carriewillard Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 My oldest will be 15 in June. He's reached that plateau where he's interested in earning money beyond his weekly allowance. :) I'm looking for some suggestions, things that have worked for your kids. Since he's a boy (and nobody will hire a boy babysitter although since he is the oldest of 7 he would be excellent!), babysitting is out. Any ideas appreciated! Carrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Some might hire a boy babysitter. I would. It would be great for my son to have a positive male role model. But if he's not having luck at that, my first suggestion would be lawn mowing. You can make a lot of money doing that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Yard work, be it lawn mowing, racking leaves or help haul brush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest inoubliable Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Yard work. I wouldn't be so certain that no one will hire a male babysitter. If that's what he wants to do, consider a Red Cross Babysitting course? May give him an edge over his female peers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahW Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Depending on what state you live in, he may be able to work a "real" job. Usually, these are "agricultural" jobs, but greenhouses count. There are numerous rules and restrictions, but it can be a great experience. My first job was at a greenhouse at 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Yard work. Esp. weeding and other stuff involving crouching and crawling in the dirt (oh, my aching back!) also exterior painting or at least helping to scrap paint and prime. Washing cars. Walking dogs. Stuff the neighbors w/o teen kids need hlep with or would pay to NOT have to do themselves. Check with the local park district, too - here, kids can be hired to help with younger kids at summer day camps. Libraries need pages to sort and reshelve books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Dh had a huge paper route at that age, and his lawn mowing jobs grew into auto body work and house painting. He painted his last house (and did his last auto body work) shortly after we met, in his late twenties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 The grocery stores here start hiring at 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 The best babysitter in our area was a boy, so don't rule out babysitting yet! :) Also, has your ds considered selling stuff on eBay or Amazon? (I didn't suggest Craigslist, because I wouldn't be comfortable with a 15yo meeting buyers face-to-face, and I wouldn't want the nuisance of them coming to my home; you may be OK with it, though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Lifeguard. American Red Cross allows 15 year olds to take the lifeguard certification class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 The need I have every summer is a trusted animal care provider when we go on vacation. In our neighborhood, I would start a business by making up a flier stating services (feeding cats, dogs, dog walks, cleaning out guinea pig cages, spending quality time with animals, bringing in newspapers, packages, mail, watering plants, etc.). List neighborhood references. List rates. Then hit the streets--knock on doors, introduce yourself, hand them a flier, and bring a calendar to see who you can pencil in for their vacation care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Lifegaurd at the local pool, YMCA or city "camp" (daycare camps), yogurt or ice cream shop, bagging groceries, bus boy at restraunts, any "tourist attractions" in your area (they usually have something for teens), check w/ the local library to see if they have or know of anything, movie theaters, fast food restraunts, lawn mowing, .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Yarn care Pet care My teen son was a popular babysitter amongst people who knew him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Is he tech-inclined? He could learn a programming language and try his hand at writing and selling apps. If he's good at it, he could potentially make quite a bit of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Our favorite babysitter was male. Get babysitting, first aid, CPR, and lifeguarding certs. Once he gets lifeguarding he should easily find a job. Until then, pursue the babysitting. Also, start pet sitting and yard work. As we get into summer vacation months, put out fliers in the neighborhood for pet sitting and plant care. My dd makes good money watering plants while people are away. She has had a pet care business for years. She walks dogs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Yarn care This can be more difficult than it appears, what with all the ravelling and so on . . . :001_cool: Unless you've asked around already, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that people won't hire a male baby sitter. I certainly think many people would hire a male babysitter that they know (and I personally wouldn't let my teen babysit for someone we don't know). And you could make the cutest posters, with pics of your ds holding one sibling after another, lol. I do second the idea of taking the course, b/c babysitting for hire is not the same as babysitting your siblings. Other than that, lawn mowing and car washing are pretty big moneymakers. He might consider offering a 'limited time only' price for new customers - I know that I'm often reluctant to hire younger people (or anyone I don't know, really) b/c I don't want to pay good money for work that would only please their grandma, y'know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Yarn care Yarn care? My poor neglected yarn. I didn't realize it needed care. JK--that was a funny typo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I have a couple teen boys. Things they have done: 1. Oldest set up a lawn business when he was 10. We lived in a neighborhood that had small yards and ds went with the "green" lawn care theme. He cut with a manual mower and did a great job. He had a few lawns each week. 2. They joined Little League and got the job of cleaning the bathrooms at the fields. They each made $500 that summer! 