Amrita Ramabadran | 3 Min Read
Hey everyone! so after that whole Wells Fargo PIN disaster (if you missed that story, check my last post 😅), I’ve been researching SAFE ways to make money online. Between coaching sessions at the rink, here’s what I learned about Etsy:
Why Etsy is actually legit for teens: Etsy is a real marketplace owned by a public company – not some sketchy “get rich quick” scheme. You can sell digital products, handmade stuff, or vintage items. The best part? You can start with literally zero inventory if you go the digital route.
What you can sell (even as a busy student):
- Digital downloads – printable planners, study guides, phone wallpapers, stickers (you design once, sell forever)
- Custom designs – if you’re good at Canva or Procreate, people will pay for custom art
- Templates – resume templates, social media templates, budget trackers
- Niche stuff related to YOUR hobbies – figure skating training logs, competition checklists (yes, I’m considering this lol)
Real costs to know:
- $0.20 listing fee per item
- 6.5% transaction fee when something sells
- Payment processing fee (~3% + $0.25)
- NO upfront costs if you’re selling digital products
So if you sell a $5 digital planner, you keep about $4.10. Not bad for something you made once.
Safety tips (learned the hard way):
✅ Use a separate email just for your shop
✅ NEVER share your bank login with anyone claiming to “help” you set up
✅ Read Etsy’s seller policies – they’re actually pretty clear
✅ Start small – don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose
✅ Keep track of earnings for taxes (yes, even side hustle money counts)
Why I’m sharing this: After my trading account and coaching income, I wanted another way to make money that doesn’t require me to physically be somewhere. Digital products on Etsy = passive income while I’m at school or on the ice.
Is it worth it? Honest answer: it takes time to set up and market your shop. But if you have a creative skill or niche knowledge, it’s one of the safer ways to make money online as a teen. Just don’t expect to get rich overnight – anyone promising that is probably scamming you.
My goal is to make enough for my next pair of skates (they’re like $800 😭). I’ll update you all if I actually follow through with this!
knowledge = taking action, not just learning ✨
(drop a comment if you have an Etsy shop or want to start one – let’s support each other!)