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Does (or did) your teenage child work? Did they pay any bills? (1 Viewer)

E

eoMMan

Footballguy
I hear stories about many businesses needing workers and how many teens nowadays don’t work part time jobs like we did 20-40 years ago.

:shrug:

Thoughts? What about you and your family?

No children here but I think it’s great for a kid to earn a few dollars while in high school; even if it’s just a little bit to help pay a cell phone bill or go to a movie. Makes them appreciate the hard work that goes into earning a buck.

And I feel like a response that will definitely come in this thread is “I’d rather them not work and devote that time to their studies.”  Not that this is a horrible idea, but I think it’s beneficial to do both. Back in my day, some kids were on the honor roll, worked a part time job, AND played a varsity high school sport.

 
We were hesitant, but the now 15yo wanted a job when he turned 14, so he works at the same place I do.   Doesn't work a ton, so it's not a huge deal, but he really likes the financial independence and me not #####ing about having to spend $20 here and there for video game stuff and food.    He doesn't spend a ton, so he already has a couple grand in his account.  

 
Four kids - two still in school.  All 3 of the oldest had jobs although while in HS we didn't require them to pay anything.  They would use their money for going on dates, buying extra clothes they may want, go to the movies, etc.  Once they were out of HS we had them start paying a little for things like car insurance.  Our stance is you don't have to work but we want you doing something extra-curricular.  Sports, music, job - something beyond school we think is important from our perspective.  They are students first but learning to juggle things is an important life skill.  Also, appreciating what it means to work or how finances work and how to manage your money are also important.

 
Our 17 year old works an 8 hour shift one day each weekend, usually Sunday, at a local retirement home.  He has been refereeing soccer games and working seasonal jobs in the summer for a couple years - both of those are under the table cash jobs that pay very well.  My son does not pay any bills. He also does not get an allowance.  He saves a little, but mostly uses the money he earns to buy stuff for himself - video games, clothes, fast food and similar stuff. We give him money for things like dates, overnight trips with friends, etc. I'm not at all confident this has taught him anything about money or personal finances.  He seems completely clueless when it comes to simple things like buying something he wants.  He has no concept or patience for working to find a good price. He is very good at justifying his stupid purchases to us, but of course we're on to him.

 
KarmaPolice said:
We were hesitant, but the now 15yo wanted a job when he turned 14, so he works at the same place I do.   Doesn't work a ton, so it's not a huge deal, but he really likes the financial independence and me not #####ing about having to spend $20 here and there for video game stuff and food.    He doesn't spend a ton, so he already has a couple grand in his account.  
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Have you gotten him a Roth IRA? Since he has earned income, he can use this vehicle to sock money away that grows tax free. Even little amounts will go a long way.

 
Oldest (17) wanted a job and interviewed for Kohls. They initially told her they were student friendly but then asked her to work weeknights (only) from 4-10 pm. We knew it would wreck her grades and sleep schedule so we said she can work when she isn’t in school and gave her jobs around the house that she can do for cash. She gets a $1 a night for putting dishes away. A dollar a window she cleans.  Things like that.

She’ll get a job this summer. 

 
My 17 yo (junior in HS) just had his first training shift at Panera yesterday. Won't require him to pay any bills but set up a bank account for his paychecks and he will need to save for future stuff he will need/want.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Our 17 year old works an 8 hour shift one day each weekend, usually Sunday, at a local retirement home.  He has been refereeing soccer games and working seasonal jobs in the summer for a couple years - both of those are under the table cash jobs that pay very well.  My son does not pay any bills. He also does not get an allowance.  He saves a little, but mostly uses the money he earns to buy stuff for himself - video games, clothes, fast food and similar stuff. We give him money for things like dates, overnight trips with friends, etc. I'm not at all confident this has taught him anything about money or personal finances.  He seems completely clueless when it comes to simple things like buying something he wants.  He has no concept or patience for working to find a good price. He is very good at justifying his stupid purchases to us, but of course we're on to him.
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Can I have you speak to my wife?

 
The real question is, do they even lift, bro?

(Mine are 11 and 6, so hasn't come up yet. I never really had part-time jobs when I was a teenager. I support the idea in theory, but I guess we'll see how things develop in the next few years. They're both on the autism spectrum, so also not sure how that will affect the situation.)

 
My son interned at my company several summers. He made decent money but I think the most beneficial thing was seeing how a professional environment operates.

During the school year he worked retail jobs his junior and senior year to support his music habits. In college he worked both on campus and off. Each year his mother and I set saving targets for him to contribute to his education. It was a challenge but we set it low enough he was still free to enjoy some of his money.

Now he lives and works in Seattle, pretty solid engineering job, comfortable salary. I feel like we were able to teach him a lot about managing his money. He lives on a budget and within his means.

My youngest is 13, has never worked, and bc she spends so much time dancing (pre-professional ballet), I doubt she ever will.  Different approach but they're different kids.

 
Both of my kids had part-time jobs throughout high school.  Son at a fast food place, daughter at a grocery store.  They didn't pay any bills, but used the money for extra stuff/activities they were on their own to pay for.

 
Mine are too young, but my daughter wants to work to earn extra money.  We don't buy our kids a lot, as we aren't interested in raising spoiled brats who turn into entitled adults.

