25 Easiest Ways to Make Money as a 13-Year-Old
So, you’ve just begun your teenage life and would like to know how to make money as a 13-year-old. This is the age where you become more independent. Starting to take care of some expenses yourself goes a long way.
But you may be wondering if there really are jobs that hire people at 13. The good news is that numerous earning opportunities are available both online and in real life for people of such an age.
Still, you need to inform your parents or guardians about what you’re doing. This way, they can even support you in making your financial goals come true.
Now, you’re about to discover the easiest ideas on how a 13-year-old can make money. It’s possible to implement them without affecting your studies.
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How to Make Money as a 13-Year-Old Online
If you’re looking for online jobs for 13-year-olds to make money, this list will help you out. Most of these opportunities pay via PayPal and direct deposit. It would be great to ask your parents to set up a PayPal or bank account on your behalf to ensure you get payments.
1. Play games
If you’re a 13-year-old who likes playing games, you should start earning money from it. It doesn’t matter whether you like arcade games, puzzle games, strategy games, or any other kind. There are plenty of game apps that pay you for downloading and playing your favorite games.
Swagbucks is among the best choices for you because 13 years is the minimum required age. You get a chance to earn SB points for your participation in such offers. There are many more quick tasks you can do to boost your points and redeem them for PayPal money or gift cards.
2. Search online and get paid
Did you know that it’s possible to make money by browsing? Surfing the Web is an activity a lot of 13-year-olds do on a daily basis. You could be keeping in touch with friends, finding interesting information, or doing schoolwork.
Online platforms like Swagbucks pay you for browsing. All you need to do is add Swagbucks as your default search engine.
You get a chance to earn effortlessly anytime you go online. And all your browsing data remains private.
3. Take surveys for money
This is the most popular way to make money as a 13-year-old on Swagbucks. You get paid for sharing your opinion on various matters. Companies use your perspective to offer greater products and services.
What you need to do is create a Swagbucks account using your information to access survey tasks. Keep details like your age as accurate as possible to ensure you get appropriate survey jobs. This also means more opportunities and rewards for you.
The amount you earn per survey is variable. You can earn a couple of dollars up to amounts like $50 depending on the nature of the survey. Longer surveys and those focusing on a specific group of people usually pay well.
Sign up on Swagbucks today and enjoy a welcome bonus for new members. Just remember to verify your email address!
4. Watch videos online
Watching videos is among the fun activities to do online as a 13-year-old. You can actually make money from it if you use a site like Swagbucks.
Most videos are about particular products and services. The advertisers are willing to pay because more people can discover their new stuff.
These videos only take a few minutes. You can even play them while doing something else.
5. Create a blog
It’s not every day that you come across a blog by a 13-year-old. But you can start one and make passive income in your teenage years.
Blogging works well if you know the topics you’re going to focus on. Some things to write about are pop culture, technology, or social issues of teenage life.
You’ll need a domain name and hosting to get started with blogging. You can acquire them affordably on Bluehost (you may have to borrow a credit card to make the payment from someone older).
You can then build your blog on WordPress by setting up some pages and adding posts. Enough traffic is a requirement before you can monetize your blog through affiliate marketing, ad revenue, or other methods.
Read this guide on how to start a blog that makes money if you need all the details.
6. Become a teen YouTuber
You may have met several teen YouTubers online if you’re a YouTube fan. It’s possible to make money passively at 13 if you start your own YouTube channel.
All you need is a video category and the necessary equipment. Being in your early teenage years, you can make videos about topics other teens can relate to. But you’re free to venture into more “serious” topics and even attract older age groups if you have the knowledge.
In some cases, you don’t even have to show your face in videos. But if that’s a requirement in your desired video category, you need decent video-making equipment. These include cameras, microphones, and editing software.
The common way to monetize your videos is ads through the YouTube Partner Program. Other ideas include promoting products and channel memberships.
7. Make money by streaming video games
You already know that you can play games and earn money at 13. How about streaming them and generating even more income?
Becoming a video game streamer isn’t difficult. You don’t even need to be a professional player. You just need enthusiasm for playing video games.
Also, you need the right gaming equipment and streaming software. You’re free to stream either mobile or computer games.
Many people like to watch others play. You can build your own audience of viewers on streaming platforms like Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch.
Some ways to earn as a streamer include promoting products and fan contributions. But you need a good number of fans, like thousands, to get a decent income.
8. Manage social media accounts
Managing social media accounts is among the best ideas to make money as a 13-year-old if you spend significant time online. Your work will be to do things like posting, replying to comments, and answering messages. If you can create beautiful images, you could make money on Pinterest from tasks like designing pins.
