Flea Markets - a Great Way for Kids to Make Money

Teaching Kids Valuable Lessons is Easy While They Reduce Costs for You!

Melanie L. Marten
In these days of rising entertainment costs, kids often want to find a way to supplement their allowance. Parents, tired of shelling out $50.00 for a video game or $20.00 for a trip to the movies, may insist that their kids find a way to earn money for themselves. Selling at the flea market is a great way for kids to make money for themselves.

Why sell things at the flea market?

Children under a certain age are not allowed to work in stores or offices. However, they are perfectly able to help their parent or friend at a flea market. Of course, they could hold a garage sale as well. The problem with garage sales is two-fold: you cannot, in some towns, hold them regularly, and you have limited customers.

Flea markets are often held every week. This provides an excellent way for kids to supplement their allowance or earn regular money for themselves. They also have a large amount of customers ready to buy things from the flea market vendors.

Flea markets can also be fun! There are plenty of people to talk to, and many interesting things to see. If the kid is trying to save up money to buy something special, they might even find it cheaper at the flea market.

What kind of things can kids sell?

Kids can sell any type of used or homemade goods. They can sell new items if an adult with a resale license provides them and the adult makes sure to collect sales tax.

A great side effect of kids selling things at the flea market is a reduction in clutter in the home. They will gladly sell an old video game they no longer play for a chance to buy a new one. They will reduce their toy pile to get rid of toys that they have outgrown.

Handmade items are also a great thing for kids to sell. It is easy to make attractive key rings, costume jewelry, wreaths, and other craft items that people will buy. This not only provides cash for the kids selling them, but a pleasant way to fill time without complaining of boredom.

What will this teach children about money?

Flea market sales can teach a fabulous lesson on money, commerce, and business to your kids. If they are selling used items, they must learn how to appropriately price their items. This will teach them about marketing to the demand.

If they are selling handcrafted items, they must first purchase the supplies, and then calculate the price based on that cost plus the time they spent.

At a flea market, it is often expected that a buyer can haggle for an item that they wish to purchase. Kids can learn to reduce prices while still maintaining their profit. It will also help with their public speaking abilities and teaches them how to act in a business situation.

Selling items they find, make, or buy at the flea market can be a great way for kids to earn extra money for anything that they want. It will not only provide cash, but it will teach them a valuable lesson about working and finances. Selling at the flea market is a great way to introduce kids to the world of commerce.

Published by Melanie L. Marten

Melanie Marten is self-taught and self-employed. Besides freelance writing, she dabbles in website design and owns dozens of websites and blogs. Work is squeezed in between parenting two boys, homeschoolin...   View profile

  • Learn more about flea market sales at Flea Market Mama!
  • Selling at the flea market is a great way for kids to make money for themselves.
  • A great side effect of kids selling things at the flea market is a reduction in clutter in the home.
  • Flea market sales can teach a fabulous lesson on money, commerce, and business to your kids.
Kids who earn their own money usually respect their belongings more.

1 Comments

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  • Joshua Cook 7/6/2008

    I'm learning a lot about flea markets this morning. LOL.

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