The recession has slowly started to affect us all, even teens. Many people have been laid off, which means that they may need to cut back on some of their expenses. As a teen, you may not feel the effects of the recession as much as adults do, but that doesn’t change reality. The truth is that we are in a recession, and we should be more considerate about the things we spend our money on.

As a teen, my life involves hanging out with friends, going shopping, going to the movies, etc. I’m not saying that doing these things are bad, and I’m also not saying to never do these things. However, there are a lot of other activities out there that are far more productive, and there are some cheap and even FREE ones that you might not be aware of.

One great resource available to help you find opportunities for the summer is bostonyouthzone.com. You could work for a food project, or receive free lifeguard lessons from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). This training will enable you to become a lifeguard, and for a summer job, it pays very well. Another great paid opportunity is helping with the US census. You can apply by calling 1-866-861-2010.

During April vacation there’s going to be a free Photoshop Boot Camp with the ICA Boston. Some opportunities just for girls include: participating in an all girls sports festival, working for Teen Voices magazine as a peer editor, and more.

For more information on all of these opportunities including events that are happening throughout the month of April, take a look at the April Youth Resources & Opportunities Newsletter at bostonyouthzone.com.

-Erica