and empowers them to make responsible decisions about saving and spending their money. If they have a GoHenry prepaid debit card, they can use it just like a standard Mastercard debit card. It’ll give them a feeling of independence while also helping them get used to paying with a card instead of cash.
Need more inspiration? Check out our guide for some great ideas for how kids can make some extra money.
How kids can make money through their hobbies
Most children have hobbies they spend some of their spare time on because they find them fun. But while they may not have got into their hobbies with the idea of making money, some of them can turn into great cash spinners that generate real income. Depending on how they focus their interests and talents, kids can generate real money by doing something they’d be doing anyway. Here are some great ideas for hobbies kids can make money from:
How kids can make money gaming
Is your child an avid gamer? There are several ways to make money gaming as a kid. For instance:
Game reviews
If your child is aged 13 or over, they can post videos of themselves playing video games and sharing reviews, walkthroughs and tips on YouTube, Twitch or Facebook Gaming. They can even stream their gaming live. They make money through advertising, brand sponsorships, subscriptions and viewer donations.
Video game streaming
Kids getting paid to play video games? It sounds like a dream, but video streaming is a serious moneyspinner for many people. According to GoHenry’s 2022 Youth Economy Report, as many as 35% of kids earn money through online gaming. Youngsters aged 13 and over can record themselves and upload to video-sharing sites like YouTube or stream live on platforms like Twitch. Streamers typically make money by displaying adverts, working with brands, selling subscriptions and viewer donations.
Tutoring
Tutoring other people to play games is a great way to earn money as a kid. If your child is good at gaming, they can give private gaming lessons online to help others brush up on their gaming skills.
Competitive gaming and Esports leagues
If kids think they're good enough at gaming, they could enter gaming tournaments to earn cash prizes. The best way to find out about Esports in the local area is through social media groups. These competitions have big sponsors, which can mean big prizes. But they need to keep in mind that they'll be up against some amazing gamers.
Games tester
As video game testers, kids can try out video games before they've even hit the shops. They'll be paid to check for any glitches and ensure the entire game is playing correctly.
How kids who love animals can make money
If your child is passionate about animals, then the good news is there are several ways animal-loving kids can make money.
Washing dogs
Washing a dog can be challenging for some owners, but it's a necessary task of having a canine companion. Why not start a dog wash service for relatives’ and neighbors' pets?
Making pet treats
Dog owners love nothing more than to spoil their animals. So, with this in mind, kids could start their own pet baking business and make healthy and homemade pet treats to sell to friends, neighbors and local markets.
Pet sitting
For many pet owners, a big dilemma when planning a vacation is what they will do about their animals. As many owners would rather their pets stay home than go to a boarding kennel, starting a pet-sitting business is another money-making option.
Making dog toys
If your child enjoys crafting, they can combine that with their love of animals to create dog toys to sell to owners. They will have to do some research first to ensure the use of safe materials for dogs to play with. Once they've created a range of dog toys, they can look at selling them to friends, neighbors and even at local markets and fairs.
How kids who enjoy cooking can make money
Many children enjoy cooking and there are plenty of ways to make money from it.
Baking cookies and selling them to friends and family
For any youngster who loves to cook, baking cookies and selling them to family, friends and neighbors is a great way to earn cash. They could even put their cookies in decorative containers to make them look professional. Just ensure they note the ingredients that go into their baked goods in case any of their customers have allergies or dietary requirements.
Writing their own cookbook
If your child has been cooking for a while, collected many recipes, or even created their own recipes that other children and adults may enjoy, why not make a cookbook? It could be a hardcopy recipe book or an e-book and as simple or as detailed as they like.
Start a cooking blog
For children who love cooking and sharing recipes, cooking stories and connecting with other young people, a blog is a great, fun way to make money. It’ll take a bit of time to build up a following, but once their blog starts getting attention, it could become quite profitable.
Offer cooking classes to other kids
If your kid is confident in the kitchen and has gained some good cooking skills, why don't they start a cooking class to teach other aspiring young chefs? They can advertise the classes among their friends and classmates or online.
Sell garden produce
While this idea may not strictly involve cooking, selling garden produce is a great way to capitalize on the increasing demand for fresh, homegrown fruit and vegetables. It does take a lot of time and patience, and unpredictable weather conditions can affect how much product they’ll have to sell. But if your kids are able to generate a reasonable yield, they can sell their harvest to local farmers' markets, friends, and neighbors.