You don’t need to be a full-time social media manager. There are plenty of newer brands that can hire you on a part-time basis. This way, you can only manage their accounts when free, on weekends, or during holidays.
One way to find these brands is to advertise your services offline around your location. Businesses may give you the job if they think you have a good social media strategy. You can also promote your services online on social media and forums.
9. Work as a social media influencer
If you like spending time on social networks like Instagram, chances are that you have a good number of followers. Don’t worry if you don’t. You can still grow your social media presence or start working as an influencer on a smaller scale.
A great way to begin is by contacting smaller brands for collaborations. Some of them will listen to what you have to say if they think your audience fits their marketing needs. Also, influencer marketing platforms like indaHash are available online and allow you to participate in brand campaigns.
If you boost your social media following and engagement, companies might reach out to you for influencer marketing. You can then consider their payment terms or propose a reasonable amount for the promotions. A larger audience plus a good engagement rate means higher earnings.
10. Offer freelance writing services
Maybe you’re a 13-year-old with some writing skills. A perfect online job for you would be freelance writing. It simply means writing articles and other web content.
Many businesses and blogs online need new content to keep their brand active. You can apply for freelance writing jobs based on topics of your knowledge and interests.
Most freelance jobs pay per hour. So, you just need a few free hours to write content and get paid right away. If a job pays per project, you just need to meet the deadlines.
An easy way to offer freelance writing services is by using social media. You can also join freelance marketplaces that allow people of your age to join. A great idea is to own a website with your work and post about your services.
11. Design websites for individuals and brands
This is another good online job if you’re 13 and have web design skills. Because of the Internet, lots of tutorials are readily available. It’s possible to teach yourself how to create sites and start earning from the skill.
You can design websites for people after school and on weekends and earn for every hour of work. You’re free to also get paid per web design project.
You can also create website templates and earn passive income by selling them to aspiring site owners like businesses and new bloggers. The buyer will only need to insert content like text, images, and logos onto the predesigned webpage.
One great place to sell website templates is Etsy. You can price them depending on the effort it took to create them. Also, check out Etsy itself for pricing ideas.
12. Sell your handmade items online
Skilled in creating things with your hands right from home? If so, you’re sleeping on a great moneymaking opportunity.
There’s demand for various types of handmade items online. In fact, you can sell almost anything that’s homemade and creative. Some homemade crafts to sell online include printable things, personalized gift items, and crocheted stuff.
Handmade goods get significant sales on sites like Etsy. You can list your items there or post them online on social media.
Another idea with low competition is to set up a site for selling your items. One great online tool to use for this is Shopify. You get a chance to quickly set up an attractive and high-quality online store and add any items for sale.
Part-time Jobs for 13-Year-Olds to Make Money at Home
Let’s now explore some ways to make money at 13 working at home part-time. Remember, some of them involve going to other people’s homes. Be sure to talk to your parents or guardians about it.
13. Pet sit
Pet sitting is a great way to make money at home for 13-year-olds who love pets. Most homes have cats and dogs as pets.
You can look around your area to find pet owners who may need pet-sitting services. Advertise your services locally and online on social media to gain more attention.
Pet sitting can involve dropping by the owner’s home, house sitting, or staying with the pet at your place. While pet sitting isn’t as stressful as other jobs, pets can misbehave sometimes. So, be sure that you can handle pets before signing up to care for them.
As a pet sitter, you can choose the best time to offer your services. You can charge your clients per visit, day, night, or week.
14. Walk dogs
Dogs are creatures that can get bored easily when they stay in one place for a long time. Dog owners need to walk their dogs to ensure the animals stay happy and healthy. But they aren’t always available for it.
That’s why they can hire someone else to walk their dogs while they’re busy. If you like dogs, this can be a great way to enjoy their company while putting extra bucks into your pocket.
Just like pet sitting, you can pick when to work. Depending on your weekly schedule, it could be a couple of afternoons a week when you’re free.
15. Babysit
If you’re confident that you have the maturity for it, you can start babysitting as a way to make money while 13. You can do it for a friend or neighbor.
Ask family and friends to spread some word about your services. They could do it at their workplaces or even create social media posts to promote your side hustle. More local parents may hire you if they trust you have the qualities they need from a babysitter.
Babysitting works well because you only work after school while you wait for the parents to return home from work. It can also be on weekends when the parents have some work to do.
16. Tutor others
Good at a particular subject in school? Becoming a teenage tutor can be a great after-school job for you. Your work will be to help kids or other teens with their studies.
Many parents will be willing to pay you for it if they know you’re a good student. They know you do or did well in a specific subject yourself and that it’s still fresh in your mind.
