Spinoff to expenses...

Do you want your teenage children to work? Did you?
My DH always worked. He started with a paper route when he was young, then collected shopping carts at the super market and then had a few retail jobs until he graduated college.
I only had small part time summer jobs, if that. I was a cheerleader and that ment practice everyday and games either at night or Saturdays through fall and winter sports seasons and then competitions in the spring. I always babysat here and there, and did things like work at a yogurt shop, bagel shop, CVS in the summer. My parents wanted me to go away and have the college experience. I wasn't expected to work. But when I decided to leave college to attend locally (to be with my boyfriend, now DH) they said if I came home, I had to get a job. So I did and worked part time, sometimes two jobs, all through college.
I honestly don't want my kids working in high school. I want them to focus on school and hopefully sports. I want them to be carefree kids as long as they can, because we all know that it doesn't last forever. Now of course, our financial situation may force them to work, as was the case or DH, but I really feel like I don't want them working during the school year. Though I will expect them to do something in the summer.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I was involved in cheerleading, school gov't and a few other clubs and I still worked, a lot since 14. I would go to school, attend after school events, and have my late bus driver drop me off at work around 5:30/6 and then get home by 10, when they kick minors out because of labor laws. I don't want my dd to work other than during the summer and maybe babysit or something. She has her whole life to work and I want her to know that school is her job. She will do things here to earn cash and perks. I'm in a better position to provide for her than my parents were for me. My husband and I are commited to ensuring that she has a strong work ethic (as we do) without losing her few precious years as a kid.

To each their own!

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I worked and all of my friends worked. Nowadays it seems that schoolwork is more demanding and so are sports so I know several teenagers who don't work or who only work for a few months of the year. I am not sure what I will want my child to do.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

Once my kids are older (15 or so) during the summer, yes, I would like my children to find jobs (camp counselor, cashier, life guard, etc.) I think it builds character and teaches them to value money. During the year I want them to focus on their education, sports, and other club type activities. I also expect my kids to do some sort of volunteer work that they find fulfilling.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I didn't work and no one I knew work during the school year; however my friends and I were expected to either get a job, an internship or volunteer during the summers. If I had to get a job I wouldn't have been able to do my internship at the metropolitan museum or to volunteer at the little village school which were both very meaningful experiences. I would want my children to focus on their work during the year but I do not want them just hanging out in the summers. I would want them to work a seasonal job or get an internship in an area they are interested in, or do volunteer work. I will add that while I didn't work during the year my high school offered us an opportunity to volunteer one day a week after school which I did.

My DH on the other hand started with a paper route and worked as many hours as possible in a grocer store in school. His father refused to give him a dime for school but made too much money for DH to qualify for much of any financial aid. His mother also couldn't afford to help him (parents divorced but dad would tell DH if you can't afford school drop out or work more than full time to pay for it. But he helped DH's SMIL's neice with school. The sad part is that FIL did not have to work his aunt paid for his entire degree. He used to tell DH that all lawyers were rich so he wouldn't give him a dime for law school or for living expenses - his law schoolcaped the amount of hours he could work during the semester. ) So DH had to take out loans, work more than 40 hours and keep his grades up bc he had a deans scholarship. I could go on and on but for these reasons DH wants his children to enjoy life and focus on school. So he wants to help in anyway he can. He also felt he could have gotten more scholarships and done better (he did grad w/ honors from college) had he not had to work 40+ hours and go full time to school.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

Starting at age 16, my mom told all of us that we didn't have to get part time jobs if we didn't mind living on a $10 a week allowance. We all got jobs quickly! It wasn't a lot of hours or days per week but I think it taught me a lot. I learned to balance school and work. My DH never worked in high school - he was on travelling baseball teams and his school's team - and then when he started college and got a part time job he found it really hard to handle.

I'll do the same that my parents did for me with DD. If she can live on a small allowance a week, then she doesn't have to get a job. But if she wants to buy herself nice things besides the things we will regularly buy her (school clothes, essentials, money for lunch in school etc) then she should work part time.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I expect my kids to have seasonal jobs in HS. I worked during the summers at various retail positions, or baby sitting, etc. I tried keeping a job one school year, but I was taking challenging courses, and was involved in a lot of extra-curriculars, so it didn't work out. I was very lucky to have parents who gave me spending money and didn't pressure me to work.

Overall, I think it depends on your child's educational and career trajectory. If he/she is going to be applying to competitive universities, then the focus needs to be on academics and extra-curriculars to make his/her application stand out. If your child will be going to a trade school or working right after HS, then I think having a job is most important, to gain related skills and experience.

ETA: I did babysit regularly during the school year, but that was once or twice per week.

Message edited 8/3/2012 9:17:45 AM.

Spinoff to expenses...

