How to Make Money in Middle School

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Whether you are trying to save for the future or would just like a little extra pocket money, there are many opportunities to earn money. Even as a middle schooler, you have a wide range of options, from selling goods in school to informal jobs, such as dog walking or babysitting. With a little creativity, planning, and entrepreneurial spirit, you can make money in many different ways.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Selling Goods to Friends

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  1. Food items or crafts, such as handmade jewelry, are two great options.
    • Snacks, such as baked goods or beverages can be fun to make and often only require ingredients that are already in your pantry.
    • If you are an aspiring artist or enjoy making crafts, you can earn money by selling your handmade items. These custom made crafts also make great gifts which add to their appeal. Materials for crafts and jewelry making are often cheap and easy to buy at hobby shops.
  2. If you don't have money to spend on your first batch of food ingredients or crafting materials, then ask your parents or someone else to lend you money (but be sure to pay them back).
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  3. Let your friends and others know about your plans. Generating excitement beforehand is a great way to gather potential customers.
    • If you’re allowed to, you may even want to make signs to hang up at school to let as many people as possible know about your new business. Just be sure to ask a teacher for permission first.
  4. You could sell your items at a physical location, for example, at a local farmer’s market or even online.
    • If you would like to sell your goods at a farmer’s market, search online or ask in person at the market to find more information about how to become an official vendor.
    • Look for websites, such as Etsy, that will allow you to set up an online shop. Etsy and other websites often require parents or legal guardians to manage the account, so enlist the help of your parents if you choose this route.
  5. Be sure to clearly label the prices of what you’re selling and have a friendly, approachable manner to attract customers.
  6. One simple way to this is by writing down your income and expenses in a notebook.
    • Keeping track of your budget and income is essential to make sure that you are actually making money. For example, if you are making and selling jewelry, figure out how much you are spending on materials and keep that in mind when deciding how much to charge for each piece. You don’t want to end up actually losing money by charging too little!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Finding Informal Jobs

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  1. Opportunities to make money are often right in your neighborhood, from mowing people’s lawns, washing cars, dog walking, or babysitting.
    • Think about what your strengths are. Do you have experience watching over younger siblings? Are you an animal lover? Do you like getting out and being active? Reflecting on these kinds of questions will help you pursue a job that not only pays but is emotionally rewarding for you.
  2. Ask your friends or parents to find out what average rates are for each job. For example, babysitting can bring in anywhere from $10-25 per hour [1] so be sure to do your research before telling customers! Feel free to negotiate with your customers if you feel like your services are worth more than they are offering.
  3. Tell your friends and parents and ask them to spread the word that you are available and looking for a certain type of work. Most people find jobs through words of mouth [2] but you can also reach more potential customers through other advertising means.
    • Printing out fliers offering your services and putting them up around your neighborhood with contact information can be a great way to reach people who might not otherwise know about your offering. You can also advertise online by posting on social media sites.
  4. Always be punctual, respectful, and try your best.
    • If you have any questions, it’s always best to ask sooner than later. For example, if you become a dog walker, make sure to ask lots of questions about the dog’s behavior so you don’t have any nasty surprises or accidents while on the job.
  5. After completing jobs, ask your customers if they will be willing to refer you to others. Referrals are the best way to increase your profits as people are more likely to hire you once someone else has vouched for you.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using a Specialized Skill

