Let’s talk about money. Not just how to spend it—but how to earn it.
Up until now, your experience with money might have come through birthday cards, holiday gifts, or an allowance. It may have shown up in your account, in cash, or on a gift card. But at some point, something shifts. You begin to realize that money doesn’t just appear—it’s something you have to go out and earn.
That’s not a bad thing. In fact, learning to earn your own money might be one of the most empowering things you’ll ever do.
Why Earning Money Feels Different
When you start making your own money, whether through a part-time job, freelance work, or helping out a neighbor you start to feel the connection between effort and reward. That $40 you just earned for tutoring someone or mowing a lawn means more than the $40 you received as a gift because you worked for it. You begin to appreciate what goes into earning money, and you start thinking a little more carefully about how you use it.
Earning also builds confidence. There’s something satisfying about knowing that you can support yourself, even just a little. Whether you’re saving up for a concert, paying for gas, or chipping in for something bigger, it feels good to know it came from you. And with every dollar you earn, you’re learning responsibility, time management, and how to interact with people professionally—skills that will benefit you far beyond your first job.
How to Start Earning at Your Age
You don’t need to wait until you graduate to start making money. There are ways to earn at every stage of life. If you’re in high school, this might look like babysitting, helping out with tech support for neighbors, pet sitting, or doing yardwork. Some people sell things online or take on creative projects like custom art or social media help for small businesses.
In college, you might explore on-campus jobs, part-time roles in your field of study, paid internships, or freelance gigs. Many students also tutor others, work in dining services, or find roles that fit into their academic schedule. Of course, summer jobs are where you typically can focus the most on your savings.
If you’re a young adult just starting your career, this is where side gigs, contract work, and entry-level jobs start to come into play. You might pick up a part-time role while applying for full-time work or turn a hobby into income on the side.
What matters most is that you begin to see your skills—whether it’s fixing things, designing, teaching, organizing, or just being reliable—as valuable. And when you realize people will pay for that value, you’re on your way to financial independence.
What You Learn Along the Way
Earning money isn’t just about having more of it. It’s about learning how to manage it well. When you work for your money, you naturally start setting goals. You might decide to save for something specific, put a percentage away in savings, or even give some to a cause you care about.
You also learn about trade-offs. Do you spend $20 on fast food now, or do you save it toward something that matters more? Do you take an extra shift or spend that time studying for an exam? These are the kinds of choices that build strong decision-making habits—not just about money, but about life.
Over time, earning helps you appreciate the value of your time. You begin to weigh purchases not just in dollars, but in hours of work. And that perspective makes you a more thoughtful spender, saver, and planner.
Think About This
What would you do with your first paycheck—or your next one? Would you save it? Spend a little and save the rest? Treat someone? Your answer says something about your priorities, and it’s a great way to start thinking about how you want money to support your goals and values.
Try asking someone older in your life what they did with their first paycheck. You might be surprised by what you learn.
Challenge for the Week
This week, take a few minutes to think about how you could start earning—or, if you already are, how you could use that money in a way that helps you grow. Write down one short-term goal and one way you could take a step toward earning. It doesn’t have to be big. Just start.
This is Week 1 of our Financial Literacy Month series. Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how to spend, save, and borrow wisely—so you can feel more confident with money and stay on the “RightTrak”.