You can use word of mouth to pass across your services in your area. Your teachers can even find you such work if you ask them about it. The good thing is that you can make enough cash from just tutoring one or two others when you’re done with your own schoolwork.
17. Wash cars for people
In case you don’t mind washing cars, you’re free to do it for money. In fact, it’s quite lucrative and many teens do it.
All you need to do is ensure that you’re able to clean cars to the standards of the owners. This is possible if you have actual cleaning tools.
Many people can let you clean their cars if you just ask them. It could be family, friends, neighbors, or other locals where you live. If you do a good job, you can have them recommend you to more car owners for more opportunities.
It doesn’t take much time to clean a car. You can get paid per car-cleaning job you do every time you’re not in school.
18. Take on household chores
There are many chores people have a hard time doing. It can be that they’re too busy or lazy to do it themselves. Some examples are washing windows, cleaning bathrooms, and setting tables.
The best people to talk to about doing chores for money are your parents. If you need more customers, it helps if you only work for people you know. Some of them are neighbors, local elders, and people from school or church.
You can choose to get paid per chore or for a whole list of them. One factor in determining what to charge is how long a chore takes. Chores that take longer come with higher pay.
19. Do computer stuff
Another moneymaking idea for a 13-year-old is to perform activities involving computers. It suits you if you know about tech stuff. Most kids and teens do, having been born in the age of technology.
A few computer-related tasks to do and get paid for are teaching people how to use computers, creating email addresses, and setting up social media accounts. Your clients can be the elderly or other people who don’t know how tech works.
20. Run errands for money
Need another easy afterschool job to make money at 13? If so, running errands might interest you.
As an errand runner, you just need to do something for someone and get paid. The reason a person pays you may be because they’re focused on something else at the moment.
Most errands involve short trips to specific places. It can be buying groceries, making deliveries, or passing a message.
One way to find errands to run is by going to local businesses and individuals. Also, you can mention your errand-running services on social media to connect with locals in need of them.
21. Offer your family or neighbor help in their business
Do any of your family members or neighbors own a business? You could offer to do some things for them and earn a commission for it.
It works well if it’s an activity beyond the regular form of help. Maybe you’ll have to spend a little more time or use more effort than usual such that the business owner won’t need an employer. Keep in mind that laws vary by state and you should consider working at places where it’s not illegal at your age.
An example is a coffee shop business. In this case, you assist in areas like welcoming customers and accepting orders. Besides your hourly pay and commissions, you may also get customers tips to keep.
22. Deliver newspapers
Good at time management? Becoming a newspaper delivery person can be a good weekend job for you. All you need to do is make the deliveries at the required time.
In most cases, you have to wake up a bit early to brighten someone’s day with a newspaper. Some jobs may require you to do it in the afternoons and evenings.
Ensure that any newspaper delivery job you take involves a route close to your home. If you’re good at what you do, you may get other tasks to boost your earnings from deliveries.
How to Make Money at 13 without a Job
You can still make money at 13 without getting a job. Maybe you want to do a one-off thing that earns you extra bucks. In that case, use the following ideas.
23. Sell your used items
If you have some old gadgets that you don’t use, you could sell them to make quick money in one day. Many people are always looking for cheaper options when buying things. They may buy your mobile phone, DVD, or console as long as it still works.
Ask your friends if they need a used item that you have or know someone who does. You can also create posters and put them up around your location.
Another idea is to advertise your stuff online. Post pictures of them on places like Facebook Marketplace so that people nearby can contact you. When going to meet a stranger to complete a transaction, be in the company of a trusted older person.
24. Rent out your stuff
This is yet another great way to make money fast at 13 if you own things people need. Sometimes, people want a specific item for a short while and then give it back. If they can’t find someone to lend it to them, renting is their other option.
For instance, someone may need a bicycle for a short trip or to take part in a cycling event. You can rent out a bicycle and make money from it without selling it.
Make sure it’s someone you trust. If not, you can have them provide some sort of collateral that you’ll give back when they return your item in one piece.
25. Rent out storage space
Have an unoccupied space or room at home? Renting it out is a great way to get money without effort.
Of course, you need to ask the space owners (a.k.a your parents) about renting it out. If they agree, go ahead and find people in need of storage space.
Be sure to know whatever someone wants to store before giving them the space. It can be a car, motorbike, household items, or other things.
Go ahead and charge them per day, week, or month of storage. Keep their stuff safe and they won’t hesitate to rent space from you again or recommend your services to others.
Wrapping It up
There you have it! These easy ideas to make money at 13 can help you improve your financial life. The jobs are also great for learning new things and improving your skills at a young age.
You can take on more than one of the side hustles you like from the list. While they’ll need your effort, make sure not to forget your studies.
