Ways for Teens to Make Money

As a teen, my favorite job was working at the local swimming pool. It was fun, relaxing and paid pretty well. I was lucky that my parents had forced years of swimming lessons on me, I was ready for the opportunity when it came my way. You can be ready for new opportunities, too. Focus on your interests and research the types of jobs you might want in the future. What skills do you need to work on to be ready when the time comes? Consider the following job ideas as you plan your job hunt:

• Traditional Teen Jobs. This can include all the traditional entry-level positions from working at the mall to delivering newspapers. You should also consider the amount of money you can make helping your neighbors with jobs like babysitting and lawn care. It is very hard to find people who are reliable and consistently perform high quality work. If you can prove yourself to your neighbors they will quickly spread the word to their friends and you'll find yourself with all the jobs you want and more.
• Online Teen Jobs. Online jobs are constantly growing and changing. You are living in an exciting time full of opportunities. Teens can get jobs answering surveys, writing articles, submitting videos and blogging and so much more. As a teen, you need to keep your safety in mind as you apply for job positions. Always have a parent or other trusted adult check out websites or job postings in the online classifieds. You should be cautious in handing out your address and other personal information.
• Additional Ideas. Business cards. I would never have considered getting business cards when I was a teen, but what a great idea. They're inexpensive and you can target your customers very quickly. Are you planning on babysitting this summer? Pass out your business cards at the local elementary school when the parents are arriving to pick up their children.
• Entrepreneurship. Now is the best time for you to try out new business ideas. Many successful businesses were started by young people, Facebook anyone?

After putting away a chunk of savings, look for ways to make your money grow. If you need the money for college in a few years, consider a high-yield savings account. If college is still four or five years away, you might consider saving some of the money in stocks or mutual funds.