Summer is the perfect time for teenagers to get into a bit of extra money-making. Balancing summer vacations with part-time jobs and other commitments can be tricky, but there are plenty of ways to make some cash without having to give up too much time or energy. Here are some great ideas for how you can top up your pocket money.

1. Sell band merchandise

If you're in rock, pop, or metal bands then selling your own t-shirts and posters can be an easy way to make some cash without relying on commission from live shows alone. This is especially true if you write your own music, but even if someone else is composing for the band it's still possible to walk away with a decent amount of cash. It all comes down to the design, as you need to make sure your band merchandise looks professional and attractive to people browsing through it online.

If you're designing on a computer there are plenty of free websites which offer basic graphics editing tools, but if it's possible I'd recommend taking the designs over to a professional print shop. They'll be able to give you advice on things like color schemes and fonts, and the importance of doing this can't be overstated.

2. Sell your gaming time

If you play video games as much as I do then there's never any harm in trying to sell your services for some extra pocket money. The easiest way to do this is through the numerous websites which offer game time for sale.

The market for games like League of Legends and World of Warcraft is huge, so if you have a strong skill set in any arena then why not sell your services?

There are loads of easy ways to make money in gaming, from giving expert advice on YouTube or via the Twitch TV streaming service to providing potent weapons and armor for fellow players. The best advice I can give is to make sure you're always around, as people are less likely to buy from someone who simply isn't available!

3. Become a mechanic

If you have any sort of interest in cars then it's worth getting your hands dirty by taking up a job as a mechanic. If you live in an area with lots of garages and mechanics then finding work shouldn't be too difficult, but if you don't want to be tied down by vehicle-based employment then why not look at becoming a bicycle repairman?

The primary advantage of working on bikes rather than cars is the ease with which you can set up your own garage, and by choosing to do this you're saving yourself a lot of money in both rent and overheads.

The only real downside is the lack of power tools, as there are few things more frustrating than having to spend 30 minutes taking apart an old bike with nothing but Allen keys.

4. Sell app-based services

Thanks to the rise of the mobile app market, it's now easier than ever for teenagers to make money with their phones.

There are numerous websites that will pay you a few dollars if you install an app on your phone and leave it there for a week or longer. Some apps will even payout several times over, so once you've made a few bucks you can simply uninstall the apps and repeat the process with another one.

If you want to get even more cash then visit freelance platform Fiverr, which is full of offers for people to do anything from taking surveys to writing blog posts.

It's also possible to build up a small business by selling your services, but you should be aware that some of the competition can be fierce!

5. Sell your hobby knowledge

If you have any particular hobbies which are costly then it's always worth selling your skills and knowledge in order to make a quick buck.

For example, if you play Magic: The Gathering (MTG) then why not sell tips and advice online about how to improve your game? You can even sell cards on the various MTG websites like Magic: The Gathering Online and eBay, as well as real-life cards at your local card shop or comic book store.

6. Turn your talents into cash

No matter what kind of talent you have, there's probably someone out there who would pay for it. If you're good at writing then why not put a short story on Amazon Kindle? You can make quite reasonable sums of money doing this and once your book gets enough reviews you'll be able to sell it for a profit.

If you have any kind of musical or artistic talent then selling your work online is also a great way to earn money, but don't be tempted to sell anything that's been copied from the internet: always provide original content and if possible use creative commons licensed artwork.

7. Become an app developer

The best advice I can give you regarding making money as a teenager is to make sure you move away from single-activity jobs and start creating something for yourself.

Following on from the above example, if you've created a successful app then it's relatively easy to turn this into a business by selling your skills to other people. If you have any ideas for new apps then you can develop these using sites like Jango and AppMakr.

8. Be a tutor

If you have any particular skills which can help other people then it's worth giving lessons in exchange for money.

If you're good at something as simple as English or Spanish then you could definitely set yourself up as a language tutor, but don't be afraid to charge more for your services if you see yourself as being particularly talented.

9. Be an artist

While it's true that technology has made it harder than ever to make money as a musician, there are still some musicians who are making vast sums of money by simply releasing free music online.

Sites like Bandcamp allow artists to release their music without charging for downloads, meaning that they can focus on selling merchandise and concert tickets. If you're a particularly talented artist then you might be able to make your money back by selling prints or other forms of physical artwork.

10. Start a blog

It's now easier than ever to start a website thanks to the multitude of available website builders.

By doing this you can then write tutorials and guides for other people.

You can charge for the information that you provide in order to make money from your blog or simply ask for donations instead.

11. Sell unwanted items online

If you have any old clothes lying around in your wardrobe that you no longer wear then it's worth selling these online for extra cash. Sites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace are good places to start, but there are lots of other websites where you can sell anything from books to old games consoles. You could also look on the Facebook marketplace and Craigslist if you want to get rid of more unusual items.

12. Get a part-time job

Working as a teenager can be hard work, but it's never been easier to find work online thanks to sites like Indeed. There are lots of regular opportunities for people looking for jobs as well as some great summer work such as fruit picking or other seasonal jobs.

13. Sell your professional skills

If you have any kind of professional skill then you could definitely set yourself up as an independent contractor and start offering services to other people. There are lots of opportunities for this on sites like Upwork, so if you've got a particularly useful skill or qualification then it's worth trying to sell these services online.

Regardless of your age, there are a number of ways to make money in this day and age. If you’re interested in making some extra cash without too much time or effort, the article above is for you.

We provided an exhaustive list of jobs that can be done by teenagers with little-to-no experience required as well as tips on how to get started! What are some other ways teens have found success at earning income? Let us know below!