At 13, you’re at an age where gaining some financial independence can be both exciting and empowering. Whether you want to save up for something special, contribute to your hobbies, or just have some extra spending money, there are plenty of ways to earn money while still managing school and other activities.
Earning your own money teaches you valuable life skills. Moreover, working at this age gives you a head start on developing a strong work ethic, which will help you in the future.
In this guide, we will discuss more than a few age-appropriate ways to make money at 13. Keep on reading below to learn the opportunities to earn money at a young age.
9 Fun Yet Effective Ways To Make Money at 13 Online And Offline
Here are some of the most practical ways to make money at 13.
1. Chores and Family Help
A simple yet effective way for a 13-year-old to start making money is by helping out with extra chores around the house or assisting family members with various tasks. While many teens are already expected to contribute to household chores as part of their responsibilities, they can take on additional duties for an agreed-upon allowance.
Some of the daily chores that you can try to earn some extra cash are:
Cleaning: You can do regular house cleaning tasks like vacuuming, dusting, or organizing on a more frequent basis to make some extra cash.
Yard Work: Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and maintaining the garden are valuable services, especially for parents or extended family members who are busy or elderly. Take upon this work to earn your cash.
Washing Cars: Washing and detailing family vehicles is another chore that you can do for some extra money.
Cooking: If you’re able to prepare meals, offering to cook dinner a few nights a week can relieve your family from daily meal prep.
Pro Tip: Have an open conversation with your parents or family members about tasks you can do beyond your regular chores, and agree on fair compensation.
2. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
If you’re an animal lover, pet sitting and dog walking can be a fun and rewarding way to earn money. Many pet owners need help taking care of their animals, especially during the day or while they’re away on vacation. Offering services like dog walking, feeding, or spending time with pets can be a great way to start earning.
Moreover, dog walking and pet sitting can usually fit around your school schedule and therefore, you don’t have to let go one for the other.
Here’s how you can get started with your pet-sitting and walking services:
Advertise in Your Neighborhood: Let your neighbours know that you’re available to walk their dogs or take care of their pets when they’re away. You can spread the word by handing out flyers or posting on community bulletin boards.
Start Small: Begin by offering to walk dogs or watch pets for neighbors or friends you know personally. This builds trust, and as you gain experience, you can expand to other clients.
Understand Pet Care: Having knowledge about pet care is important. Make sure to ask about feeding schedules, exercise needs, and any special instructions like medication or safety precautions.
3. Babysitting
Babysitting is one of the most popular first jobs for teens, and it’s a great way to earn money while developing important skills like responsibility, patience, and communication. As a babysitter, you’ll be responsible for taking care of children, which may include supervising playtime, preparing simple meals, helping with homework, or putting the kids to bed.
Here’s how to get started with babysitting:
Babysitting Course:Taking a babysitting course through an organization like the Red Cross can help you gain important skills like CPR, first aid, and basic childcare techniques. This can also make parents feel more confident about hiring you.
Start with Friends and Family: Like with any job, it’s best to start with people you know. Offer to babysit for relatives, neighbors, or family friends who trust you and can provide a reference to other parents.
Create a Babysitting Kit: Bring a bag of games, books, or crafts to keep the children entertained. This shows initiative and makes your job easier by keeping the kids engaged.
Pro Tip: Always prioritize the safety of the children. Make sure you know how to contact the parents and emergency services if necessary.
4. Yard Work and Gardening
Yard work is an excellent option for 13-year-olds who don’t mind being outdoors and doing some physical labor. Many people, especially busy families, elderly neighbors, or those who don’t have the time or ability, often need help maintaining their yards. Depending on the season and region, you can offer a variety of services, from mowing lawns to raking leaves or shoveling snow.
Different types of yard work services that you can try are:
Lawn Mowing: During the warmer months, offering to mow lawns can be a reliable source of income. A lot of people find it difficult to keep up with mowing regularly, so this can become a consistent job for you.
Weeding and Planting: Garden maintenance is another valuable service. You can pull weeds, plant flowers, or water gardens to help keep landscapes neat and beautiful. As weeds grow regularly, you can charge monthly basis or can contact for one time .
Raking Leaves: In the fall, you can offer to rake leaves and bag them for disposal. Many people don’t enjoy this chore, and it’s something relatively easy to do.
Shoveling Snow: In the winter, shoveling driveways and sidewalks can be a very useful service, especially for older neighbors or those who can’t do it themselves.
If you are wondering how to get started on your yard work, here are a few tips for you:
Offer Services to Neighbors: Start by asking neighbors or family friends if they need any help with their yards. You can distribute flyers or put up signs around your neighborhood to advertise your services.