DS will have a job once he is old enough. I worked and made my own money through HS and College and while my parents did a lot for me financially I also had my own money and I think it taught be to be independent and learn how to handle money. I was still and honor student and a cheerleader so I think kids can balance the two.

Spinoff to expenses...

i will probably follow the rule my parent had for us - we either played a sport or worked in high school - we had jobs in the summer to save for spending money in college.

i played sports but also worked about 15 hours a week babysitting - i had a few regular gigs and my sport was not every day but was year round

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

Yes, I do. I started working as a cashier for a small grocery store at 15 years old & stayed there for over 5 years before changing jobs in college. I believe that it taught me the value of money, how to be responsible, punctuality & it gave me the strong work ethic that I have today (among other things). I also did 2-3 dance classes at the time while attending school, so I feel like my life was balanced as a teen. Provided that they can handle it with school, I think that my children would really benefit from having a p/t job & I hope that they have a similar experience.

Spinoff to expenses...

I worked from 16 on a PT job. I started off babysitting, then i got a job as a secretary then I had a few months off before starting college. I thought it was better to work and earn my own money then to work for my parents and get a crappy allowance.

Spinoff to expenses...

I started working when I was 15 and I loved it. During the summers I had 2 part time jobs and still had time to be a "kid". I even had a part time job when I went away to college. It taught me to be responsible, the value of money and prepared for me job out in the "real world". I would want my kids to have a job during HS and college and earn their own spending money.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

She *WILL* work!

Absolutely. Both my husband I worked since we could legally and maybe even before

I used to help out in the local nursery labeling pots of flowers for basically $10 a day or something.

Later I volunteered at the State Food Stamp office.

ON my 16th birthday I applied EVERYWHERE and have been working ever since.

I was invovled in:
Volleyball
Basketball
Track
Choir
UIL Competition (Science & Math)
Student Council
Girl Scouts
GT/AP Economics/Government & Calculus
Honor Roll

I worked so much I got overtime that I STILL envy today. I mean 16yrs old and pulling in around $700 a week?! I hit my 40hr mark by day 3 usually.

I was up at 5am to run my one mile before calisthenics, then weights and Volleyball through our first period, showers then 2nd period we began school with everyone else. Back on the courts after school, home by 6pm (if not directly to work) Home again midnight or later, then up again.

I got so tired sometimes I'd sleep in parts of my Chem class! haha Mind you this was my Senior year and I didn't even need Chem, it was an elective I decided to take and still straight A'ed through it.

I wouldnt change it for the world. I wanted to do it. My dad always said "Do whatever you want as much as you can" BUT if my grades had suffered I would have had to give up something. Work was not optional. I wanted not to shop at second hand stores, then I had better get a job. I loved working, the people, the fun, the experience. It was a separate set of friends outside of school where I was bullied and blah.

I continued working without skipping a beat when I went to college. Took a transfer because the people who owned the McDonald's franchise I worked at also owned one in the college town I was moving to. I worked through spring break and only quit when my grades did indeed slip. Out of college I got a job and have had a job ever since. Longest time I've been unemployed is 2weeks.

I believe it builds character, fiscal responsiblity and keeps you grounded in reality. I used to laugh when I went back to college (older) and the kids sitting next to me would say "Youre in insurance? So you get like $100k a year right?" ummmmm no "But, but I KNOW I won't make less than $125k when I finish college" I felt like saying #1 this is NCC, #2 yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. I asked if he had ever worked a day in his life he looked at me like "WHY?"



ETA: Yes I had meets for UIL and games for Volleyball/Basketball including long tournaments. I had to learn to balance it with work and school. I also gained an understanding that you CAN sleep ANYWHERE if you really need to SLEEP. I have slept underneath the seats on a yellow dog bus, I've changed in the backseat while keeping myself covered, I've slept for one hour here, there then there again to totally 4 hours that day and considered it a win, I've slept during loud games, etc. Its an ability I *STILL* find useful haha in college I was the Designated Driver and I'd fall asleep on the couch at a party BLARING music and just sleep. haha I can, will and have slept EVERYWHERE! And also to this day the minimal amount of sleep necessary for me to function is 4-6hrs. 4 must be solid. This was ESSENTIAL and a god send when I had AJ. 4 hours. its all I need. So he'd take a shift at night but other than that. I was always ok.

