Do you want to start a business at home this winter as a kid but lack ideas and know-how? If YES, here are 11 best ways to make money fast as a kid in the winter.
In the winter, things get to slow down a bit; outdoor activities are reduced to the barest minimum, and kids tend to have more free hours on their hands. The holidays even get to be longer when there is nowhere to go and kids are forced to spend all their waking hours indoors or with friends.
Instead of spending all that time playing video games, you can actually think up one or two things to do to earn yourself some pocket money. This of course is not a job but a way to keep busy while being financially productive.
If you are a kid who is looking for ideas on how to keep busy during the winter while turning in some money, you would need to check out these fantastic ideas.
11 Best Ways to Make Money Fast at Home as a Kid in the Winter
- Shovel snow for your neighbors
Snow is synonymous with winter – most of the time. This makes shoveling snow one of the jobs that come to mind when one thinks about the winter. The good thing about this is that a kid can do it too. You may indeed have some neighbours who would not have the time to shovel snow from their yards.
You can offer your services to them for a fee. Know that for a kid, you have to obtain your parents’ permission before anything. It will be better if you bring your own equipment to do the job so you don’t have to rely on other people to give you equipment.
If you are a hard worker, you could do a couple of houses in a day. Let people know before the snow comes that you are available for snow clearing and let them know your rates. Ask around for rates offered by other people and keep yours the same or less, to help you get more business offers.
- Scrape ice off cars
If you live in an area that is prone to snow during the winter, then this is another job you can go for a pay. Ice form on cars when it snows, and a lot of people dislike the chore of scraping off ice from their cars. You could earn a lot of money doing this if you do it properly.
Be sure you have had a lot of practice on this because a lot of people would be afraid that you would damage their cars during the scraping. You could offer to do it for people under their supervision so they would be convinced of your capability. Again, you can scrape only the windows so you don not risk damaging the paint of cars.
- Sell hot beverages
It’s the cold season, and everyone would appreciate something warm or hot. With your parents’ permission and help, you can set up a stand where you get to make and sell hot chocolates, coffees and tea. Since you will be handling hot items, you’ll need to be old enough to handle this responsibly and with care, and it’s a really good idea to have your mom, dad or a teen sibling help you out with this sort of venture. This business may not be best when it is snowing or when it is extremely cold so you do not expose yourself.
You can choose a sheltered and reasonably warm spot to locate your stand and make sure it’s one where plenty of people will come by in a short space of time, such as a work area around lunchtime or the local sled park at peak sledding time. It’s important to minimize the amount of time spent outside. It would also be good to set up your stand at farmers markets. You can offer like cookies too if you are able to make them.
In the harsh climates of the winter, people especially the elderly won’t want to risk going outside. You could offer to run some errands for them. You can pick up things from the roadside grocery shop for them, clean their windows, refilling their medicines etc. This is a very effective way of earning money as the elderly tend to need help in the cold season.
- Sell exceptional snow photos
If you are very savvy with the camera, and if you are able to catch good photographs of a snow storm in action, you can call up your local news stations and publications (even national ones) and offer to send in a watermarked version for their consideration. Chances are that they would be willing to pay for your photographs. You can as well sell your photographs online on some designated sites.
Some pet owners have to head to work during a big storm, and others are physically unable to walk their dogs through large snow drifts. When their dog is at home bouncing off the walls, pet owners may want to hire someone to take their pup for a walk.
You can do this quite easily while getting some exercise yourself. And, if the winds are blowing, some pets will be scared if they’re home alone all day. Offer to care for pets in their home or yours. You can even watch several pets at once, increasing your earnings.
If you are quite creative with your hands, you can start creating little crafts that you can sell. A certain kid was able to start a full business out of the love of knitting beaded jewelry. You can as well start a little business of your own by knitting, crocheting, quilting, create clothing or bags, or whatever strikes your fancy.
You can market these items online or sell your creations in local shops. You might even take advantage of a snow day or two to pick up a new hobby that can turn profitable. For example, learn how to knit, or even practice repairing your own clothing.
- Online Surveys
Everybody can take online surveys, and so can kids. In fact, there are some tailored for kids. There are literally hundreds of sites where you can take surveys, watch videos and play games to make money online as a kid. Swagbucks is the most popular one. Cashcrate is not bad either. These sites can help you make a little income during the winter and from the very comfort of your home.
- Sell items online
This is another way a kid can make money online during the winter. To start this, you would need the help of your parents to help you set up an account, and you need their permission to do such a thing anyways. If you are the sort that makes crafts, you could use the platform to sell your crafts. If not, you can source for gently used items that you can sell.
You will need to use your parent’s account and have them do all the listing and sales but then they can hand the money to you when they are done. Find things you no longer want around the house. Have mom or dad put them on eBay or similar sites to sell. Don’t expect too much unless your items are really wanted by people. But do realize that every little bit soon adds up to a lot.
- Write story books
Are you the writing savvy type, do you have a way with words, have you always wanted to put down the stories that play around in your head on paper? If you answered yes to these questions, then maybe you can utilize the winter to write your own kind of story book.
You can write down the stories, and ask your parents to help you edit it and then list it up for sale online for you. Who knows, this may be a start to a good career. Illustrating and printing the book maybe expensive for your parents, so that is why we suggest publishing on an online platform first.
- Newspaper delivery
Newspaper delivery is another way a kid can make money during the winter. Granted, it maybe cold outside, but if you wear adequately protective clothing, you would be alright. You can subscribe to deliver newspapers at your neigbourhood daily. Note that you have to be above a certain age to do this job; at least you should be able to handle a bicycle and know the terrain of your neghnourhood.