4 Tips on how to make money as a teenager

Sell ​​photos to agencies. 

If you have a decent camera and know how to compose pictures, take photos and sell them online to an agency. You usually don’t get much for a photo, but remember that you’ll also learn a useful skill and a relaxing hobby. On top of that, if you put in a lot of time and practice, you can end up earning quite a bit.

• There are quite a lot of photo agencies that buy photos online. So don’t give up if you get rejected by the first agency. Companies like Shutterstock, Fotolalia and Istockphoto are among the biggest buyers. But you can also turn to smaller, finer agencies if you have become good enough. 

You can also try mobile apps that pay you for completing tasks.

 If you have a smartphone, there are plenty of apps that put you in touch with local companies or people who will give small jobs for money. Not all jobs pay very well. Most of the time, however, the tasks are simple, for example, you may be asked to take a picture of yourself at a certain location for a company or market research company for a fee. You can see such a task as a little adventure or as a kind of scavenger hunt. AppJobber, Streetspotr or Roamler are such apps. But there are a few more you can try. However, make sure these programs allow teens before signing up.

Participate in local studies. 

Many universities and pharmaceutical companies pay people to take part in studies or clinical tests. Some of these studies last only one afternoon, others require longer-term participation. Therefore, you should know all the conditions and requirements in advance.

• To find current studies and apply, search classifieds online and official university and hospital sites. 
• Many clinical tests do not allow teenagers to participate. However, you may be able to find studies that are specifically looking for teenagers. However, get permission from your parents, as they will need to sign if you are accepted for a study. 

• Even if it seems strange to you, don’t set prices. People often negotiate prices that are significantly higher than what you expect. That’s why you should have a prospective buyer quote a price before you say anything.
• You can make extra money at a junk sale by offering cheap drinks or snacks. If the weather is nice, you could offer lemonade or soda, with cold tea or mulled wine.

Take old clothes to the thrift shop. 

Charity organizations such as DRK or Caritas accept clothing as donations. However, second-hand shops pay for used clothing. Gather clothing and accessories that you no longer wear and take them to your local thrift store. Your clothes may not be accepted if they are unfashionable or out of order. But then you can still donate them to charity.

• You should wash the things before offering them to a store. The cleaner and better looking they are, the more likely they will be adopted and the better the price.
• You’ll get more money at second-hand designer stores if you have stuff like that. However, you only get your money when the items are sold. 

List collectibles or unused items in online classifieds. 

If you have valuable items like collectibles that you want to part with, you can list them on sites like Ebay. Unlike the casual passer-by at a private flea market, on such sites, you will find people who are specifically interested in the things you sell. Therefore, they are probably willing to pay higher prices.

• The most important thing when offering things online is to show good photos of your goods. Buyers are unlikely to take a chance if they don’t see a high-quality, detailed picture of the item they’re bidding on. That’s why you should photograph your items with a good camera and in good lighting before you offer them. 
• If you offer things online, you should talk to your parents about security measures beforehand. They should accompany you, for example, when making personal contacts.

Offer crafts.

 If you’re crafty and enjoy art classes, you can make your own and sell them online. You can sell friendship bracelets, beaded jewelry, origami, or screen-printed t-shirts—depending on the equipment and how much money you have to pay for materials upfront. Initially, promote your new shop and craft on your personal social media and spread the word among friends and family.

• Browse Etsy.com to see your options and what types of crafts are selling well on this site. Doing your research beforehand will save you valuable time and avoid costly mistakes. 
• At some point, you should be asking twice as much as you put in for materials and production. However, as a beginner, you should start with lower prices to build a customer base. 
• If you don’t want to fully commit to an online store right away, you could make seasonal crafts for the holidays that are easy to make and require little investment. For example, you could tie mistletoe and/or pine cones into a bundle with ribbons and cheap bells and sell them as decorations. If that works and you enjoy it, then you can think about setting up a more permanent online store.

Ask at the local grocery store. 

Many supermarkets hire teenagers as store clerks or shelf stockers. With such jobs, you can gain experience that will look good on your CV. You may only earn minimum wage, but you will receive regular and reliable money. Of course, this only applies if you are punctual and reliable. You will probably meet other teenagers at work. But you should be sure that you can be on your feet for several hours. Because work in the warehouse or filling up shelves is physically demanding.

• If you don’t have a car, the store should be within walking or cycling distance, or your parents or siblings should be willing to drive you there. If you have a car, then you should include the gas money in the calculation of your earnings.

Work as a help in the restaurant. 

Most restaurants require young people to be over 18 to work there. However, some hire teenagers to help with simpler jobs. You’ll likely have less customer contact, but you’ll gain valuable experience in the restaurant industry and sometimes even get a cut of the tips. These jobs are physically demanding as you are on your feet all the time during a shift. If you have physical problems, then you should consider that.

• There are certain dangers when working in a restaurant. For example, you could slip or burn yourself. Therefore, you should know the safety regulations before you start work and your employer should go through them with you.

Work in a fast-food restaurant.

It’s not the most glamorous job out there, but fast-food restaurants employ a lot of teenagers. The work is mostly quite easy, however, the working environment is quite stressful during the peak business hours. You should also know that some economists and labor lawyers warn against working in fast food. They criticize the lack of benefits, rights, and education as employers take advantage of their young workers. Therefore, you should inform yourself carefully before accepting such a job.

• As with any restaurant job, there are hazards in the work area that you should be aware of beforehand. You could slip, burn or cut yourself. If you have to wear a headset, it could damage your hearing.

Ask about vacancies in the leisure sector. 

Cinemas, amusement parks, swimming pools, or similar facilities often employ teenagers. If you have such facilities, then you might consider working there. If you want to work as a lifeguard, you need the appropriate training. For many other jobs, however, no previous experience is required.

• You can also think about seasonal offers, such as holiday camps or haunted houses for Halloween. Teens are often hired for this kind of work and you can expand your circle of friends and probably tell some wild stories afterward.