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Making Money for Kids

So…you want to learn how to make some money. Here’s how to do it and build smart money habits.

boy-and-girl-behind-lemonade-stand

Do you like to make money? Of course, you do! It feels great to create value from your own time and energy. Plus, it’s good to have cash in your pocket. Whether you wanna buy a Hot Wheels today or a Lamborghini tomorrow, you need to learn how to make money you’ll use to buy this sweet ride.

Of course, money’s good for a lot more than toys and cars. You’ll need it to pay rent, get yourself clothes, and buy food. That’s why it’s such a great idea for kids like you to learn how to make money from an early age. It’s an important skill that you’ll need all your life so you can cover your needs, save for the future, and help the less fortunate.

Ready to learn the secrets of making money? Let’s do this! And when you’re done learning them, share these tips with your friends. They’re the kind of secrets that are OK to tell.

Why Earning Your Own Money Is Important 

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Money-making is an important life skill. Period. 

Not convinced yet? OK, we’ve got a couple more reasons why earning your own money is important, even if you’re a kid.

Money for Needs and Wants

Yes, it’s true that money can’t buy happiness. But a full belly makes you feel satisfied. Wearing a coat on a cold day brings you a sense of warmth. And having a home where you feel safe is the best feeling in the world. All these things together make life a happier experience.

But in today’s society, we need money to pay for all those things – and more. They don’t just come for free! Even if they’re essentials. Electricity, healthcare, education, and transportation are just a few examples. All of them cost money.

Then, there are also those things we can live without but want to have. These include streaming services, pizza Fridays, or drama classes. There’s nothing wrong with wanting all these fun things, but you can’t get them without money.

The Real Value of Money

You already know that money has a definite value. $10 is less than $20, but twice as much as $5. It’s simple math. But what about the other value of money? 

Scratching your head yet? Wait ‘til you think about this. It could blow your mind.

Money is more than something you exchange for other things. It’s a powerful tool that can offer freedom.

You see, when you have money you can make choices about many things in life. You get to pick the kind of work that inspires you instead of doing a job that doesn’t make you happy. You can decide where you want to live, how you spend your time, and what you want your future to look like. Now that’s real freedom.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. We’ve all heard that phrase, and it’s absolutely true. But when we say that earning money is important, it’s because it allows you to do a lot of good. It gives you the ability to earn a good living doing what you enjoy. This lets you take care of yourself and the people you love. Plus, it empowers you to share with those who need it most. 

What Your Money is Really Worth

Having your own earnings also helps you understand how much money is actually worth. If you’ve ever heard your parents say that “money doesn’t grow on trees,” you might have an idea of what we’re talking about. It’s easier to splurge money when it is given to you. But if you have to work for it, you learn to appreciate money because you know it takes hard work to earn it.

These are only some of the reasons why it’s important to master the art of making money. As you get older, you’ll find your own reasons. And as a kid who’s just getting started on your financial journey, you need to understand the importance of making money and develop this skill.

Ideas to Earn Money as a Kid

As a kid, you don’t need to make a fortune. So don’t feel stressed out about becoming the next famous entrepreneur. The idea behind earning your own cash as a kid is to practice making money and become comfortable with managing your finances. 

Need some inspiration to get started? Here are some of our favorite ways for kids like you to earn money and have fun in the process!

For Kids 5-8

  • Organize a yard sale
  • Run a lemonade stand in the summer and a hot chocolate bar in the winter
  • Set up a neighborhood dog bathing business
  • Water your neighbor’s plants
  • Recycle cans or bottles for cash
  • Sell flowers
  • Have a bake sale
  • Grow your own veggies and sell them
  • Make organic dog treats
  • Put together gift baskets

For Kids 9-12

  • Sell your used clothes online
  • Create an online store to sell your crafts
  • Start a pet sitting business
  • Design and sell t-shirts
  • Start an online blog
  • Do yard work
  • Rake leaves in the fall
  • Shovel snow in the winter
  • Take online surveys
  • Wash cars
  • Babysit

Feel free to give these business ideas your own spin! The key to being successful is to think of the things you already enjoy doing and figure out a way to make money off them. For example, if you love animals, pet-related jobs could be good for you. If you like spending time online, try surveys. And if you love shopping, head over to your nearest thrift store and pick out some treasures to resell online or to your friends.

Marketing Tips

When trying to develop ways to make money or grow your business, you should keep an eye out for trends. What are other kids into these days? Think about the types of toys that your friends like to play with, the clothes they like to wear, or the music they listen to. 

If you’re selling to adults, take a look around and try to identify the things that could make their lives easier. Are there any products that could save them time? Or services that could help them out?

