When you need money quickly, for a trip, a present or something you have been saving for, it is tempting to try anything that promises fast cash. Most of the things that promise it online are scams. The quickest real money for teenagers is almost always local work you can do this week.
The fastest legitimate ways to earn
- Wash cars this weekend. A few cars on your street on a Saturday morning can be done and paid for in hours. Read how to make money washing cars.
- Clear leaves or tidy gardens. In autumn and spring there is always more garden work than people want to do.
- Walk dogs after school. One or two regular walks a week turn into reliable money quickly.
- Offer tech help. Setting up a phone, tablet or smart TV for someone older takes an hour and is worth paying for.
- Sell things you no longer use. Old games, clothes or sports kit, sold with a parent through their account, since most selling apps are 18+.
- Do extra jobs at home. Clearing out the garage or washing the family car can be worth agreeing a price for.
- Pick up a one-off job on KidsHustle. Paid jobs posted by verified adults near you, with payment set aside before you start.
For the full list by age, see how to make money as a teenager in the UK.
How much can you make quickly?
Be realistic. A teenager working a busy Saturday on local jobs might make enough for a meal out or a game, not hundreds of pounds. If something promises you hundreds for very little effort, that is your first warning sign. The price guide shows what typical jobs pay.
Scams aimed at teenagers
Money mule offers
Someone offers you cash to let money pass through your bank account, or to send it on to someone else. It is presented as easy money, but it is money laundering, it can get your account closed and it can lead to a criminal record. Never let anyone use your account, card or details.
Parcel reshipping jobs
You are asked to receive parcels at home and post them on. The goods are usually bought with stolen card details, and you are the one whose address is on the parcels.
Paid to chat or paid to like
Apps and messages promising money for chatting, liking posts or watching videos often end up asking for personal details, photos or a fee to withdraw your earnings, which never arrive.
Jobs that cost money to start
Any job that asks you to pay a joining fee, buy a starter kit or pay for training before you earn anything is almost certainly a scam.
Trading and crypto schemes
Social media posts showing teenagers making thousands from trading are selling a course or a scheme, not showing you how to earn.
How to spot a scam
- It promises a lot of money for very little work.
- It asks you to pay something first.
- It wants your bank details, card or login.
- It asks you to keep it secret from your parents.
- It moves the conversation to a private messaging app quickly.
If you have been approached, talk to a parent or another adult you trust straight away, and if money or your account is involved, contact your bank.
Earn fast, safely
On KidsHustle every job is posted by an ID-verified adult, every listing is checked before it goes live, your parent approves the job before you apply, and payment is set aside before you start, so you are paid when the job is done. Download KidsHustle and find a job you can do this week.