Determine a Fair Price: Prices will depend on the size of the yard and the type of work. It’s a good idea to charge a rate based on the time it will take to complete the job. As you gain experience, you can increase your rates.
Be Consistent: Yard work can become a regular income if you keep up with your clients. For example, mowing lawns or shoveling snow can be done weekly or bi-weekly, and maintaining a routine is key to success.
5. Online Opportunities
With the rise of the internet, there are plenty of ways for 13-year-olds to make money online. Whether through small online gigs or using your creativity to start something digital, the internet offers flexibility and the potential to reach a wider audience. However, it’s important to have parental supervision for certain activities and to ensure you’re using legitimate platforms.
Online opportunities also ensure flexibility. You can do it from home and work on at your own pace, making it easy to balance with school and other activities.
Here are a few popular online money-making opportunities for you:
Survey-Taking Platforms: There are websites that offer rewards or small payments in exchange for answering surveys. Although the pay is usually minimal, it can add up over time. Always check if the platform allows teens and be cautious of scams.
YouTube Channel or Social Media Content: If you enjoy creating videos or have a passion for a specific topic (such as gaming, crafts, or tutorials), you could start a YouTube channel or become a content creator on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Once you gain enough followers, you can potentially monetize your content through ads, sponsorships, or donations.
Find a suitable and profitable niche and work consistently to get loyal followers. If you are worried about video editing, you can outsource from freelancing platform like Upwork or Fiverr.
Blogging: Blogging is another great way to earn money online. If you are expert in any topic or you can research well, they you can find a niche for blogging. Start blogging online. You can read my guide about how to earn my by blogging.
I know some bloggers who is earning more than $2000 per month from blogging. The most attractive thing of blogging is that you can gain a huge amount of money if you sell your blog.
Selling Handmade Crafts or Digital Products: If you’re creative, you can sell handmade crafts like jewelry or digital art online. Websites like Etsy, Redbubble, or similar platforms allow teens (with parental help) to create a shop and sell products. You can make designs, art, or crafts that appeal to a niche audience.
If you have lack of knowledge about how to start earning money online, keep on reading below to find out:
Research the Right Platform: Look for legitimate websites or platforms that are safe for teens to use. Survey sites like Swagbucks, or selling platforms like Etsy, can be a good place to start. Ensure that you’re following their guidelines and age restrictions.
Create Content Around Your Passion: If you’re going into content creation, focus on something you’re passionate about, like gaming, DIY crafts, or hobbies. Consistency is key to growing an audience.
Engage with Your Audience: If you’re creating content online, actively engage with your viewers or followers by responding to comments and posting regularly. This helps build a loyal following that can lead to monetization opportunities.
6. Sell Unwanted Items
Decluttering your room and selling items you no longer need is one of the easiest ways to make some quick cash. Many teens accumulate things over the years that they no longer use, like old toys, clothes, electronics, or even books. By selling these items, not only do you make immediate money, but you also help someone else who might find value in them.
Here is a list of the things that you can sell to earn some extra cash:
Clothes and Accessories: If you’ve outgrown certain clothes or no longer wear them, gently used clothing can be sold online or at local second-hand stores.
Toys and Games: Old video games, board games, or toys you don’t play with anymore are often in demand, especially for younger kids.
Books: If you have books you no longer read, you can sell them to people looking for affordable second-hand books.
Electronics and Gadgets: Old phones, tablets, or gaming consoles can be sold online for a good price, especially if they’re still in working condition.
But then again, it might be a tough decision to decide which items to sell and where to sell them. Here’s how you can get started:
Declutter Your Space: Go through your room and identify items you no longer use but are in good enough condition to sell.
Choose a Platform: There are several options for selling your items:
Online Marketplaces: Websites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Depop are good for selling items to a larger audience. Make sure to ask for parental supervision when using these platforms.
Garage Sales: If you prefer a local option, organizing a garage sale is a great way to sell multiple items in one go. This can be done with the help of family or neighbors to attract more buyers.
Local Selling Apps: Apps like Letgo or OfferUp allow you to post listings for local buyers, which can be safer since you meet people in person for sale.
7. Tutoring
If you’re academically strong in certain subjects, tutoring can be a great way to make money while helping other students succeed. Tutoring allows you to share your knowledge in areas like math, science, or reading with younger students or peers who may need extra assistance. This option is perfect for 13-year-olds who enjoy teaching and have a passion for certain subjects.