Once you’ve figured out what problem your service will solve or how your product will make a difference, it’s time to get the word out there! A few ways to let your customers know about you are:

  • Through word of mouth
  • By posting flyers around your neighborhood
  • Creating online ads
  • Offer coupons or other special discounts

How to Ask Your Parents to Help You Earn Money

When you’re a kid, the idea of kickstarting a business and earning money can feel overwhelming. But you’re not alone! Remember, you’ve got your parents to guide you through and help out. 

There are many ways to get your parents involved in your money-making strategies. Many kids ask parents for advice or borrow money to buy the materials they need. If you want to start a lemonade stand, for example, you can ask your parents to cover the cost of lemons, sugar, and cups. 

Once you’ve sold the last drop of lemonade, remember to pay your parents back. This is a great way to learn about how much it costs to run a business and what your real profits are. If you sell $50 worth of lemonade, but your parents gave you $10 to buy supplies, your earnings were $40. Not too shabby!

Feeling shy about selling lemonade to strangers? Maybe your parents can introduce you to friends who could use your help. And if it helps you feel more confident, ask your parents to go with you next time you head across the street to feed the neighbor’s fish while they’re out of town.

If you’d rather keep it in the family, why not start with picking up some extra chores around the house? Many parents are busy and don’t have time to get everything done at home. If you lend an extra hand, your parents may be willing to pay you every week.

But if you want your parents to be open to this idea, you have to clarify that these are extra chores on top of your family responsibilities. Remember that every member of your family has a duty to help out, and your parents don’t need to pay you for that. But anything above and beyond is fair game!

Wondering what kind of chores you could do? The options are endless, but here are a handful of ideas for kids of all ages:

  • Take out the trash
  • Set the table
  • Do the dishes
  • Help your younger siblings with homework
  • Dust the furniture

Earning Definitions for Kids

If you’re gonna start earning your own cash, you have to speak the language of money. Knowing certain words will help you have conversations about making money, ask questions, and continue your learning.

The following terms are a great place to start growing your financial vocabulary:

  • Cash: Money in the form of bills or coins. 
  • Income: The money that you earn and that comes into your account. In-come. You can earn income by doing work, renting your property to others, or investing money in stocks.
  • Profit: When you earn more money by selling something than the cost of producing what you sold. Remember our lemonade stand example? In that case, your profit was $40. We calculated the profit by subtracting the income ($50) from the cost of your lemonade supplies ($10).
  • Loss: When your cost of production is greater than the income received from sales. If you had spent $60 on lemonade supplies but only sold $50 worth of lemonade, you would’ve had a loss of -$10.
  • Market: A place where you buy and/or sell things. This could be a store, like the supermarket. It could also refer to the gathering of buyers and sellers to trade, like the stock market.

Books and Games for Kids to Learn About Making Money

If you’re serious about making the big bucks, you need to keep learning. And if you’re looking for some books to help you along the way, we’ve got you covered. Check out this selection, and make sure to hop over to our page on the best books for kids about making money for more recommendations!

Best Books for Kids 4-8

Ever wondered how you’d spend your money if you won the lottery or earned a million dollars? Then it’s time to read If You Made a Million. In this book, Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician walks you through the ins and outs of earning money and what to do with it once you have it.

Best Books for Kids 9-12

For readers who are ready for more advanced concepts, we recommend Heads Up Money. It’ll get your wheels spinning with real-life situations and colorful graphics that make concepts easier to understand. Best of all, this is the kind of book that grows along with you. You’ll probably find yourself using it even when you’re a teenager or a college student!

Best Story About Earning Money

Looking for an entertaining story to learn about earning money? Check out The Ant and the Grasshopper. It’s a classic fable for all ages – even the older kiddos. We love this book because it reminds us of the value of hard work and consistency.

Funniest Books About Earning Money

Looking for a LOL book about money? Check out this hilarious title: How the Second Grade Got $8,205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty. But the thing about this adventure is that it inspires you to reach your goals.

Best Board Games

If you like playing better than reading, we’ve got tons of options for you to have fun while you learn. These are the classic board games for kids who are into making money and who want to spend it wisely:

Ready to earn some money? Go for it! There are a lot of jobs that you can start now and even continue doing as a teenager or an adult. All you need is to let your imagination run free and get started!

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About the Author

Lucia Caldera

Lucia Caldera is a writer who specializes in personal finance. Her goal is to create approachable content that sparks financial wellness and unlocks personal growth. Lucia's work reflects her passion for financial education as the key to reducing the wealth gap for future generations.

Last updated on: August 31, 2022