3. The next summer, oldest ds was asked to join the Little League field crew. He worked HARD and made a lot of money!! His younger brother was hired the next year. 4. Two summers later, my oldest is the head of the Little League field crew. He has a crew of 14 that he manages! His two younger brothers are on the crew. (Last summer, he made $2000!!) 5. Both the older boys babysit. A lot. Around here, boys are in HIGH demand. And, they get paid well. 6. My younger son has a pet sitting business. 7. All three have gotten the reputation in our area as hard workers. All have been hired by neighbors for odd jobs - moving furniture, hanging Christmas lights, trimming bushes, etc. Get your name out there - participate in activities that get you known as a hard worker and job opportunities will come your way. I often say that I'd do the things my kids are doing for what they are getting paid!!! I borrow money from them all the time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 My ds just turned 13, and apparently he has yet to receive the memo informing him that he should want to make money. Perhaps his got lost in the mail or something. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroljenn Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 A friend of ours' ds started his own pooper-scooper business when he was 13 or 14. He would go to neighbors' houses two or three times a week for $20 per client. He ended up making a thousand dollars a month! Gross job, and I know I would hire someone for $20 per week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violamama Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Dog walking House sitting Yard maintenance Camp counselor House painting & other chores Assistant for any small business in which he might have an interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicMom Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I hire male babysitters! You might be surprised, check around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 When I was a girl I had a very close call with a male babysitter who was very inappropriate so I neither hire male babysitters, nor would I put my teen boys in that potential situation. (And no, I never mentioned it to my parents.) Teens that I know of who make the most income in our town get a lawn mowing business going (beyond just 1-2 neighbors) or else work in painting and repairing housing around campus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghee Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I would agree that babysitting might not be totally off the table, unless you mean he's tried it and got no response. My next idea would be pet care. Either walking them during the day while owners are at work, or doing some very light pet sitting (say while someone is gone a day or two). Lawn care sounds good, but it wouldn't work for us. We live in a condo in Chicago so no yards to care for anywhere around us, and in tn our neighbors all have hired "professional" lawn care people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Is he good at any sports? We were thinking about hiring a high schooler to help my daughter practice lacrosse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Things my sons have done before age 16 to earn cash ... yes, YARD WORK! one summer they got together a group of 6 boys (ages 15-17), with their dads' tools, and got some pretty big jobs. People they knew (through church, etc.) were happy to hire kids they knew (and it was cheaper than hiring "real" landscapers) caring for people's houses & plants when they are on vacation one of my sons is very computer-savvy -- he has made a lot of money helping older people with basic computer issues, and also designing and maintaining websites for local businesses and individuals neither boy was interested in babysitting or pets lol at age 14 they could help their gymnastics teacher with parties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 My boys earn extra money in a variety of ways... Yard work (mine help elderly neighbors weeding, gardening, and whatever else they need done in the yard) Mowing grass Dog sitting Playing instruments or teaching Coaching sports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 If he has played a sport for several years doing private lessons with younger kids is a great option. Being an official at youth sporting events pays pretty decent. Working at a summer day camp. Working for a moving company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 My dh was an umpire for his local little league at that age. Your son may want to contact them to see if they hire teens to umpire (usually they did the younger kid's games). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 A friend of ours' ds started his own pooper-scooper business when he was 13 or 14. He would go to neighbors' houses two or three times a week for $20 per client. He ended up making a thousand dollars a month! Gross job, and I know I would hire someone for $20 per week! What a great idea! I wish we had a professional scooper. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriewillard Posted April 22, 2013 Author Share Posted April 22, 2013 WOW, these are some awesome ideas and things I would never have thought of! He ended up making an agreement with Grandma to do some eBaying. She provides the inventory, he does the work, they split the profits. I am keeping this thread for the future though. Thanks again everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mothergooseof4 Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 I would love to find something to ebay. Ds turns 14 this summer and is aching for a job. This would be something he love, but I always feel like everything is already being done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.