Finding Money

[Kathleen]

I just graduated and I'm currently jobless and seeking employment (GO FIGURE). Luckily, I got quite a bit of money from relatives at my graduation party but to supplement that, I sell books. I was an English major so I have a ton of text books/novels as well as a whole bunch of books I read for pleasure (prior to entering college... :P). I put a bunch in a laundry basket and took it to a local secondhand bookstore. I got $30 for that, which isn't a ton or anything but it's something! I just gathered another basket (and that mother weighs over 100 pounds) and hopefully I'll get a similarly sized check from them. :)

So, if you've got a bunch of books lying around, gather 'em up and sell them to a secondhand bookstore! You won't get as much as you paid for them all those eons ago... but, like I said, it's a little something.

[icecube730]

During the skool year, I get $10 a week if I do everything I'm supposed to do. I usually just save money from that, I really want a digi camera to go with my future ratties!

[kalamazoo]

I babysit. My neighborhood garners $5-10 per hour so I usually make at least $30 a gig. Which helps a ton. I do Mommie's Helper, too (watching the kids while the parent's home to give them a break) which fetches $2.50-5 and hour. Plus I get $15-20 a week in allowance.

[Three Deep]

I'm 16, and I work two jobs to support my animals. My parents pay the vet bills for the cat, and 2 dogs, but I am in charge of food, cages, bedding/litter, and other accessories for 2 dogs, a cat, a rabbit, 3 rats, a frog and 13 millipedes. I am a dog walker a couple days a week where I make $5 per 15 minutes, and I co-teach two classes (basic obedience and beginning agility) at a local boarding kennel, where I make only $40 per 6 week class. I also pet-sit or groom whenever the opportunity arises. Supporting my pets is sometimes tricky, but I insist that all my animals get the healthiest foods possible, which means high quality kibble supplemented with raw meats for the 3 carnivores. Managing my money has been a struggle, and I frequently have to turn down my friends to go do certain things, because I just don't have the money. Back before I had a slightly steadier income, I would clean yards and have doggie washes and car washes on the weekends. Even now, if I'm really in a pinch, I'll have a yard sale. I think most teens would find that your parents aren't such pack-rats when you offer to clean out and organize the garage/closets, and in return you get the profits of the sale. Another way to save money is connections. I can't tell you how many things I haven't had to pay for, just because I am a friend of the owner. I get rabbit food and crickets free almost monthly because my rat breeder friend owns a small pet store, and I help her out for free on the weekends when she's really busy. I also have never payed for any training classes for my dogs, because I am an aspiring dog trainer myself, and can just take them along to the classes I teach. Make connections while you're young, and people absolutely love to help you out because they've watched you grow up, and they know the favor will be returned when they need a hand. Also, prioritize. Which do you need to do first, buy a new $120 rat cage, or take the cat to the vet for an ear infection? Do you really need to go ice skating this weekend, or would your time be better used cleaning cages and walking dogs? Which can wait until next pay day, dog food or new collars? Clear, logical thinking is a must when you are responsible for the care of those who cannot care for themselves.

Leah

Sam
Sky
Rose
Stinky
Mambo
Ruby
Charlotte
Trevor
and the Mills.

[MissHinasaki]

I've donated plasma the entire summer since I couldn't find a job that would just hire me for the summer since I will be going back to college in the fall (I have a regular summer job but there were too many layoffs this year :/). I made about $50 a week ($20 the first time and $30). The one thing that was kind of bad about that was that sometimes you get deferred (which is quite common for me since I have really low iron and have a crazy heart beat because I'm always nervous) and so sometimes I could only donate once a week.

I am hoping to find a job when I return to school (most college towns are recession proof and always have a lot of job openings) and continue to donate plasma there as well. Otherwise, my loans are my main source of income.

Also, since I'm a Psychology major, there's a lot of research opportunities where you get paid to be a lab assistant. This is nice because the rates are usually pretty good, you can choose your hours, and this will look very good on a resume.

[derro]

I usually hock stuff I can't use any more, movies games electronics or try to initiate a trade with someone (food for yard work). I also try to squirrel away money anyway I can (change, savings or just hiding it in a box in a closet and forgetting about it until desperation sparks my memory.)

[nertnie]

I make valerian root cat toys and sell them.    I'm not underage, but I'd bet anyone who can sew can do it too.

[Alethea]

This is a great topic ^_^