iEARN

Before you spend the money, you have to earn it. There are two money-earning times to think about:

Now — How will you earn money as a teen?

Later — How will you earn money as an adult?

If you’re not even 16 years old yet, what type of job can you get?

You can earn extra money by:

• Negotiating with parents to do more work around the house and earn additional money – Let’s get this straight. Your parents don’t owe you any extra money. But, if they’re like most parents, they want you to learn how to handle your money—how to save it and not spend it all the day you get it.
• Babysitting – Are you responsible? Do you like children? Are you willing to read to kids and play games with them? Then you might be a good babysitter.
• Working for neighbors or family – Perhaps you can do odd jobs for your neighbors or family members. These jobs include mowing the grass, pulling weeds, raking leaves, and walking the dog.
• Delivering newspapers – This is a good job if you like to keep moving a bit while you work!

What does the law say about working?

According to the Department of Labor you are allowed to work. But your age and whether it’s during the school year determine how many hours each week you may work—and what type of work you may do.

In fact, there’s something called the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to this Act, you must be at least 14 years old for most work. However, you can do some types of work no matter what your age. These jobs include:

• Delivering newspapers
• Performing for radio, television, movies or theater
• Working in businesses owned by your parents (with certain exceptions)

The United States Department of Labor has even set up a Web site especially for you. It’s called Youth Rules! You’ll find lots of information including the:

• Hours you may work
• Jobs you may do
• Your state’s rules about the hours you can work

And, because “Youth Rules!” is connected to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Web site, you can also find out the:

• Jobs you may not do
• Rules for agricultural employment

Do you need a work permit?

Federal law does not require that you have a work permit, but some states do. You can contact the labor office in your state to learn if you need a work permit. Click here to find your state’s labor office.