Message edited 8/3/2012 9:49:25 AM.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

Yes, my children will get jobs when they are 16 or 17. I was involved in school clubs, was the editor of the yearbook, took 4 AP classes and held a job as a bookkeeper at a grocery store when I was 16.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

If they want access to a car they should be working. I worked as soon as I could, they should too.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I got my first summer job at 15 and have worked since then. I want my kid(s) to do the same. I think it's important for teens to make their own money to understand what the value of a dollar is.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I would like them to start working during the summer once they get to high school. I am also of the mentality that if they'll want access to a car, they have to work and save up for gas/tolls/etc. During school year I want them to focus on their school work and extra-curicullar activities to teach them responsibility and form positive habits.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I worked, but minimally during the school year (maybe 10-15 hour/week). I did 12 seasons of Varsity sports which took up an enormous amount of time plus I had a full AP load. Money that I made, I spent on things I wanted (I remember buying one record/CD each week as a treat, concerts, non essential clothing, going out with friends, gas, etc). Also, the money I made over the summer would later be my spending and book money for college (I didn't work much during the school year at college).


One friend's parents told her school was her job. If she did well in school, they would pay for her expenses. If she didn't do well, she had to get a job (he brother ended up getting a job)

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

My DH and I don't agree on this topic.

When I was 14 I worked at McDonalds and was a bus girl after that. At 16 I worked at BJs until I was 18. I always worked the maximum amount of hours allowed for my age. I feel like I missed out on a lot. I wasn't involved in any extra curricular activities really. My parents were tough on me (I felt), I felt like in order to have the nice clothes my friends had I had to buy them myself and at 16, I chose working to have nice things rather than doing well in school, etc.

My DH worked hard during the Summers and hardly at all during the school year, he was very involved in after school activities, went to a Military College and didn't work during that either.

Because I feel like I missed out on a lot....I only want DD to work during the Summers once she turns 16/17. I want her to be able to go to camps if she wants and during the school year if she WANTS to work, she can as long as her grades are good. If she is too involved in school/sports/etc to work and does well...I will reward her with things she wants rather than what she needs so she doesn't feel like she's missing out. I feel like at 16/17 it's her job to be a kid/student...she has the rest of her life to work.

DH thinks she should work when she turns 14, year round and have to buy her own stuff

I'll probably win this one....

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

If they are not playing sports, they will be getting a part-time job.

I think establishing a solid work-ethic early on is very important.

Even though playing sports doesn't pay a salary, it teaches teamwork, discipline, hard work, dedication and time management.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I didn't have time to work while in HS because of the extra curricular sports I did every season. I did, however, work at our local bakery over the summer a few days a week and on weekends. I really don't want to have DS working during the school year and instead focus on studies and activities. I feel kids are so overwhelmed with that stuff. SUmmer? A part time job would be great just to keep him busy. More for that than for money.

Spinoff to expenses...

I don't want my kids to work p/t jobs while in high school or college, unless it's more like an internship or an area that they want to pursue professionally. I want them to be well-rounded, to explore different things to see what they like, to be creative, to have fun. I would rather they pick a "summer project"--like write a short story or an article, or volunteer at a hospital, or take creative pictures and develop a portfolio, whatever interests them, than work as a check out girl at the local supermarket for extra cash to spend on gas, clothes, etc. I would rather they be active and take dance classes, play softball or soccer, swim, be a lifeguard if that's interesting to them. I want them to get to know themselves and what they like and what they are good at. As life goes on, we have less and less time to do those things, so I would like for them to do that as much as possible when they are young.

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I don't think I can really answer now because my oldest kid is only 6! But, as of this moment...yes. Both my DH and I worked from the ages of 15 on. My DH and I both did well in school (well, me..."pretty" well ). He played in the band and became an Eagle Scout. He also won full scholarships to college and law school. I guess he found time to study.

I do not plan on buying my DC iPhones, iPads, Coach bags, $300 sneakers, and whatever else is the "thing" 10 years from now. So if they want those things THEY can pay for them. One of my proudest teenage moments came when saving my own money for a $ walkman.

Also, I think having a boss and coworkers is a valuable experience. I think it teaches balance and responsibility. Also for me, working was almost like a an extra-curricular activity. My jobs always involved other kids my age and I had fun! Seriously, I always remember King Kullen as being one of my best work experiences.

And lastly, my kids need to get their lazy asses out of here on the weekends!

Again, though, who knows...maybe my kid will be very academically driven or a world-class gymnast or whatever... We shall see...

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

I guess it would depend on what sports or activities DS is involved with at the time. but i wouldn't be opposed to working. Something that earned DS some cash but didnt overtake his school work.

I babysat starting at 14 for neighbors kids, (had a regular gig through hs and college.) and worked as a camp counselor my last 2 summers of high school; when i started college I worked in an office part time and continued through college, often working two jobs through school.

My parents were broke..it was nice having my own spending money etc.

I think it builds character :)

Re: Spinoff to expenses...

if they want cars & cell phones they will work. I did worked PT at various stores, had tons of fun all while taking dance classes, AP classes t school and being involved in various other activities. I feel it teaches responsibility and builds character.