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Started By
Message
Would you pay a kid to bring your trash can to the road?
Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:49 pm
Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:49 pm
My 12 year old wants to make extra money. I told him to offer elderly people in my neighborhood to put their can by the road the night before trash day and bring it back the next day. He's thinking of charging $2 per day which would be $4 per week. I think he could easily pick up 20-40 homes. What says the money board? Too expensive? Too cheap? No market at all? My neighborhood is composed of middle to upper middle class people.
23
Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:52 pm to skidry
He should do this as a courtesy.
Cutting grass, etc...sure.
Cutting grass, etc...sure.
Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:56 pm to skidry
$2 both ways, MAYBE
Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:59 pm to skidry
I'm thinking some people might get insulted that he even asked them about it.
Posted on 9/30/14 at 10:02 pm to skidry
That sounds like a good way to teach a boy the value of working.
I personally wouldn't use the service mainly because I don't need to put the garbage out for every pick up day so the boy would either be putting a mostly empty can out most days or I'd tell him "not today" which wouldn't be really fair to him not knowing when he would work.
I personally wouldn't use the service mainly because I don't need to put the garbage out for every pick up day so the boy would either be putting a mostly empty can out most days or I'd tell him "not today" which wouldn't be really fair to him not knowing when he would work.
Posted on 9/30/14 at 10:06 pm to skidry
quote:
My 12 year old wants to make extra money.
That's a solid start.
He might have a better shot if he were to offer a bundled package of services for a higher price. For example, not just roll the can out to the street, but on a set day go around the house and empty all the wastebasket trash into the can as well. Maybe wipe countertops, tables, etc. for a little extra. The typical homeowner won't see much difference between $2 and $10 per week and he can multiply his gross by five that way.
So to answer your question, no, I wouldn't pay a kid to just roll out my trash can. But I'd probably pay him to do that plus a little light work and be perfectly happy to do it.
Posted on 9/30/14 at 10:45 pm to skidry
I wouldn't pay that for such a small task
Posted on 9/30/14 at 10:57 pm to skidry
First off, congrats to your kid for wanting to EARN money, and to you for not just giving it to him.
You might could find a few older people, especially ones with mobility issues, who might take him up on that offer, if the process of rolling the can out and back is hard for them. When I was about that age, I used to do that for my grandparents, who lived just a few blocks away and dragging the full cans out was a real chore for them. I never got paid, though.
It's kind of late for this year, but what about cutting grass in the spring and summer months? I definetly cut grass at that age. I pay the neighborhood crackhead 20 bucks a week to cut the grass at my house. He does that for two houses every week, that's 40 bucks a week, not bad for a 12 year old.
You might could find a few older people, especially ones with mobility issues, who might take him up on that offer, if the process of rolling the can out and back is hard for them. When I was about that age, I used to do that for my grandparents, who lived just a few blocks away and dragging the full cans out was a real chore for them. I never got paid, though.
It's kind of late for this year, but what about cutting grass in the spring and summer months? I definetly cut grass at that age. I pay the neighborhood crackhead 20 bucks a week to cut the grass at my house. He does that for two houses every week, that's 40 bucks a week, not bad for a 12 year old.
This post was edited on 9/30/14 at 10:59 pm
Posted on 10/1/14 at 5:49 am to skidry
I think the garbage can idea will not succeed long term if at all
Teach him to paint house numbers on the curbs,
rake leaves, cut grass-wash windows, i.e. tasks that people will actually pay for.
Never gave our kids an allowance. We had chores you did because you were part of the family and chores we paid you to do. Always a list on the fridge with $$ next to it.
Teach your kids to work. A work ethic is more imporatant than their education. Working people always survive
Solid work ethic + education=success
Teach him to paint house numbers on the curbs,
rake leaves, cut grass-wash windows, i.e. tasks that people will actually pay for.
Never gave our kids an allowance. We had chores you did because you were part of the family and chores we paid you to do. Always a list on the fridge with $$ next to it.
Teach your kids to work. A work ethic is more imporatant than their education. Working people always survive
Solid work ethic + education=success
Posted on 10/1/14 at 7:20 am to skidry
I think it's a great idea. Try reaching out to a few first and ask if this is something they would like help with or something else may be more appropriate.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 7:44 am to skidry
He can't do yard work? I wish I had a kid in my neighborhood that could mow my grass when I don't have time to.
As Golfer said, trash can moving is not a service you should be charging neighbors for, but should be a nice gesture to offer if it's needed.
As Golfer said, trash can moving is not a service you should be charging neighbors for, but should be a nice gesture to offer if it's needed.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 8:17 am to C
I could see it working only because it is a small amount and adults would want to reward a little kid.