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  1. Just because you are in middle school, that doesn’t mean you don’t already have specialized skills to offer. With some creative thinking, you might discover you already have a skill you can profit from.
    • Write down a list of your skills, hobbies, or interests. Maybe you are an aspiring barber, enjoy fixing broken electronics, are great at taking photos, or like to code in your spare time. Even activities that you consider to be hobbies, such as using Photoshop to edit your photos, could be a service people are willing to pay you for.
    • If you are feeling stuck, go and ask a parent or someone else who knows you well. They might surprise you by pointing out a skill you didn’t even notice you had.
  2. A lot of skills you might take for granted, such as the ability to navigate the Internet and other programs such as Word and Photoshop, are actually very difficult for older people to pick up on. You could offer to help older people learn how to use their computers more effectively or how to use certain programs for an hourly fee.
  3. Did you know that there are professional organizers, who work to clean or organize homes, office spaces, and more? If you are a neat and detail-oriented person, de-cluttering other people’s living spaces could be a perfect side job.
  4. If photography is a hobby of yours, you could offer to be an official photographer for a birthday party, wedding, or other kind of celebration. Many people hire photographers for special events and pay well for it too.
    • If you know any professional photographers, ask them to take you along on their next photo shoot so you can watch and learn.
  5. If you know how to make logos or fliers, these are great skills you could offer to help out a local business. Don’t be afraid to walk into a store and ask to talk to the manager. Be sure to emphasize what specific skills you could offer to help their business grow.
  6. Maybe you have a specific interest but know that you don’t have the necessary experience to find work in that area quite yet. A paid internship could be a great opportunity because, not only will you earn money, but you will also be getting paid to learn about your passion and gain valuable work experience.
    • Ask at your school, local businesses, or online to find internships. For example, if you’re interested in botany, you could try visiting different florists, botanical gardens, and the like to see if they would be willing to take on an intern.
  7. Did you grow up speaking two or more languages? If so, you’ve already got an incredible skill others have to spend years learning. You might be surprised to learn how many people need help translating bills and other documents or even in everyday conversations.
  8. Again, word of mouth can work wonders along with hanging up fliers and advertising online.
  9. Once you have found someone interested in your service, negotiate a fair rate. Ask around or check online to find out what the average going rates are.
    • If you are just starting out, you may want to charge less in the beginning. Getting exposure and experience are more important at the beginning stage. Once you have a satisfied customer base, you can start charging more for your services.
  10. Once you start getting clients, ask them for testimonials or if they would be willing to serve as references.
    • As a middle schooler, you may run into people who doubt your abilities because you are young. Having references will be extremely useful as they prove that you are serious about your work.
    • The more experience you have, the bigger your network of clients will get and eventually you may even start getting people coming to ask you for your services.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    When babysitting, I receive a wage of $5 per hour for each child. Is this a fair wage?
    Community Answer
    If you're in middle school, yes, that is probably a fair wage. Of course you're welcome to try politely asking for more, but you might risk losing clients!
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  • Question
    How should I approach a possible customer when trying to get a job?
    Community Answer
    Be straight forward. Don't act nervous and don't beg if they deny your offer. If they try to give you constructive criticism, take it and learn from it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    My friend is making loom bracelets. If each pack of rubber bands costs $2.99, and the bracelets take 20-25 minutes to make, what price would be good? (Each bracelet uses about 70 bands.)
    Community Answer
    That also depends on how many rubber bands are in each pack. If one pack can make 2 bracelets, then a fair price could be $4-5 each.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • Whatever job you do, give it your all. Be consistent, reliable, and work hard. No matter what you do to make money, having these traits will help ensure your success.
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      • If your first attempt at making money doesn’t work out, don’t get discouraged. It’s all a learning process and the more you work at it, the more skills you will acquire, which will help you earn money in the future.
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      • If you are selling the items at school, bring a lunchbox or mini backpack to put the product in. Plastic bags can look suspicious, especially if your school doesn't allow you to sell things.
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      Warnings

      • If using the internet to make money, avoid getting scammed by never giving out your personal information.
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      • If you are making food to sell, make sure to be as hygienic as possible. You don’t want to accidentally make anyone sick! You may also want to check online or ask an adult about food safety regulations.
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      • If selling goods in a public place, even if it’s just a food stand, parental or adult supervision is recommended for your own safety.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/100-summer-jobs-for-teens/
      2. ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2012-05-31/the-best-way-to-land-a-job-its-still-word-of-mouth

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