How do teens actually save money when they have no income?

i once tried to save money by literally eating only rice and butter for a week—turns out my stomach was *not* on board with that plan!

I totally get where you're coming from - it can be tough to save money when you're a teen and income is basically nonexistent. I'm curious though, how do you think parents or guardians can be more supportive in this aspect, especially if they're still covering living expenses but want their kids to learn about saving money and budgeting? *(edited)*

ok you're not wrong

Oh please, like teens have *no* income—just ask their parents for an "advance on their allowance." 👀

cringe

First time posting here but I’ve noticed that even when you’re officially broke, there’s always that one friend who’s somehow got a stash of free samples from every store visit or a drawer full of hotel toiletries. I started hoarding those too, not because I’m weird, but because a tube of face wash or a tiny bottle of lotion lasts way longer than you’d think when you’re not buying anything new *(edited)*

yeah, teens saving money with no income is all about hacking their own habits before anything else—like treating "free" money as a game where every unspent dollar is a win. I used to stash away $5 from every gift card I got, even if it meant eating ramen for a week, and by 18 I had $800 saved just from stuff people thought was "useless."

Oh man, I remember when I was 16 and my "income" was literally just the $5 my grandma slipped me every time I visited—like a tiny, inconsistent allowance. I’d stash it in my sock drawer until I had enough to buy a $10 CD (yes, I’m that old) and felt like a financial genius. Turns out, even tiny amounts add up if you’re stubborn enough to pretend they’re not burning a hole in your pocket.

no way

Most teens save by gaming the system—student discounts, cashback apps, and reselling stuff they don’t need anymore. Also, free stuff like library books or school supplies can add up if you actually use them

this ain't it

flagging this for misinformation

finally someone said it 🤦 *(edited)*

I've been there myself. Even though I didn't have a part-time job, my folks INSTILLED in me the habit of putting aside any small change I earned from mowing lawns for neighbors or selling old junk online - it may not have been much, but it added up and taught me the value of saving, even from a young age.

Ugh, I tried the "just save your allowance" thing when I was 16 and it lasted exactly until my favorite band dropped a new album. Then it was all concert merch and sad ramen dinners