Different types of tutoring services that you can provide are:
Subject-Specific Tutoring: You can offer help in areas like math, science, English, or history, depending on your strengths. For example, if you’re particularly good at math, you can help younger students with homework or study for tests.
Homework Help: Some students may not need specific tutoring but could use assistance completing their homework or assignments.
Test Preparation: If you’re familiar with standardized tests or school exams, you can help other students prepare by teaching them study techniques or reviewing material with them.
How to get started:
Identify Your Strengths: First, identify the subjects where you excel and feel confident enough to teach others. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should have a good grasp of the subject material.
Find Clients: Start by offering your services to friends, classmates, or neighbors who might need help. You can also talk to teachers or guidance counselors at school who may know students in need of tutoring.
Set a Schedule and Rate: Determine how much time you can dedicate to tutoring each week. Set an hourly rate that reflects your experience and the type of help you’re offering. Rates can vary depending on the subject and the grade level of the student.
Pro Tip: Tutoring requires patience, especially when working with students who may struggle to understand certain concepts. Encouraging words and a positive attitude can go a long way in helping them build confidence.
8. Creative Services
If you’re artistically inclined or have creative talents, offering creative services is an excellent way to turn your skills into income. Whether you’re into drawing, designing, photography, or crafting, many people are willing to pay for personalized, creative work. This option is perfect for 13-year-olds with a passion for art, design, or photography, allowing you to work on projects that inspire you while earning money.
Here are the types of services that you can offer to others:
Graphic Design: If you have a knack for digital art, you can create posters, invitations, logos, or digital art commissions for local businesses, friends, or family. There are free tools like Canva or beginner software like GIMP that you can use to create designs.
Art Commissions: If you love to draw or paint, you can take custom commissions from people who want personalized art. For example, people might ask you to create custom portraits, character drawings, or themed artwork.
Handmade Crafts: If you’re skilled at making crafts such as jewelry, knitted items, or decorations, you can sell them to friends and family or online through platforms like Etsy (with parental supervision).
If you are wondering how to get started with your creative services, here are a few tips for you:
Build a Portfolio: Start by creating examples of your work to show potential clients. This can be a collection of digital designs, sketches, paintings, or photos that highlight your creative skills.
Promote Your Services: Spread the word about your creative services to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also create social media profiles to showcase your work and attract more clients.
Set Pricing: Pricing can depend on the complexity and time required for each project. Start with lower rates as you gain experience, then gradually increase your fees as your skill level and reputation grow.
9. Starting a Small Business
At 13, you may not think of yourself as an entrepreneur, but starting a small business can be a great way to earn money while learning valuable business skills. Whether it’s running a lemonade stand, a bake sale, or a small crafting business, starting a small business teaches you how to manage money, attract customers, and provide a service or product that people want.
Here are the various types of small businesses that you can try to make money at 13:
Lemonade Stand: A classic way for kids and teens to make money, especially during the summer. You can set up a lemonade stand in your neighborhood or at local community events.
Bake Sales: If you love to bake, you can hold bake sales where you sell cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or other treats. These can be sold at local events, school functions, or even in your neighborhood.
Craft Business: If you enjoy making crafts, you can start a small business selling items like handmade jewelry, homemade candles, or knitted products. These can be sold at craft fairs, online, or locally.
Reselling: You can also start a small business by buying items in bulk (like candy, snacks, or accessories) and reselling them at a higher price to classmates, neighbors, or at school events (with permission).
Starting a business at 13 can be a risky move. However, if you start right, it can an excellent way to make money.
Choose a Business Idea: Decide on a product or service that you’re passionate about and that people in your community will want to buy.
Create a Business Plan: Outline how you’ll run your business, including how much money you’ll need for supplies, how you’ll price your products, and how you’ll market your business.
Sell to Your Community: Promote your small business to friends, family, neighbors, and at local events. You can also use social media to advertise what you’re selling.
Wrapping Up
There are countless ways to earn money at 13, each offering its own unique set of benefits, challenges, and learning opportunities. Whether you’re mowing lawns, babysitting, tutoring, or starting your own small business, the key to success is finding something you’re passionate about and turning that into a valuable service or product for others. From creative endeavors like offering art commissions or photography services to practical jobs such as dog walking, pet sitting, or tutoring, there are plenty of options to explore.
Earning money at a young age not only gives you financial independence but also teaches you important life skills like responsibility, time management, communication, and entrepreneurship. These experiences can set a strong foundation for future career opportunities and help you build a work ethic that will benefit you throughout life. So, whether you’re taking care of pets, helping others with schoolwork, or getting creative with your talents, remember that each of these opportunities helps you grow both personally and professionally while earning money along the way.
