25 Safe Ways to Make Money in Your Neighborhood As a Kid (or Adult!)

What I personally like about many of these ideas is that they are perfect for kids and teens to make money, especially when paired with age-appropriate money lessons to help build smart habits early on.

In this post, I’ll share some of the best practical and legit ways to make money in your neighborhood while helping your neighbors.

No long commute or online gig required!

Easy Ways to Make Money in Your Neighborhood as a Kid

Ready to make some cash helping your neighbors?

Try these ideas.

1. Be the Neighborhood Tech Expert

• Potential earnings per hour: $10–$100

If you find yourself fixing grandma’s phone, dad’s laptop, mom’s Apple Watch, or any other family member’s various devices, you could turn that skill into cash.

How?

By becoming your neighborhood’s tech expert!

If you’re good with computers, tablets, or smartphones and know your way around even the basics, you could actually make good money as your neighborhood’s tech expert.

We all know (maybe even personally) a lot of people, especially seniors, that find technology confusing and overwhelming.

That’s where you come in.

Offer your neighbors tech help, like:

• Setting up email or social media accounts
• Teaching them how to use Zoom or Skype
• Fixing their slow internet or devices
• Showing them how to use streaming apps

Even the very basics (for you and me) like creating an Instagram account or posting a video on it is a daunting task for a lot of people. So, the amount of things you can help people with related to their everyday tech use is only limited by how much time you have, lol.

You can charge by the hour or per project. Even a few clients a week could bring in solid cash.

2. Babysit for Local Families

• Potential earnings per hour: $8-$30

Babysitting is a classic neighborhood job. It’s also a lot of fun especially if you like kids.

And parents pay decently for the service. But one of the biggest concerns many parents have is leaving their kids with strangers.

So they would love the chance to hire a babysitter who is also their neighbor or at the very least, lives in the neighborhood.

If you’re responsible and good with kids, offer your services to neighbors. Add credibility by getting CPR certified or taking a babysitting course online.

3. Do Yard Work (Lawn Mowing, Leaf Raking, Snow Shoveling)

• Potential earning per hour: $50-$100 per project

A lot of homeowners hire people to do their yard work and maintenance.

They either don’t have the time to do it themselves or are just too tired from their actual job.

Either way, they pay people to do it for them.

Again, just like with babysitting, most people would rather have somebody they “know” do small jobs like these for them.

While these are seasonal side hustles, you can pretty much always stay busy throughout the year. You can mow lawns in the summer, rake leaves in the fall, shovel snow in the winter, and plant trees, flowers, etc., in spring.

Busy homeowners are often too tired or short on time for yard work

Knock on doors or place flyers in mailboxes. With consistent clients, you could earn recurring weekly income.

4. . Bake and Sell Homemade Treats

• Potential earnings per hour: $10-$15

Love to bake?

Turn that into a money-making side hustle. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, you name it; people love fresh homemade treats.

Here’s how to start:

1. Bake a few batches of your best items
2. Offer free samples to neighbors
3. Take pre-orders for the next weekend
4. Deliver door-to-door or set up a small stand

Not only is this fun, but it also teaches kids (and adults) marketing, sales, and money management too.

5. Host a Garage Sale

• Potential earnings: Varies

Have extra toys, clothes, or household items you don’t use?

Declutter and make money with a garage sale.

A garage sale is the perfect way to get rid of old and unused stuff and make some money, all the while interacting with your neighbors and friends.

One of my most profitable garage sale events was a few years go where I made $1000 with a weekend yard sale.

To get more foot traffic to your garage sale:

• Pick a sunny weekend
• Print flyers and post them around the neighborhood
• Promote your sale on local Facebook groups

Need a few tips to get you started? Check out my post on how to hold a successful garage sale.

6. Organize a Fun Run

• Potential earnings per hour: $10-$50

We all know exercise is good for us. But a lot of us don’t do it regularly.

A lot of people seem to enjoy group-style workouts more, where you’re with others and it doesn’t even feel like exercise. It feels more like a social event.

You can turn that idea into a fun little side hustle by putting together a “Fun Run” or whatever you want to call it.

Here’s what you can do:

• Charge a small sign-up fee
• Give out homemade medals or prizes
• Ask local businesses to chip in with snacks or giveaways

It’s a great way to bring people together, make some money, and get some event planning experience.

7. Offer Pet Sitting Services

• Potential earnings per hour: $15-$20

Love animals?

