How to make ~$3500 in a year?

Question

I'm only 14 so that's why this sounds weird.

I want to make that much so I can buy myself a Mac Pro. I've been wanting it forever, and I've finally decided to set my goal to have enough money to buy it by next year's tax free weekend in the beginning of August.

Please don't suggest the normal things like "mow lawns" because everybody in my neighborhood has lawn service. ;)

Also, I was thinking about trying to help people in my neighborhood with their computer problems/questions...i.e. go around and put papers advertising my service in their mailboxes. I'd offer things like pointing them in the direction of a good new computer for what they need, or even build them a custom PC from parts if they want. I could also do some repair of computers, I know how to fix some viruses and some general problems.

Any more ideas?

Answer 1

about your computer idea i wouldnt depend on it because your only 14 and many people wouldnt hire a 14 year old for that im not saying your not smart im just saying and you would want a steadier income wouldnt you.. a computer once a month isnt steady but its a start you could try i suppose..  and i know you said no to lawn care but maybe if you had lower prices you would make a good living my lawn care service is great.. but other things you could look into are dog watching/walking, baby sitting, house cleaning, and if your good at cars you can help people find the car they need by asking them what they want in a car and researching it yourself.. good luck hope i helped

Answer 2

Are you computer savvy?  Maybe some of your older neighbors need help figuring some computer stuff out, basic stuff too.  My mom always needs help with emails - attachments, copying/pasting, etc, so she calls me.  Maybe you could give basic lessons?

Also, try dog walking or baby-sitting.  Advertise at dog parks or if you go to church that could be a great place to talk to parents about watching their kids or maybe your old elementary school?

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Try getting a smal paper route and also maybe put an ad in the paper to do computer work and maintenance of computers. Or Offer to tutor on basics on how to use a computer, application, upgrading software programs, etc. You can also do some babysitting that pays real well for weekend working parents....good luck

Answer 4

3,500 pick up change and check soda coin slots for a year. ask your parents for work,

crazy hollywood ideas:

rent out a local place and sell tickets to a party, the party should have some hook and theme and be advertised for two months at your age, all over your school and other schools, and public places kids hang out with flyers and hand kids flyers, 5 dollar admission. maybe sell something there. But you need a reason for them to go, that is the hook or bait. this is a big project. You like computers it could be a popular computer game tornament, a madden tournament and you can have an adult competition too. Here it would be free admission. Final winner gets a cash prize 100$, rent out a church basement or something 300$???  5 to 10 dollar entry fee 30 people 300$ sell food and drinks 100$, all right all right it's a bad idea.

walk peoples dogs, morning and after school.

make something and sell it. jewelry, certain toys like devil stix, dolls, fine bird houses.

sell candy in school but it's not recommended as it leads to bad habits i think,

write articles for the local newspaper, just do it 1st and maybe they'll pay you later. write about kids stuff, kids views on things, cheesy is better.

street performances, drums or acrobatics

private tutor, advertise to the parents, peer tutor

shovel in the winter is very lucrative

rake leaves

Answer 5

I bet a TON of them could use your advice, skills and service setting up home Wi-Fi networks.

Many are quite puzzled about adding wireless routers in line with their broadband connected PCs, and even more dazed about securing them, so the other neighbors don't "jump on" and surf for free.

I am sure many with wireless devices like laptops, Wiis, PS3s, PSPs, etc...would appreciate it.

Good luck! Great goal and I hope you achieve it.

Answer 6

Take a paper route, lemonade stand. save your allowance. do extra chores around the house maybe it will get you more allowances. Gather up some of your old toys/stuff you do not use anymore and do a Garage Sale?

Answer 7

Make a list of all the things that you know you're good at, or that you could be good at.  Go to Craigslist.com (if you have to be 18, have a parent do it), and offer your services.  You could even walk dogs for people while they're at work.  Do a lot of people in your neighborhood do that?  Organize a car wash.  All it takes is a water hose, some buckets, some sponges and car soap. Pay the people that help you a small percentage, but take most of the profits for yourself.  Let them know that this is what you plan on doing with the money.

Check out this link:

http://www.kidsmoney.org/makemone.htm#ty...

Answer 8

Yes, I do like your idea of computer services, I helped a family once and they started having me back and paying me, also got them to buy a mac cause they had an old PC. They were like "What? It ran fine for five years" I told them they were lucky. Depending on how old you are there are a lot of things you can do... working at a summer camp is pretty much a little too late to do, but next year it is a good way for a quick buck. If you are old enough to get a part time job, you could work at a mall, any store probably that is accepting applications... See if your school has any paid programs for students to help or tutor.

Work for your family, offer them some kinds of services that they don't normally make you do, I dug a ditch for my grandfather and made 100 bucks. it was a pain kinda, but worth the money. See if you can get your parents to sell some stuff on ebay, there is a lot of money in that. You can think of some other stuff. There are always opportunities ssomewhere.  

Answer 9

I would say try to save money by saving your pocket money.

Try to take food from home and save money of cafeteria in school.

Also may be you can do some sort of sale(garage sell) with your old stuff which you think you can sell and make money....

also you can help your neighbours...

may be you can teach kids somestuffs which you are good at like math , art , painting.

Answer 10

You're definitely on the right track with entrepreneurial work, I like that, but unless your neighbors are computer illiterate (i.e. PC problems all the time) or you overcharge, I don't think you can acquire this sum of money on its own...

...That's why you have to do everything you can to get money. If you have any income at all right now, like an allowance, you should save most of it by spending less on stuff like food or other necessary human needs. Hey, it's for a computer, right? This, of course, would be in addition to saving your future profits.

As for ideas, all you have to think of is what you have to offer that others would want. Like I said earlier, you're on the right track already. I don't know you, so I can't give specific suggestions. Some things I've done is order stuff for them online and charge extra, or loan out money with interest (and I make sure I get paid back, nobody has ever not paid me back...). You can also rent out things you have if anyone wants 'em, like a game. It may seem a bit on the greedy side, but that's capitalism. Also, if someone is to give you a gift, always try to get money (goes without saying).

You can go with what would likely be the common suggestion and find odd jobs for your neighbors, like the mowing, but having experience in this I've found that being creative with your money is faster. It's hard to really give examples because it's circumstantial sorts of things. It helps to be savvy and a bit sneaky, and to jump at the slightest hint of an opportunity to make money.

So...what I really suggest is that you really contemplate on good ways to "persuade" the people you know out of their money. You know them best, right? You should know their weaknesses.

Answer 11

you can do jobs for all your nighbors

Answer 12

find a job

Answer 13

work at coldstones. they hire people that are 14 years old. plus i don't think you do that much besides scooping out ice cream. don't go around putting papers in their mail boxes. i don't think anyone will hire a 14 year old.