I'd do 1$ instead of 2$
I'd do 1$ instead of 2$
Posted on 10/1/14 at 8:51 am to skidry
It is an interesting concept that takes 0 startup capital. I would encourage it because he will learn from it, if it succeeds, and especially if it fails. Since there is no cost to start, why not try?
On the other hand, he can probably make more picking up dog shite.
On the other hand, he can probably make more picking up dog shite.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 11:45 am to Douboy
Agree that the can roll isn't really much of a service. But I'd gladly pay a kid to do some weeding/flowerbed cleanup. He won't need more than a hand trowel to get started, and it is hard to find ppl to do small, spot gardening tasks. He can haul/spread mulch, pull weeds, etc. I'd pay a kid $8/hr if he was diligent and not goofing off.
The can rolling thing is a dud. Too much money for a twenty second task.
The can rolling thing is a dud. Too much money for a twenty second task.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 11:59 am to skidry
Maybe price us a bit high, but he could develop a customer base with this service and maybe get some more ideas going like easy landscaping.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 1:50 pm to hungryone
Thanks for all of the input.
I think its high too but the only reason I would pay for it is because I always forget to put the can out and then I'm SOL especially if I have people over and we generate a lot of trash. It's easy enough to bring the can out and pick it up the next day, but I'm 40 yo male. I think some of the elderly could use a hand and $1 each way isn't going to break the bank. (We have 2 trash days hence the $4 a week) My neighborhood was developed in the late 70s so most of our residents are in their 60s to 80s. We are just now experiencing the turn over of 2-3 homes per year to younger people.
There are lots of other kids cutting grass, pressure washing, leaf raking, etc and they are 16-18 with vehicles so I don't think he can compete.
I understand the courtesy and neighborly thing, but it's not reasonable for him to put out 20-40 cans twice a week as a courtesy.
I think its high too but the only reason I would pay for it is because I always forget to put the can out and then I'm SOL especially if I have people over and we generate a lot of trash. It's easy enough to bring the can out and pick it up the next day, but I'm 40 yo male. I think some of the elderly could use a hand and $1 each way isn't going to break the bank. (We have 2 trash days hence the $4 a week) My neighborhood was developed in the late 70s so most of our residents are in their 60s to 80s. We are just now experiencing the turn over of 2-3 homes per year to younger people.
There are lots of other kids cutting grass, pressure washing, leaf raking, etc and they are 16-18 with vehicles so I don't think he can compete.
I understand the courtesy and neighborly thing, but it's not reasonable for him to put out 20-40 cans twice a week as a courtesy.
This post was edited on 10/1/14 at 1:54 pm
Posted on 10/1/14 at 2:48 pm to skidry
I'd maybe bump it down to $3 per week and add in that he'll come to their door before taking it to the curb to see if they have any trash inside that needs to be emptied. He gets 10 of them on the hook and that's $30 per week. That's decent scratch for a 12 year old.
I'm 40 and capable of taking my garbage out, but I'd pay a kid that's showing initiative to make money to do it for me.
I'm 40 and capable of taking my garbage out, but I'd pay a kid that's showing initiative to make money to do it for me.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 3:08 pm to The Spleen
2.00 for both ways
1.00 to rinse out cans
.50 every time newspaper is put right in front of door.
Good business plan.
1.00 to rinse out cans
.50 every time newspaper is put right in front of door.
Good business plan.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 4:01 pm to skidry
No. It's not a difficult enough task to warrant any pay.
For a 12 year old I'd pay for him to wash my car. My soap. My water. But he must do a good job. The worst car wash in the world is HS cheerleaders raising money for camp.
For a 12 year old I'd pay for him to wash my car. My soap. My water. But he must do a good job. The worst car wash in the world is HS cheerleaders raising money for camp.
Posted on 10/1/14 at 4:01 pm to Coach Guidry
Offer trashtaking as a free service, but mention that tips are greatly appreciated (good people will overtip and he'll probaby make more if he has a great attitude doing it). The only downside is that the tips might come monthly as opposed to weekly.
Then have a business card with other chorse/services that he can do at their request.
I don't buy scout popcorn because i'm hungry.
It's a donation to a kid/organization looking to better themselves. And that usually runs $20 - $30 a pop. Good kids are worth that much.
Then have a business card with other chorse/services that he can do at their request.
I don't buy scout popcorn because i'm hungry.
It's a donation to a kid/organization looking to better themselves. And that usually runs $20 - $30 a pop. Good kids are worth that much.
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