How to Make Money As a Teen Girl

Last Updated: February 28, 2023

Having your own money is a major step towards becoming more responsible. It is also a great way to buy the things you want or need so that you don't have to borrow money from your parents. Finding work as a teenager can be easy if you look in the right places and have persistence.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Seeking Local Employment

1
Become a dog walker if you like animals. Many families who own pets, and are gone for long hours of the day, need people who can come tend to their animals. You can charge a certain rate for each visit you make, or a weekly rate.
- Remember to always be reliable so you can gain a great reputation and get hired by more families.
2
Babysit for family, friends, or neighbors. Let those around you know you are looking to start babysitting, and ask them to help you spread the word about your services. Make flyers that include a little bit about yourself, what type of work you are looking for, and have your contact information. To help you get more babysitting jobs, take a babysitting class at your local hospital, recreation center, or Red Cross. You will be issued a certificate that states you have been properly trained to watch over children.^{[1]
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- Red Cross centers are the most trusted in babysitter training. More people will want to hire you if you have been trained to be safe and reliable.^{[2]
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3
Tutor students in subjects you're strong in. If you're good at certain school subjects, and can help others succeed, make a job out of it. Parents everywhere are looking for reliable tutors who can help their children succeed. Tutoring centers can be very costly, and many families are looking to pay less money. You can have a competitive advantage by charging less money to tutor students.
- Ask for no more than $10 per session, and make sure you're teaching them correctly and patiently.
4
Give music lessons if you play an instrument. Being able to play an instrument is a very valuable skill that you can profit on by teaching others how to play. Tell your family and friends to take lessons from you, and charge an hourly rate. You can also create flyers that include your contact information and what instrument you play, so people can reach out to you.
- Giving music lessons can be very lucrative because it can take many lessons to teach someone how to play an instrument.
5
Get a job at the local businesses in your town. There are many jobs in your town that you can try to work at. You can apply to be a host at a restaurant, work at a clothing retailer, or stock food at a grocery store as young as fourteen to fifteen years old depending on the place of employment. Some places will ask for a worker's permit, so be sure to have one ready.^{[3]
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- Ask your parents, relatives, or neighbors if they need help at their work filling papers, making copies, or cleaning.
- Depending on your age, there are laws that restrict you from working too many hours in a day or week. Check the US department of labor website to learn about the maximum number of hours you can work and the places you are allowed to work.^{[4]
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6
Get a permit to work. Work permits are free and easy to obtain. You can go to your school and ask one of the administrator's to help get you the certificate form, or you can get one online at your state's DMV website. These certificates state that you are eligible to work before you are eighteen years old.^{[5]
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Research source}Every state has different requirements but on average, if you are between the ages of fifteen to sixteen, you need a work permit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Working Outdoor Seasonal Jobs

1
Work as a lifeguard. If you are a strong swimmer, you can become a certified lifeguard and work at a pool, water park or beach. In order to get your certification, you can find your local Red Cross center, and take a lifeguard training class. Here are some of the requirements to become a lifeguard:^{[6]
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- Be at least 15 years of age^{[7]
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- Be able to tread water for two minutes^{[8]
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- Be able to dive to a depth of seven to ten feet^{[9]
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2
Do yard work for your neighbors. Busy families who don't have enough time for yard work are always eager to hire helping hands. If you like spending time outdoors, and are up for manual labor, make some flyers, and put them out around your neighborhood. Only advertise for outside work that you feel comfortable doing. Consider doing the following:
- Try planting flowers in the spring.
- Try mowing lawns in the summer.
- Try raking leaves in the fall.
- Try shoveling snow from your neighbors' sidewalks and driveways in the winter.
3
Hold a car wash with your friends. Make a poster that says, "Carwash!", and include the price you will charge. Stand near a street that gets decent traffic, and wait for cars to come to you. You can have the cars pull into your driveway, and wash the cars there. If you have a vacuum, offer car detailing to make even more money.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Selling Personal Items

1
Sell homemade jewelry or accessories. If you are crafty, and have a talent for making hair bows, necklaces, or scarfs, start selling them to your friends, family or the general public. This can be a fun way to make money on items you love to make.
- Set up an account on Etsy to showcase your merchandise, and expand your customer base. Let your parents know you would like to set up an Etsy account, and ask them to help you set up a PayPal account so you can successfully sell your goods.
- See if you can sell your merchandise at local craft fairs or garage sales.
2
Sell your old or unwanted clothes. Depending on the quality and amount of clothes you have, you can sell clothes that no longer fit you or that you don't wear anymore. There are many thrift stores that will buy your clothes from you to resell in their shops. Simply go through your closet, and put the clothes you no longer want in a garbage bag. Take the bag to a thrift store in your area, and let them buy the clothes from you.
- Be sure to always check with your parents before trying to sell any of your clothes or belongings. If you get permission from your parents, then you can try selling your clothes.
3
Hold a garage sale to sell all of your unwanted stuff. Ask friends or family to pitch in their stuff they would like to sell so that it's a bigger and better sale. Put up signs around your neighborhood and town telling how to get to your house and what time the sale is. Many people get up early for garage sales, so be sure to start yours by 9 a.m., and keep it going until at least noon.
- Remember to ask your parents if you are allowed to sell your things. See if your parents have things they want to sell, so you can sell your stuff together.

Warnings

Don't spend time alone with strangers or do anything your parents are not comfortable with.

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Don't overbook yourself.

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If you aren't experienced, or charge too much, you might not be hired a lot.

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