I am going to be a minor until senior year (Stupid end of summer birthdays) but I want to start saving up for college. I was/am a tutor (no tutees right now though because I am only a freshman and the only tutee I had quit) and once the weather gets better (in NJ) I will give violin lessons to kids in elementary school. My mom doesn’t want me to babysit and be responsible for the welfare of someone else’s kids, so what other jobs can I do? Thanks!
Mow lawns, pet sit, shovel snow if we get more. You do know that you can work at age 16? You could look for a little job busing tables in a restaurant. Or selling tickets at an amusement park.
My 15yo D worked at a bakery doing counter sales last summer. She loved it. Because she was under 16 (maybe it is 18?), she had to get a form signed by local superintendent’s office in order to work, but it was easy enough. She ended up saving almost $1500. This summer she will be able to work more hours and I expect save even more.
Ask school and check state department of labor about a Work Permit.
At 14 & 15 my kids were employed as horse wranglers. If individual babysitting is out, see if you can get on with a church as part of team babysitting for small group meetings/services (nights/weekends) or other regular child care situations where there are lots of children and teen helpers are needed, but not in charge. Also there are mother helpers, housework, yard work, pet care type odd jobs that can turn into regular gigs if you establish yourself as responsible and mature.
@thumper1 Sorry, I meant to say I’ll turn 16 start of junior year, not senior.
@dyiu13 @mamom I’ll find out about work permits, I have a friend who needed them, and now he works at ShopRite, so I’ll ask him. Thanks!
@hmays1 I love fish and aquariums, so I actually considered starting a fish maintenance company with my friends. I will look into the lawn work idea tho, thanks!
Some places here hire teens at 15, 16. If they are under 18 they need working papers which they can get through the high school.
Most work at grocery stores, restaurants, spring will be here soon, many work a summer job at an ice cream place.
Start looking NOW for summer jobs.
14 is the minimal age to work and my D needs to fill a form at school. She worked at a bakery retail for a few summers. Tutoring at home does not need that form though.
Just remember if you do petsitting, babysitting, tutoring, music lessons or similar and you get paid, you will have to report your income on financial aid forms when the time comes to apply for FA.
You might also have to file a tax return.
Income shouldn’t be a problem if it’s below ~6k. Assets still have to be reported on the FAFSA, though. So buy what you were gonna buy for college ahead of time, where possible.
https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employed-Individuals-Tax-Center
Yes, for FAFSA purposes the student income gets several deductions (tax paid, state tax deduction, social security tax deduction, income protection amount which is $6400 for FAFSA 2016/17), but income still has to be reported.
I was just bringing this up because I have seen college applicants here that program apps and sell them, tutor, babysit or have income from other self employment and then are surprised to hear that they are supposed to file tax returns and report that income on financial aid forms. “But I didn’t make much, only like a $1000.”
Such part time income most likely will not impact level of aid, which is first dependent on parent income and assets anyway.
But yes if a student is saving up money specifically for college then it might be a good idea to put that in a 529 account (college savings account) because it counts as parent asset.
Babysitting in the parents’ home isn’t SE income. It’s “household employee wages not on a W-2” and goes on Line 7 Wages with a HH notation to the left.
^^ Actually, the notation is HSH. From the form 1040EZ instructions:
Thanks - it’s been >5 years since I’ve seen a HH EE return.
@neophite -> I love fish and aquariums, so I actually considered starting a fish maintenance company with my friends. I will look into the lawn work idea tho, thanks!
Fish maintenance? That’s smart. I can think of three families right now who would pay to have someone help out with their tanks. No matter what you do – good luck!
thanks for the tips and heads-ups everyone!