Markets for Young Writers

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I'm seventeen years old and I'm seriously considering submitting some of my works for publication for the first time in my life. Not because I think I'm ready, but more because... I need money. I'm sick and tired of missing out on opportunities to travel or further my education because my family can't afford them. Until I find a job in "real life" I'm going to have to find some way to make cash in my spare time. I'm not looking for masses of money, but a little more freedom from my budget would be nice. The main point of this is that I am looking for someone who is willing to pay me for the only thing I am even remotely talented at - writing. I understand that teenagers rarely get anything published - but at the same time, I've read hundreds of things, published things, and thought, "I could write something better than this." However, is there some sort of legal loophole as far as payment goes? If it's legal for companies to employ those under 18, why would it be legally difficult to pay them for writing? I noticed that while Associated Content would allow me to publish my work, they won't compensate me for it. Does Constant Content have a similar policy? If so, where else could I submit my work? Sites like TeenInk and other "we publish teens" sites tend to offer things like dictionaries and magazine subscriptions, and are also geared toward fiction and poetry... which are my weaker points. I prefer writing nonfiction articles and reviews. I've tried sites like Helium, but I have yet to actually make any money from it. How long do sites like that take to generate profit - if any? Do you have any other suggestions about where young writers could submit work? I apologize for the sloppiness of this article, it is well past my usual bed time. :)