If you have a birthday coming up, be sure to let your family know you are trying to save money and that you would prefer money instead of a gift. Ask your parents to take you to a bank to help you set up a bank account. You can earn interest on the money you deposit into your account, and setting up a savings account (versus the old fashioned piggy bank) will make you less likely to spend on a whim. Many major banks allow teenagers or even younger children to open accounts - check online beforehand. If you are worried that you will spend your money instead of saving it, you can also limit the amount of money you can withdraw out of your account each month. While having a debit card is convenient, consider forgoing this option, as it makes it easier for you to spend, rather than save, your money. It's never too soon to start budgeting your money! Maybe you want to save money to buy a computer or a nice Christmas gift for someone. Determine how much you will need and how long you have to save. Create a monthly saving goal so that you have enough money when you need it. If you have any money already in your wallet or bank account, ask you parents if they can open up an account at a stock brokerage for you. A good brokerage for kids is Robinhood since they charge no commissions and have no minimum deposit. Do research on some good stocks and ETFs to buy. This is one of the most effective ways to grow your money quickly if you are smart and careful about it. You can also ask an expert for some advice.

Summary: Ask for cash instead of gifts. Start a bank account. Plan long term. Invest.

Hollyhocks come in a seemingly endless assortment of shades of white, yellow, pink, maroon and red flowers, which grow on 6 to 9 foot (1.8 to 2.7m) stalks. Hollyhocks will reseed themselves for subsequent growing years. You can also harvest seeds from plants in the fall. Some hollyhock varieties will generally grow a bit shorter or taller, so consider your space needs and height preferences as well. If you live in an area with cold winters, consider starting hollyhock seeds indoors in the fall. Germinate the seeds in October or November and allow them to grow for a while and experience a winter. This may trick the flowers into blooming the following spring. If you live in a warmer climate, you may be able to plant the seeds outdoors in the fall and achieve the same results. In the U.S., hollyhocks can manage in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 (see http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/). In cooler zones (e.g., 3), you'll definitely want to start indoors either the previous fall or early in the spring. In warmer zones (e.g., 8), you can sow seeds outdoors in the fall or spring. Hollyhock seeds are large, have a high germination rate, and come few to a package, so it is best to plant each seed individually. Put each seed 0.25 to 0.5in (0.64 to 1.27cm) below the soil. Any small plant container will do, but plastic "peat pots" filled with perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss are ideal for this. Place the trays near a window where they'll receive ample sunlight. Water the soil as needed to keep it moist. Hollyhock seeds usually germinate in 1 to 2 weeks. You only need to do this if you are growing the plants indoors over the winter. If you're just starting early in the spring, you can go straight from the peat pots to outdoors. Keep the pots in a sunny spot indoors, and water them regularly.

Summary: Purchase seeds in your choice of variety and color. Plan ahead to increase your chances of first-year blooms. Sow the seeds in individual "peat pots" indoors. Transplant the seedlings into individual 4 to 6in (10 to 15cm) pots.

If you have a book or album to promote, you can try contacting producers directly. Look on the websites for the shows you think are a good fit, and find the contact emails for the producers. You can then pitch your idea directly to the producer. If you're a good fit, she may bring you on the show. Don't just try one and stop. You have to be persistent. Keep trying producers from different shows. Don't jump to the national shows first. Start with local television shows or local news. Once you prove you can handle yourself on television, bigger shows will be willing to pick you up. Shows are looking for people who are polite and engaging and who have something to say. If you can find people who produce similar content but who are more famous, try to befriend them. By associating with other popular brands, your brand can become more popular. You're likely to run across people who have similar brands just by reading other blogs, watching videos, and engaging in social media. Once you find other people like you, start engaging with their content, by replying to their posts and commenting on videos. You can also meet people at blogging and vlogging conferences. That is, whatever you do post on social media should not be bland. It can be mundane in nature, such as an update about your daily life, but it should have a spark of you in it, something that makes it engaging to your readers.
Summary: Contact producers. Start smaller. Find similar brands. Be engaging.