13 answers
Cal
Student
2
Questions
Asked
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If I am In middle school and want to start finding a part time job ahead of time to save up for college, what is the best jobs I can look up to or how can I start my life like if I should get a job first, live in family house while working or find a cheap place while working.?
How did you get a successful life?
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13 answers
Tirzah Buie, CPA
Operations Strategy & Planning Leader
14
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Tirzah’s Answer
Cal, you sound very goal oriented and ambitious, and this self-motivation can take you far in life! It's great that you know you want to go to college as many young people struggle with knowing what they want to do later in life. I started working at a newsstand in middle school from time to time and sold flowers on Mother's Day. I enjoyed this experience and learned a lot. I think I am carrying some lessons I learned with me even today.
There are many creative and age-appropriate ways to earn money. Open a bank account and keep adding funds to it every chance you receive money. You can ask family members and friends for ideas. In addition to these suggestions, here are some of the best options I can think of:
1. Babysitting - You can set your own schedule and negotiate your rate. Spread the word throughout your friends, family and neighbors. Create a flyer or find an app to explain when you are available and highlight any skills.
2. Pet Sitting or Dog /Cat Walking - Pets need a lot of physical exercise to maintain their health. Sometimes people are too busy or might be traveling and need some part-time help.
3. Yard work - Each season offers a chance to work with nature. Maybe you could rake leaves, pick up trash, mow the lawn, plant flowers or shovel snow.
4. Lemonade stands - Find an event and ask your parents if you can make and provide lemonade to attendees. You might need to talk to the event manager about this.
5. Tutoring Younger Kids - Are you great in a particular subject area (math, science, crafts, art, etc...)? If so, ask your teachers if there's someone who could benefit from your knowledge.
6. Create internet content - Are you good with technology? If so, you could sell different products or test games or find a topic you love and are passionate about. Ask your parents first.
7. Cleaning and organizing - There will always be someone who needs this kind of help. If there are elderly people in your life, you could start by asking them what kind of help they need as many elderly people have mobility issues.
8. Investments - Ask family members to buy you stocks or bonds as a gift for birthdays or other celebrations which you can later sell to use for college.
If you pick something and stick to it for a while, I think you will be surprised at how much money you can earn and save. This will help you develop other skills and build your confidence in your own abilities. Go for it!
Let your parents know what you are interested in trying.
Create a proposal of how you can spend your time on different tasks and projects and how this will benefit you in the future.
With your parents' permission, pick one or two ideas to start and offer your services to everyone you know.
Make sure you let people know how they can pay you for these services and what your goals are.
There are many creative and age-appropriate ways to earn money. Open a bank account and keep adding funds to it every chance you receive money. You can ask family members and friends for ideas. In addition to these suggestions, here are some of the best options I can think of:
1. Babysitting - You can set your own schedule and negotiate your rate. Spread the word throughout your friends, family and neighbors. Create a flyer or find an app to explain when you are available and highlight any skills.
2. Pet Sitting or Dog /Cat Walking - Pets need a lot of physical exercise to maintain their health. Sometimes people are too busy or might be traveling and need some part-time help.
3. Yard work - Each season offers a chance to work with nature. Maybe you could rake leaves, pick up trash, mow the lawn, plant flowers or shovel snow.
4. Lemonade stands - Find an event and ask your parents if you can make and provide lemonade to attendees. You might need to talk to the event manager about this.
5. Tutoring Younger Kids - Are you great in a particular subject area (math, science, crafts, art, etc...)? If so, ask your teachers if there's someone who could benefit from your knowledge.
6. Create internet content - Are you good with technology? If so, you could sell different products or test games or find a topic you love and are passionate about. Ask your parents first.
7. Cleaning and organizing - There will always be someone who needs this kind of help. If there are elderly people in your life, you could start by asking them what kind of help they need as many elderly people have mobility issues.
8. Investments - Ask family members to buy you stocks or bonds as a gift for birthdays or other celebrations which you can later sell to use for college.
If you pick something and stick to it for a while, I think you will be surprised at how much money you can earn and save. This will help you develop other skills and build your confidence in your own abilities. Go for it!
Tirzah recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
sophia
Michael Cubert
Manufacturing Specialist
4
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Michael’s Answer
There's a lot of good advice here about being responsible with your money, which you should absolutely do. In fact, I'd look at getting with a financial advisor. Make sure they are a fiduciary - those people have an obligation to do what's in your interest and not what they can make money on. They also help with other life planning, like education savings, managing your life basically. Maybe your parents already use one. You should check.
