Schools out for summer and your kids are looking for something to do. Find out how to make money in the summer as a kid and it will keep them occupied while giving them a bit of spending money.
In many places labor laws prohibit children under a certain age from getting an “actual” job but that doesn’t mean that even your preteens can make some cash over the summer break.
If your kids are chomping at the bit for some extra money for “V-Bucks” or ice cream down at the store, then take a look at these great ideas that will earn them some money and keep them busy.
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The nice thing about all the money making ideas for kids below is that most of them result in instant cash.
There’s no waiting around for a paycheck at the end of the month. If you are a preteen who wants to start making money for the first time, getting your cash fast is probably important to you.
Working for your money can also teach kids:
- How to save money
- The importance of being reliable
- Good work ethics
- The value of a dollar (it’s always easier to spend other people’s money, after all!)
- Entrepreneurship
How To Make Money In The Summer As A Kid
Below are the top 15 ways to make money as a kid this summer.
Whether you are looking for ways to make money at 13 years old or 10 years old, there is something for everyone.
1. Lemonade Stand
An oldie but a goodie! If you have younger kids who want to make some money and have fun, a lemonade stand can make for a really fun morning.
As a bonus you can combine your lemonade stand with a yard sale to really draw in the crowds.
Although your lemonade stand likely won’t make millions, it can be a fun way to introduce children into the fun of running their own business.
2. Washing Cars
This is how I always made money in the summer. Gather some car washing supplies from the dollar store and hit the neighbourhood.
You will need to get the following supplies:
- Car washing sponge or mitts
- Bucket
- Detergent for car washing
- Chamois cloth for drying the car
- Access to a hose or water supply
You can put up signs or go around asking neighbours if they would like their cars washed. Depending on where you live, you could charge around $10-15 per car.
3. Mowing Lawns
Older kids can make some really good money mowing lawns during the summer months. Lots of people need their grass cut while they are on vacation. Other people are too busy or not well enough to keep their lawn maintenance up.
Advertise your lawn mowing services in your neighbourhood Facebook groups or NextDoor groups.
4. Babysitting
Again, this is a great way to make money at 13 or older. You can take an online babysitting course through the Red Cross in most countries.
The summer is a great time to start your babysitting career as many parents need to work during the holidays while their kids are around. You can start with working a few hours during the days and build up to evenings as you get more confident.
Babysitters make around $8-15 an hour so this can be great money.
5. Start An Etsy Shop
Even if you are not crafty, you could start your own Etsy Printables Business from home and make money online this summer.
It is free to open an Etsy store and you might be surprised at the kinds of things you can sell.
If you are interested in starting your own Etsy store, click through for my step by step tutorial plus 40 free listings to get you going.
6. Watering Plants
Offer your services to neighbours who are going out of town.
You can provide watering services so their plants don’t die and this is a really easy job for even the youngest kids with parental supervision.
7. Walking Dogs
Start your own dog walking business and get paid to take care of some adorable pups!
You can sign up as sitter or dog walker on Rover.com and also advertise around your subdivision.
RELATED POST: Get Paid To Walk Dogs
8. Selling Your Old Stuff
Here is a way to make some money fast. Go through all your old toys and clothes and sell them for cash.
You can sell them in a yard sale or at consignment stores like Once Upon A Child or Plato’s Closet.
You could also use an app like OfferUp to sell your old toys.
If you have lots of unwanted books and collectibles, consider selling them on eBay.
Read my post on the best places to sell your stuff online for cash for even more ideas.
9. SwagBucks
While most survey sites won’t let you join until you are over 18, SwagBucks welcomes anyone over the age of 13 to earn money for gift cards.
With SwagBucks you can earn points (SBs) for taking surveys, watching videos, playing games and completing tasks. You can then redeem the points for gift cards at places like Amazon and Starbucks.
Also, if you join using this link, you will get $5 to start you off.
10. Start A Dog Treat Business
If you love baking, you can make money by starting a dog treat business from home.
It’s actually really easy to get started and some people are making thousands a month making and selling dog treats from home.
You can take this free workshop for more information getting started with your own dog treat business. I found it really useful.
11. Do Chores Around The House
Of all the ways to learn how to make money in the summer as a kid, this one is the easiest. It’s perfect for little kids who want to earn their pocket money.
Even the youngest kids can help with chores such as:
- Cleaning the table
- Dusting the furniture
- Unloading the dishwasher
- Vacuuming
- Making their beds
- Sorting laundry
- Ironing
12. Make And Sell Crafts
If you are crafty, then consider making and selling things online. While I already mentioned starting your own Etsy Shop, you can also sell your crafts on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram.
Wondering what crafts to make and sell? Here are some ideas:
Easy Things To Make And Sell From Home
11 Easy Things Kids Can Make & Sell
15+ Cricut Maker Projects To Sell
13. Start A YouTube Channel
Have you always dreamed of making money on YouTube? There are kids who are making millions showing other kids their toys or how they play video games.
You can start your own YouTube Channel in minutes and see if you can join the ranks of success stories. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme though so if you need money right now, this might not be the option for you.
14. Help Seniors
Helping out neighbours always feels good and this can be a nice way for tweens and older kids to make some extra money while learning about helping others.
Ask around to see if any elderly neighbours need help with:
- Groceries
- Gardening
- Cleaning
- Chores around the home
- Tidying and organizing
15. Have a Bake Sale
This one is similar to a lemonade stand but can be really fun.
Spend a day or so baking some treats and put them for sale in your driveway.
You can even advertise that 50% of the money goes to a charity to teach your kids about the importance of donating too.
Another great addition to your bake sale are freezies. Sell them for $0.25 each and you will easily make a profit on a hot day.
16. Weeding and Gardening
This is similar to mowing the lawn but is easier for younger kids to do.
Weeding is really hard work for some people with bad backs or knees and they will be more than happy to pay kids to take the work off their hands.
Advertise on local groups and even flyers that you provide gardening services over the summer vacation.
How To Make Money In The Summer As A Kid – Final Thoughts
It’s easy to make money in the summer if you are prepared to put the legwork in. Start small and build your business locally before moving online.
You never know, you might launch your first career over the summer break!
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