How kids can make money online
The internet affords today's youngsters an endless world of money-making opportunities. Even if they’re not old enough to get a traditional job, they are many ways kids can make money online. For example:
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Blogging
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YouTube channel
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Paid surveys
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Video game streaming
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Selling their skills (designing logos, selling handmade crafts, tutoring).
Youngsters who want to start a YouTube channel must be at least 13 years old, but they won't be able to monetize it until they are 18. However, their parents can set up a YouTube channel on their behalf so they can start sooner.
Seasonal jobs where kids can make money
Depending on the time of year, there are plenty of seasonal jobs where young people can make money. During the summer months, when it's dry and sunny, kids can make extra cash by:
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Helping in the backyard by mowing, pulling weeds, raking leaves and watering plants
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Washing cars
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Window cleaning
Kids can also set about earning money during the winter by:
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Selling handmade holiday gifts
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Providing a gift-wrapping service
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Selling hot chocolate or tea at the local park, car boot or market,
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Shovelling snow for family and neighbors
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Salting sidewalks
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Running errands for elderly neighbors
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Clearing snow and ice from neighbors' cars.
How can young kids learn the value of work and earn an allowance?
Your kids might be able to earn an allowance by helping out with chores at home. Think about whether you'd be willing to pay your kids an allowance for extra help with household tasks. This means going above and beyond what they might already be doing to help around the house.
Here are a few ideas for chores you could suggest to your kids to help them earn an allowance:
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Washing the family car
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Doing laundry
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Vacuuming
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Mopping the floors
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Tutoring younger siblings
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Mowing the lawn
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Taking out the trash
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Preparing meals
Alternatively, you can check our age-appropriate list of chores.
Start a business as a kid and earn money
Your kids don't have to wait until they are adults before starting a business. Many kidpreneurs have successfully set up their own business. According to the latest GoHenry Youth Economy Report, 6% of young people already have their own businesses, and 24% want to start their own businesses in the future. However, if your kids are under 18, they won't be able to set up a business bank account, raise finance or get credit. So, they’ll need you on board to help them.
Small business ideas for kids
If your child has their sights set on being an entrepreneur or you think they already have a good head for business, why don't they set up their own small business? It's a great way for kids to learn about what it takes to run their own business while earning money at the same time.
Small business ideas for kids can include anything from making stuff to sell, to tutoring or offering a babysitting service. Some business ideas may take a little time to set up and need some initial investment. But if they do their research and keep track of their finances successfully, it could prove to be a great money spinner for your child. And a great way for them to learn business sense and financial skills.
Need more inspiration?
If you’re looking for more inspiration for ways kids can make money, here are a few more ideas:
Jobs for 8-year-olds
There are plenty of jobs 8-year-olds can do to earn some money, whether inside the home or outdoors. These jobs include tidying their room, washing the dishes, watering the backyard and feeding the family pets.
Jobs for 9-year-olds
By nine, kids can take on a little more responsibility over jobs they do for money. Jobs for 9-year-olds range from vacuuming, dusting and doing laundry to helping out neighbors, selling homemade crafts or planting flowers.
Jobs for 10-year-olds
By the age of ten, kids will likely want to start being treated more like adults. But while they might not be entirely independent yet, there are various jobs ideal for 10-year-olds looking to earn some cash. Some of the best jobs for 10-year-olds include walking the dog, pet sitting, selling items online, helping neighbors, washing cars and vacuuming.
Jobs for 11-year-olds
While they may not be old enough to get a part-time job, there are plenty of ways your 11-year-old can make money. Getting a job at this age is a great way for kids to take on more responsibility and learn about the value of money. Some ideal jobs for 11-year-olds include online surveys, selling online, making beds and vacuuming.
Jobs for 12-year-olds
If your 12-year-old is looking to earn some money, unfortunately, they have to wait until they are 13 before they can get a part-time job. However, in the meantime, there are plenty of great jobs for 12-year-olds, including helping younger siblings, washing cars, vacuuming, sorting the recycling and selling homemade crafts.
Where should your kids keep all the money they've made?
If your child is aged 6 to 18, their earnings can go into a GoHenry account. Then with a GoHenry prepaid debit card, they can spend their money online, in-store or withdraw cash from ATMs.
If they’re over 13, they can also use their card wherever Apple Pay is accepted. As their parent, you can set up regular transfers or make one-off payments to their account. And thanks to Giftlinks, other people can also top up their GoHenry prepaid debit card account. It's easy to set up a GoHenry account.
While your kids might not be old enough to get a proper job just yet, there are still many ways they can earn some money. With some creative thinking and hard work, they can find the perfect way to make money as a kid that they'll also enjoy.
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