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The Job Market

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It isn't easy to save money if you don't have any money to begin with. This is where a job usually comes in handy.

Unfortunately, as the economy crashes, fewer people want someone to mow their lawn or watch their kids while they're out.

Instead they often just do it themselves or stay at home.

So, it's necessary to look beyond the obvious for work.

Here are some tips as you think about creative ways to earn money:

Make use of your strengths. One thing to think about is what skills only you have. For example, if you really enjoy writing, as I do, look for jobs that give you an opportunity to do that.

A student, Matti, who goes to my school, offered to do a piece about the views of a high schooler for our local newspaper, "The Clinton Topper" (Clinton, Wis.) Creative Job Making

By using her impressive writing ability along with the fact that she had an interesting story to tell, Matti made a niche for herself. It's a job that only she is suited for.

She wants to make a profession of writing, so her column is helping build her portfolio. She's getting the opportunity to hone her skills, increase her college admission chances, and have something to show to future employers. They love experience!

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Look for an internship. Internships are another way to capitalize on your interests. If you have a unique talent or interest in a profession, look for a paid internship.

This could lead to other jobs by providing training and experience.

Be competitive. Especially in a weak economy, charging less or offering better services than the competition could boost your chances of landing the gig.

Make and sell stuff. Many kids in our communities grow crops such as rhubarb, or have chickens that lay eggs. It's legal to keep chickens in our town! They then sell their products during the summer and fall.

Sell stuff online. Remember when you were six and decided to have a yard sale? Ebay is essentially like that, except you have more control over how things go.

Read Emily's and others' advice on winning writing contests.

Craig's List is another meeting place for buying, selling or trading in your community.

These are great ways to get rid of stuff you don't need, as long as you use the sites safely and have parental permission. Also, remember to look online for cheaper stuff.

Enter Contests. There are many writing and photo contests, like the C-Note photo contest, which offer monetary prizes.

I know that many of you who read C-Note have writing and artistic ambitions, so these are some great opportunities.

Check out this writing contests site about creative writing contests.

Apply to the C-Note Teenage Panel. I did, and earned money for nine months as an editor for this site. After that stint was finished, I kept submitting stories and earning more money.

Do you like to write? You can apply for this position too! Read how I earned and saved this money to help pay for a trip to Japan!

Thriftiness is coming back into fashion. Perhaps the leaders of this new fashion trend will be teenagers. We've led every other trend. Why not this one?