Okay so my kid cousin just turned sixteen last week and kept bugging me about getting some cash flow rolling. “Dude how do I even start?” Got me thinking back to my own desperate times needing money for gas and concert tickets. Figured I’d test drive some classic teen gigs myself before telling him what’s actually worth it.
The Great Yard Work Experiment
First stop? Yard work. Sounds simple right? Borrowed Dad’s rusty mower and marched over to Mrs. Henderson’s next door. Figured I’d charge twenty bucks for her tiny patch of grass. Mistake number one: didn’t check the weather. Midway through? Torrential downpour. Mud everywhere – my jeans, the mower, me. Finished looking like a swamp monster. She paid me thirty actually, felt bad I guess. Still spent ten bucks at the laundromat cleaning up. Verdict? Weather app is your best friend. Small lawns only unless you got industrial gear.
Dog Walking Disaster
Saw a flyer for dog walkers at the coffee shop. Easy money! Thought I’d start with Mr. Callahan’s little dachshund, Winston. Winston saw the leash? Pure joy. Got two blocks down? He spotted a squirrel. Lost. My. Mind. Leash became a tripwire, I hit the pavement, and Winston dragged me like a ragdoll through someone’s flower bed. Ended up paying FOR those flowers. The dog got extra treats from Mr. Callahan. I got bruises and zero dollars. Big learning curve here folks. Test drive the dog before committing.
Tutoring Trials
Okay, pivot. Safer indoors! Floated my math skills to some neighbors. Young teen, let’s call him Ben, struggling with algebra. Charged fifteen bucks an hour. First session? Found out he knew way more than he let on. Kid was sharp, just lazy. Felt less like tutoring, more like babysitting a tiny genius who refused to show his work. The mom paid happily though. Good money if you can handle the frustration. Patience level required: extreme.
Retail Reality Check
Finally caved and applied in-person at the mall. Generic sports store. Manager handed me a dusty application clip-board. “Can you work weekends? Holidays? Close on Thursdays?” Felt more like an interrogation. Minimum wage, yeah, but also guaranteed hours which none of the other gigs offered. Uniform was an ugly polo shirt. Honestly? Least chaotic option. Clock in, fold shirts, clock out. Predictable. Boring, but pays the bills without risking your kneecaps on squirrel patrol.
So What Actually Works?
Here’s the deal after my sweaty, muddy, slightly humiliating test run:
- Yard Work: Good for quick cash if you hustle HARD and avoid rain/massive properties.
- Dog Walking: Potentially fun, potentially terrifying. Know the animal first. Demand premium for big/strong breeds.
- Tutoring: Best hourly rate by far ($15-$20+) but man… you gotta earn that pay mentally. Only for calm humans.
- Retail/Fast Food: Ugly shirts, boring hours, but consistent paychecks. Necessary evil if you need serious cash.
My advice to my cousin? Start with one solid tutoring client for basics, use retail for weekend backup cash, try dog walking only AFTER a meet-n-greet, and skip the mowing unless you got muscles and dry skies. It’s all about stacking gigs that fit your tolerance for chaos. Mine? Running low after Winston the Squirrel Hunter.
