Before you get started
Before I tell you ways to get money I want to help you be able to get to your desired balance quicker, you can do this by setting goals for yourself. Goals will sit in your mind and you will think about them all of the time. Because you have set a goal, you will really want to achieve that goal in a smaller time period than you have given yourself, also, when you achieve this goal you will feel like you have accomplished something. After you have felt that you may want to feel it again - therefore you would set another goal, and another, and another, and another.
S.M.A.R.T. goals
A type of goal you may use could be a S.M.A.R.T. goal.
Specific – you don’t want to just say I want to play the piano, you have to say, “I want to be able to play (blank)”.
Measurable – you want to be able to measure your progress of getting to your desired final product.
Achievable – is it something you feel like you will not give up on even if things get hard?
Realistic – similar to achievable, do you think you will actually be able to reach this goal at this age and circumstances happening in your household, community and world?
Time-based – make a realistic choice of whether you are going to be able to achieve this goal in a certain amount of time that you choose for yourself? Think about all of the things that could change to either allow for more time to do this or less time.
You can get money in many ways!
You can do chores -
Put the bins out, unpack the dishwasher, set the table for a meal, feed the pet(s) if you have any, vacuum the house, or help with the gardening. If you already do some of these then maybe ask your parents to get paid to do them.
You can get pocket money -
You may already get small pocket money but as you get older you could ask to get a little bit more pocket money (don't start too big or your parents might think you are being a little bit too greedy, start with $1 and work upwards over time).
You could get a gift -
For your birthday, for Christmas. It might be small like only $5 or $10 but that's a start, if you say that you are saving up for let's say a starting goal of $100 then they might give you a bit more next time. Once you have completed the smaller goal then you might want to make another goal, and another, and another, the sky is the limit (or the size of your piggy bank/money box).
You can do some small jobs -
Knocking on neighbour's doors and asking if they want their car washed for $5, or to mow their lawn for $7.50 if you're a bit older (you can choose your own fees of course). Any job you can do people will most likely be happy to pay for.
You can also sell unwanted books or toys -
If you have some old books that you don't read or toys that you don't play with anymore can easily be sold. If you have a series with all the books in it then you could sell the whole set for more than if you sold them individually. You can sell these books/toys at a garage sale or maybe swap them with your friends if they want what you have and you want what they have.
You could sell baked goods -
You can make cupcakes, muffins or cookies and go around to your neighbours and knock on their door and then ask them if they would like to purchase any. You could ask your parents to help you make the sweet goods because of using an electric mixer or the oven.
You could also get a job -
Click here to go to my page on getting a job.