Teenagers are often faced with the challenge of making ends meet with their limited resources. The allowances are almost never enough to meet their needs and aspirations. Students too are on a tight ropewalk, balancing tuition and college fees, loans and personal expenses. In any case, having a little extra income on the side, to tide over a cloudy day, is always a welcome proposition. Youngsters often have more constraints than adults in seeking employment. Educational qualification, experience, limited available time (after college-hours) and skills often constrict the inflow of opportunities. Hence, it is a challenge to search for simple ways for making quick money. This article provides some easy ways for teenagers to make money.
1. Freelance writing
The internet has led to an explosion in the knowledge available online for free. In this competition to grab eye-balls online, several employers are looking for freelance writers, who can produce useful content for their websites. There are several online forums and platforms where you can register yourself as a freelance writer. As you get your assignments, it is critical to study, research and write original articles on the topics provided. Plagiarism is a strict taboo. Hence, you have to be diligent and original in your approach. If reading and writing are you cup of tea, then this is a great opportunity for youngsters to use this easy way to make money.
Skills required: Excellent written communication, command over language, and love for reading.
2. Sharing your knowledge or skills
You may still be a student in the process of gaining knowledge. But there may be skills or knowledge that you can share with junior students. Check the repertoire of subjects you are passionate about. It could be basic mathematics or a language that you love. It can also be a skill such as dancing, singing or origami. If you have a penchant for sharing this knowledge, you have hit upon an easy way to make money. You can offer coaching and become a teacher in your spare time. In this connected world, you can also offer courses online. This can save you the trouble of travel. As you gain experience and referrals, your teaching income can increase exponentially. This can also be a career option for the future.
Skills required: Specific skill or subject matter expertise, patience, creativity, communication, love for teaching.
3. Creating valuable content online
Here is another quick way for teenagers to make money. If you can create an online blog or a video on a specific topic of importance, you can be on the path to becoming a popular blogger.If your website can attract visitors, you can make easy money through advertisements that appear on your page. Google adsense etc. are convenient tools that reward valuable content with ad revenue. This job requires originality in content, persistence and consistent update of information on the website. You have to attract the viewers to re-visit your page for fresh content. Online videos are also popular way to make money.
Skills required: Subject matter expertise, communication skills, creativity, knowledge of tools and techniques to generate ad revenue.
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4. Working at a call center
If you have a clear voice and speaking skills, you can land up a part-time job as a call center executive. The recent trend is that these jobs can be delivered from home. You may have to invest in the equipment as specified by the employer. But once you are on, you have to deal with incoming calls and direct them to the right solution. Many call centers work round-the-clock. Hence, this can provide an easy way for youngsters to make money in their spare time and on weekends.
Skills required: Verbal communication skills, clarity of voice, patience. You will also need some investment in infrastructure if you are working from home.
5. Hosting garage sales
This is a good old method to make quick money! As you progress over the years, you may have collected a pile of books as well as personal content that is no longer of use to you. If you can take the trouble of cleaning up the closets, you may be surprised at the range of goods you may have, which can be of value to others. If you are living in a student community or a university town, there is always a flux of students who are in search of used products at cheaper prices. Thus, you should consider garage sales as an option for generating some cash.
Skills required: None.
Thus, there are creative ways for youngsters to make easy money in their spare time. Often, there are talents or skills that may be hidden from your view. But you can always explore if there is a market out there for you. There are several other options like pet or babysitting, dog-walking, running errands for neighbors etc. The opportunities have increased manifold, due to the advent of the internet. Keep exploring – you will find that there are several ways for teenagers to make good money.