You don't have to decide what you're going to do as a career now. You should try a lot of different things and see what you like doing. Here is where you can challenge your safety zone a bit. Try tech, music, art, writing, build something with your hands and get in nature. Travel. No matter what field people are in they generally enjoy creating. So figure out all the ways you can create things and start trying them to see what connects with you.
Find people that you trust or inspire you and ask them lots of questions, just like you did here. Form relationships around those people and you will have a built-in support system when things get hard. Which they will.
You don't have to decide what you're going to do as a career now. You should try a lot of different things and see what you like doing. Here is where you can challenge your safety zone a bit. Try tech, music, art, writing, build something with your hands and get in nature. Travel. No matter what field people are in they generally enjoy creating. So figure out all the ways you can create things and start trying them to see what connects with you.
Find people that you trust or inspire you and ask them lots of questions, just like you did here. Form relationships around those people and you will have a built-in support system when things get hard. Which they will.
Loved reading this, thanks!
sophia
Katelyn Jeffrey
Client Experience Specialist
3
Answers
Surprise, Arizona
Updated
Katelyn’s Answer
Cal, it's commendable that you're eager to get ahead. Consider exploring opportunities like babysitting or pet sitting, which can be rewarding and help you save money. Remember, maintaining a balance is crucial—prioritize your education to keep your grades strong. Best of luck!
Alexandra Monroy
Client Service Coordinator
2
Answers
Yorba Linda, California
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
Babysitting, dog walking, and tutoring are great options for someone in middle school wanting to prepare for the work world. When I was in middle school, I babysat for family friends, neighbors, and families from my church. When I turned 15.5, I got my first job at a smoothie bar then a local restaurant as a hostess when I turned 16.
Jake Schachter
Audit
12
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Jake’s Answer
Hi. If possible, I would suggest trying to avoid getting a job until later in high school. Once in high school, it will be possible to get a job at a grocery store or an internship in an office. School doesn’t last forever, and I enjoying it and building relationships when possible.
Cung Nguyen
46
Answers
Updated
Cung’s Answer
Cal, right now you're aiming to find a part-time job to earn some extra money and save for college. It's crucial to work part-time so it won't interfere with your studies, helping you achieve the grades needed to get into college. If you can find a job close to your family home, that's even better. Staying with family is great, especially when enjoying a home-cooked meal after a long day. Plus, you'll save more money for your college fund this way. Remember, the goal is to go to college and graduate with a degree. The work you're doing now is temporary and will help you financially prepare for college. Along the way, you'll also gain valuable skills like communication and customer service, which you won't learn in school. Keep going, work hard, study hard, and you'll finish college with the degree you desire. Good luck!
Nicole Baillie
Data Analyst
499
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Hi Cal. Good for you for planning ahead!
Middle school may be a bit early for you to land a job...even a part time job. But if that is not the case for you, is there any chance you can find a part time job that aligns with your interests? For example, some folks of middle school age are into crafts or lego building or writing. What if...your creative mind takes you to looking into part time jobs at summer camps or craft stores or animal shelters or book stores?
In general, the average amount of years that a person will work is 40years (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) so I encourage you to pace yourself in terms of the age you start to work. You have many years of working and learning ahead of you. :)
Hope you find this answer helpful and best of luck to you!
Middle school may be a bit early for you to land a job...even a part time job. But if that is not the case for you, is there any chance you can find a part time job that aligns with your interests? For example, some folks of middle school age are into crafts or lego building or writing. What if...your creative mind takes you to looking into part time jobs at summer camps or craft stores or animal shelters or book stores?
In general, the average amount of years that a person will work is 40years (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) so I encourage you to pace yourself in terms of the age you start to work. You have many years of working and learning ahead of you. :)
Hope you find this answer helpful and best of luck to you!
Robin Hicks
Civil Construction
1
Answer
Ashland, Massachusetts
Updated
Robin’s Answer
There are plenty of jobs in the hospitality field, you get to meet people , save money. Remember that being happy is the most important thing in life.
Stay at home or in a safe environment.
