Obi-Wan Kenobi: ”Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud.”
Jango Fett: “Do you like your army?”
Obi-Wan Kenobi: ”I look forward to seeing them in action.”
Jango Fett: ”They’ll do their job well. I’ll guarantee that.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
Here’s a question for all you parents of early teenagers or parents of former early teenagers: What do your kids do to earn a little extra spending money before Uncle Sam allows them to join the work force?
Padawan Learner is jonesing for some paid work, but not necessarily the kinds of work I have available (e.g., spring cleaning-ish house and yard tasks). He was mighty put out to learn that 13 year olds are not legally allowed to hold the more mainstream jobs in the community such as at the local pizza place or coffee shop. I think part of what he’s really looking for is a “real” job, aka not for mom, where he can stretch his independence-loving wings a little, meet some new people, prove to himself that he’s growing up, and earn $7.40 or more an hour. Allowances are just so pre-teen.
You’re a clever and creative bunch, what are some of your ideas?
Do you live in a neighborhood?
Baby Boy started out in he workforce by having his own lawn service business. He started out just cutting the grass for my parents, but then all of their friends started asking him to cut their grass and as he got older and stronger, he began weed-eating, trimming hedges, fertilizing . . . . etc . . . It’s cheap start up, all you need in a broom and lawn mower. There are some times, when I’m running low that he has to make me a loan, LOL. It’s a lucrative business. Especially if there are elderly people living n your neighborhood. Baby Boy gets paid in cash and also gets lots of homemade cakes and cookies.
It taught him a lot of independence and responsibility. He had to hustle up his own clients, remember to collect money from each of his clients and speak up for himself when they “forgot” to pay him.
Do you know anyone who is self employed? My father in law uses Baby Boy to do clean up around his warehouse and pays him an hourly wage. Baby Boy learns the business from the ground up, and gets some spendable cash to boot.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to have him open his own bank account and show him how to keep it balanced. Also an important lesson is saving (as in not spending every dime he makes) for big ticket items.
Congratulations (or my condolences, LOL)! It looks like your little one is on the fast track to becoming a young man.
[...] Read the original here: They’ll do their job well. [...]
My youngest does a pet sitting service each summer for our neighborhood. He hands out flyers around May sometime, and when people go on their summer vacation, they have him come feed the pets or water the plants, or both.
Also, if he has writing or graphics talent, you might check out this link:
http://www.onteenstoday.com/2009/02/24/freelance-writing-for-teens-teen-article/
Here was the other link I meant to include: http://mashable.com/2009/02/28/sell-designs-online/
If you’re on a local homeschool email loop, perhaps he can post a little note about what he can do, what he’s interested in doing and earn a little cash from other homeschool families?
One local teen friend did that and found a job helping clean house, a job of short duration helping someone pack to move, and a long-term pet sitting job, although that one involved her having to get parental chauffeuring.
I don’t know if it’s an option where you live, but what about a paper route? Here there is a 1 year waiting list to deliver the paper. Of course we are on base, and the kids deliver to one tower or a couple of streets…
Tough one – I’ve thought up many in the past, but I have teen girls so they might not all apply!
1. Proceeds from a garage sale – they can keep it all, as long as they do all the work. I’m happy to donate – get rid of – all my crap.
2. Is there something he can create/make and sell online? Personal SW trading cards or s’thing? Haha.
3. Pop cans/bottles. Hey, it does add up. Go scout a major civic event and you’re off to the bank!
4. Referee soccer/etc games – needs some training, but you get paid to stand in the sun!
5. Pick up mail/water plants/feed pets for neighbours.
6. Put up / take dn elderlies Cmas lights/tree/whatever.
7. Write/illustrate/publish a book!
8. Tutoring.
9. Start your own business – a la Trump.
10. Deliver newspapers.
11. Movie extra.
12. Chores, chores, chores!
Ok, so I have never had a teenager, BUT I My cousin mowed lawns in the summer and shoveled snow in the winter. Pet sitting/walking may work as well. Hope all is well!
My boy garbage picks. Really! He’ll cruise neighborhoods before garbage days in nice neighborhoods. He’s picked an air compressor, riding lawn mower, all kinds of good junk. Then he fixes it, cleans it up and sells it!
He’s also done lawn work, handyman work….even cleaning out dryer vent ducts.
He’s got that natural entrepreneur which just boggles my mind at times!