How to Make Money - Odd Jobs for Kids

Looking for something to keep your kids busy and to keep them from draining your wallet? Here are some ideas to help your kids become more independent and help them earn money and responsibility at the same time!

Who couldn't use some help around the house? Enlist your child to help out with age-appropriate chores around the house, and encourage them to keep up this helpful behavior with allowance. Is it bribery? No, it is not. Just like in the working world, the harder you work, the more you earn. Use this life lesson with your child when determining how much they can make with their allowance. If they just do the basics and don't do anything fancy, keep their allowance on the lower end of the spectrum. If they go above and beyond with their chores, acknowledge it with a higher rate that week.

Younger kids love to feel like they are in charge and running their own business. Let your kids team up with some other neighborhood kids and start their own lemonade stand. These work very well in neighborhoods that are right off of main streets. The kids can make attractive signs to put on the main road to direct neighbors and passerbys to quick refreshment!

Yardwork is always last on our list. Why not have your kids help out? This job can also be incorporated into their chores as well.

Older kids and preteens can work with a nearby local business to use their parking lot to bring in car wash traffic. Together, numerous kids can wash a car clean quickly and can earn some decent money doing it. Be sure to encourage them to give a percentage to charity--this will not only teach them the lesson of giving but will also make some people feel as though they are doing a good deed themselves by helping out your child.

Many cities have local craft shows. If you have a crafty child on your hands, pay to get them a booth to showcase their work. Not only will it give them a sense of pride in what they have accomplished, but then they can make some money selling their work. Make sure they pay you back for the booth out of their profits--they need to learn that there is always a cost of doing business!

For younger kids who have too many toys, have them pick through their old toys and select the ones they want to get rid of. Help them price their toys and put them out at your next garage sale. Keep track of what they make, and give them their earnings at the end of the day. They can use this money to purchase new toys at the store, and they won't feel so bad about leaving their old, uninteresting toys to other children.

Tips and Tricks

* Encourage your child to use their money wisely. Teach them the importance of saving and giving, as well as how to spend their money smart.
* Encourage your child to think about any long-term spending goal before purchasing. This will eliminate the possibility of impulse buying.