Stay at home or in a safe environment.
ray leonard
2
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
ray’s Answer
Cal,
I am so happy you are here today and planning ahead. Awesome job! There are so many ways to pay for college tuitions and fees and one way and the easiest way would be to excel in all your school assignments and projects and pay for college through scholarships. When you have all As, many nonprofits organizations support those students. I would focus on school for now and through my high schools and what by itself would pay for all the saving you plan you save by working now. I wish you best of luck. Take good care and hope to hear form you next year again.
I am so happy you are here today and planning ahead. Awesome job! There are so many ways to pay for college tuitions and fees and one way and the easiest way would be to excel in all your school assignments and projects and pay for college through scholarships. When you have all As, many nonprofits organizations support those students. I would focus on school for now and through my high schools and what by itself would pay for all the saving you plan you save by working now. I wish you best of luck. Take good care and hope to hear form you next year again.
Celina Dang
Accountant
5
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Celina’s Answer
Hi Cal, I love how you're planning for your future career. Not many people do this. Since you're in middle school, think about part-time jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, or tutoring. Once you're in high school or college, reach out to professors or mentors to learn about internships in engineering or any field you're interested in.
Connecting with peers and professors and attending career fairs are key steps to getting internships and real-world experience. For me, getting an internship in college was the first step that led to a full-time job after graduation.
Connecting with peers and professors and attending career fairs are key steps to getting internships and real-world experience. For me, getting an internship in college was the first step that led to a full-time job after graduation.
Ariella Mikail (née Azizi)
State and Local Tax Accountant
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Ariella’s Answer
Hey Cal!
Good for you for planning ahead! You sound very ambitious!
For someone your age, I would recommend babysitting. Websites like care.com allow you to find families who are seeking babysitters/nannies. Depending on your community, you can charge anywhere from $18-35 per hour. This is a great way to make some extra pocket money while "networking" with families in your community as well. As you get into high school, you can start working at retail stores/restaurants, interning at companies you're interested in, etc. You can usually apply for these on Linkedin, company's websites, etc.
Whatever path you choose, I would say to always make sure to invest your earnings. Personally, I invest in the VOO fund through Vanguard. Its a S&P 500 fund that has a great rate of return. You can call Vanguard to get started. By investing, the money you earn can grow on its own at a rate of 10% per year. To provide an example, if you made $150 babysitting in a month and you invested that money, you could end up with $165 at the end of the year.
Hope this helps! Best of luck!
Good for you for planning ahead! You sound very ambitious!
For someone your age, I would recommend babysitting. Websites like care.com allow you to find families who are seeking babysitters/nannies. Depending on your community, you can charge anywhere from $18-35 per hour. This is a great way to make some extra pocket money while "networking" with families in your community as well. As you get into high school, you can start working at retail stores/restaurants, interning at companies you're interested in, etc. You can usually apply for these on Linkedin, company's websites, etc.
Whatever path you choose, I would say to always make sure to invest your earnings. Personally, I invest in the VOO fund through Vanguard. Its a S&P 500 fund that has a great rate of return. You can call Vanguard to get started. By investing, the money you earn can grow on its own at a rate of 10% per year. To provide an example, if you made $150 babysitting in a month and you invested that money, you could end up with $165 at the end of the year.
Hope this helps! Best of luck!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
sophia
Natalie Cameron
Administrative Support
2
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Natalie’s Answer
Hi! I'm so proud of you for thinking ahead! It's definitely a great way to start on the path to success. When I was in middle school, I babysat and worked in a unisex salon, sweeping floors and keeping the space tidy and stocked. I grew up with humble beginnings. My parents didn't have much, so I did what I could to help in any way possible. Babysitting and cleaning were easy jobs that earned me enough to meet my goal of helping my dad with his monthly bills. Asking this question shows that you're well on your way to achieving great things! Keep at it and don't give up when it gets tough, because it will get tough. Fight against the odds, persevere, and you'll get to the other side. Wishing you much success, Cal!
Peter Burns, CPA - Audit Partner
Partner at public accounting firm - audit
6
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Peter’s Answer
I would say get started with anything, odds jobs, mowing lawn, walking peoples dogs, taking care of neighbors mail when they are away. The most important thing to learn at a young age is to learn to have a good work ethic of doing good quality hard work no matter what the task is. I truly believe building these habits and ethic at a young age you cannot put a value on that skill set and will be invaluable for the rest of your life no matter what it is that you would like to do in life.