Taking care of neighbor’s pets while they are away is an easy way to make some cash without leaving your street.

If you are anything like me, this won’t even feel like a job or side hustle. I genuinely enjoy playing with dogs that I would even do this for free, lol.

Anyway, you can offer to pet sit while neighbors are on vacation or at work.

You can:

• Feed cats or dogs
• Take them on short walks
• Keep them company during the day

All you have to do is let your neighbors and friends know you’re available for pet sitting. Charge a reasonable fee and you’re on your way to making some money while having a lot of fun

It’s a flexible, low-effort job that’s perfect for animal lovers. And for the amount of work it involves (not much really. It’s just you hanging out with an animal) it pays more than some entry level fast food jobs pay (Looking at you Mc Donald’s!).

8. Power Wash Driveways and Patios

• Potential earnings per hour: $15-$40

If you have a power washer machine, you can earn decent money with it.

If you don’t have one, you can pick up a decent one from your local hardware store for $200 or so.

The best part?

You can make that money back with your very first job depending on the size of it.

Heck, even if you charge $50 per driveway (which is low actually; professorial companies charge a few hundred dollars,) and you get 6 jobs a month, that’s an extra $300 a month.

Now tell me you don’t have a use for an extra $300 a month!

9. Clean & Organize garages

• Potential earnings per hour: $10-$30

If you have driven past your neighbor’s house and you cannot help but notice that their garage is filled with boxes piled up to the ceiling, maybe it is time you went up to them and offered to organize their stuff.

This could be a stepping-stone for you if you aspire to become a professional organizer.

Depending on the condition of your neighbor’s garage (or any other space they need cleaning and organizing), it may take you a day or the whole weekend to complete the job. It actually is a great way to make money on the weekend.

10. House Sitting

• Potential earnings per hour: $15-$25

When neighbors go on vacation, they want peace of mind.

Sure, a lot of people use Ring cameras or other surveillance systems to keep an eye on things, but many would rather combine those with someone who can actually watch their house while they’re gone. Someone they know and trust, like a neighbor.

That’s where you come in.

You can:

• Water plants
• Feed pets
• Take in mail
• Check on security
• etc.

You don’t need to sleep over (unless that’s what the homeowners want you to do), just visit the house daily to check things and report back.

More Simple Neighborhood Side Hustles

Looking for even more ways to earn money locally?

Good news! There are many other ways you can earn money in your own neighborhood. There are many services you can offer and many things you can sell to make money.

Here are a few more easy, low-cost side hustles most kids, teens, or beginners can start right in their own neighborhood:

1. Set up a lemonade stand: A timeless classic, especially in warm weather.
2. Sell handmade crafts or artwork: Try friendship bracelets, drawings, or greeting cards.
3. Wash cars or bikes: A bucket, sponge, and water are all you need.
4. Take out trash or recycling: Easy weekly task, especially for elderly neighbors.
5. Run small errands: Like picking up groceries or mail.
6. Help with grocery shopping: Help older neighbors or busy families.
7. Recycle cans or bottles: Earn money while helping the environment.
8. Help with house chores: Sweep floors, fold laundry, or tidy up.
9. Help pack or organize: Great for people who are moving or spring cleaning.
10. Tutor younger kids: Help with reading, math, or homework.
11. Read to younger kids or seniors: A thoughtful service that’s also fun.
12. Decorate or help with party planning: For birthdays, holidays, or events.
13. Sell flowers or homegrown produce: If you have a garden, this is a great option.
14. Offer pet waste removal services: Yes, you’ll be picking up dog poop, but see it as picking up extra cash!
15. Wash neighbors’ windows: It is easy & you have all the tools in your garage already!

These creative jobs are perfect for kids aged 8 to 15, and even adults or stay-at-home parents looking to earn extra income from home.

A Quick Tip

Want to look more professional?

• Make a simple price list for your services
• Print flyers or posters and hand them out
• Offer bundle deals (e.g., 4 weeks of lawn care for $60)
• Get agreements in writing with a short service contract
• Ask for deposits to secure long-term jobs

This builds trust and can help you turn side jobs into steady income.

Neighborhood Side Hustles Summary

Jobs may be hard to find, we all know that!

But here’s the thing…

Opportunities are all around us, literally.

As you’ve seen in this post, there are plenty of creative and practical ways to make money in your neighborhood. Whether you’re a teenager looking for your first job or just want to earn extra cash, these ideas can help you get started fast.

Pick one, take action, and start earning today, right in your own backyard.