Tips For Helping Your Teens Make Their Own Money

Some people say that giving your teens pocket money on a regular basis is one of the best ways to ruin their character. The thinking goes that they’ll never learn to appreciate what they have if they don’t work for it. If you want to steer clear of giving your teens handouts and help them make their own income, here are a few tips to help you out.

First, help your teen find a job he’ll actually enjoy. Make sure it suits their personality – for instance, it’s no good giving your shy bookworm son a job at a local sporting goods store, where he’ll be overwhelmed with customers every day. Perhaps a bookstore would be a better bet. He’ll thank you for it someday!

It might be working outside for a teen who loves the sun and seasons. A teen who likes to be with her friends might like a social job that some of her other friends are already doing, such as pizza delivery or work in a pet store. Your child needs to know that no job is perfect or totally fun, but a job that has good things about it will keep them engaged and happier while they make money. Once they see the dollars start rolling in they’ll soon forget about their initial objections.

You can also encourage your teen to be an entrepreneur. Brainstorm ways your child can make money by starting his or her own business. For instance, your daughter might become a Mary Kay representative if you loan her money to get started. Or perhaps your video-game addict son could build a blog or website about his favorite video game, then make money by signing up for Google Ad-Sense if it gets popular. A hard working teen with no apparent hobbies could make money doing yard work for the neighbors. Any of these businesses can teach responsibility and give your teen more control over the money they make.

Don’t apply for jobs for your teen or start their business by yourself. They won’t feel any ownership of it if you do all the hard work for them. You might need to help them figure out where to look for money making jobs, though, as this is own thing that you have experience in and they don’t. You may also need to help with job applications and practice interviewing skills that will give your teen the best possible start in life. These are lifelong skills that can help him or her make money now and get a better career later.