Great Ways for Kids to Make Extra Money

For kids, the thing in highest demand and shortest supply is usually money. They all want tit, but how do they get it? An adult can get a job, but kids are usually forced to beg money from their parents or wait for a small weekly allowance. How can they work hard enough to earn enough money for the nicer things that they want? Try some of these great ideas for kids to make some extra money.

Recycling

When I was young, my mother took my brother and me up and down roadsides, through parks, and across empty fields to collect cans and bottles. Whatever we found (usually quite a lot) we took to the recycling center and exchanged for cash. I lived in an area that did not offer a deposit program for cans and bottles, so we were rarely able to make more than five dollars per day. In states with a cash-for-cans program, however, kids can collect $20 or more worth of cans per day. It is also a wonderful way to teach kids about keeping their community clean and the value of caring for the environment.

Worm and Bait Business

Most children love digging in the dirt. If you live near an area where people do a lot of fishing, kids can earn money by collecting and selling bait. Worms are probably the easiest type of bait to catch, but many insects also make good fishing bait. If kids are quick, they may also be able to catch minnows in traps or nets to sell by the bag.

Mow Lawns

When I was a kid, mowing lawns was big business. Twenty years ago, you could get $15-$20 per lawn and that was quite a bit of money for a child to make in one day. Plenty of people hate mowing their lawns and would be glad to part with their money just so that they can stay indoors and spend their Saturday watching the ball game on TV instead.

If your neighborhood does not allow you to post signs on telephone poles, it might be better to go door-to-door and ask each family if they need mowing services. The houses with very long grass probably house the most likely customers. If kids do a good job, they will be able to get regular repeat customers. You can also make your own business cards for free at Vistaprint.com and place them on all of the doors in your neighborhood.

Rake Leaves and Shovel Snow