I think crappy jobs are important for kids.  It's motivation to get an education and/or not settle.

 
Mine are too young for an actual job, but that doesn't mean they don't do chores to earn a bit o scratch......they will contribute to the household.  Very important, imo

 
eoMMan said:
I hear stories about many businesses needing workers and how many teens nowadays don’t work part time jobs like we did 20-40 years ago.

:shrug:

Thoughts? What about you and your family?

No children here but I think it’s great for a kid to earn a few dollars while in high school; even if it’s just a little bit to help pay a cell phone bill or go to a movie. Makes them appreciate the hard work that goes into earning a buck.

And I feel like a response that will definitely come in this thread is “I’d rather them not work and devote that time to their studies.”  Not that this is a horrible idea, but I think it’s beneficial to do both. Back in my day, some kids were on the honor roll, worked a part time job, AND played a varsity high school sport.
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There was a well done study done like 20 years ago that rationally explained why teenagers working is -EV. 

 
17 year old has a job that is extremely flexible around his school and sports schedule - when school is out he would work a bit more often, now it is one day a week (usually Sunday) at most. Balancing school, multiple varsity sports, the job and a semblance of a social life. As long as he maintains the grades we will cover the majority of his auto expenses (insurance, gas, etc.), but he is responsible for paying for his own food if he decides to eat out, his own video game purchases on the occasion he wants to, etc. Come summer he will likely be able to pick up more shifts.

My 14 year old really wants a job as he is trying to save up for a computer and components to run flight simulator software. He knows what he wants, just hard for a 14 year old to get an actual job. SO when I've been able to schedule him to do scorekeeping he'll take me up on as many games as I can get him, we're just not in season right now. Add on juggling high school and club sports and that he can't drive himself makes it less than realistic for him to get a job. We find chores, etc. for him, and a few neighbors hire him as a pet sitter when they are going out of town.

11 year old is too young, but I've also been able to teach him how to run the scoreboard and he has jumped in and helped out a few times and I pay him for that.

We just let them know that it can not interfere with school, as that is their primary commitment, followed by the sports teams they have committed to. If the work schedule can work around that, then they can work, but then they better live up to that commitment as well.

 
Zow said:
There was a well done study done like 20 years ago that rationally explained why teenagers working is -EV. 
Click to expand...
Link to that?

How would you even begin to measure the character and appreciation of money gained from working a low paying job during high school?

 
My daughter works during the summer but only because the summer camp is awesome about her days off. She also doesn't drive yet.

She is 16.  She worked the last 2 summers. Well one got canceled for covid.

Her softball schedule is way more intensive than when I played that I'm ok if she doesn't work during school.   We travel 3 weeks of the summer for softball related tournaments. And 3 times for long weekends in the fall, plus practice, plus tournaments every weekend we don't travel so if she didn't want to work, I was ok with it

 
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eoMMan said:
Link to that?

How would you even begin to measure the character and appreciation of money gained from working a low paying job during high school?
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I'm guessing for the parent it's -ev.   With the having to drive and pickup around all their scheduling.... *Obviously varies on area 

 
My older children all had jobs when they were in school.  They bought their own first cars (with some help), and had to give us $20 per month for their cell phone bills.  We paid the insurance if they got the good student discount (B honor roll). 

Our youngest wanted to get a job as soon as he turned 14. The grocery store in town (Fareway) hires kids as soon as they turn 14. Iowa law is that they can only work 20 hours per week, no later that 7:00 and no longer than 4 hours a shift until they are 16.  He usually works 2 days a week, 2-3 hour shift.  He does not pay his cell phone (youngest is always the most spoiled and we don't have a house phone like we did 10 years ago when the older kids were home.

IMO, it does a lot to teach them responsibility and they also seem to take care of something more if they have to buy or help pay for it.  I see to many kids that have nicer vehicles that what I had for most of my life and have no respect for it.  I have also seen too many that don't work and when they get into the real world, they don't know how to work.

 
My oldest is 13 but I’m hoping he can grab a few hours a week at one of our local businesses when he turns 14 

also think of a abruptly cutting the kids allowance just to see how well equipped they are to live off 3 months savings

 
My oldest (17 yo daughter) has been working part-time since she was 14 (earlier if you count the middle school slime business she had for a while).  This school year she has an internship through her HS at an acctg firm.  She pays for all the fun stuff she wants to do.  I’m happy to pay the big bills so she can save. She has a couple grand in a Roth already and a couple grand in a savings account.  I think she’s going to be ok.  Job market has been good to her - she’s making almost $15/hr. 

 
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Daughter just turned 16.  We had discussed cars and she wanted to save for one.  Reality is we can buy her a car, but see a lot of value in learning about requirements of work. We want her priorities to be: school, activities, work.  She had worked at a retirement center as a server for about 6 months.  She took pride in earning her own money and did well managing it between her checking and savings. She encountered scheduling issues with them and gave her two weeks notice a little while back. 
 

meanwhile, she became certified as a referee for girls/women’s lacrosse and makes about $50+/ game depending on distance from home. They can pick and choose which games they would like to work. Last weekend was her first set of games and she reffed 5 games.  She is very happy with how it is going, as are we.

 
Don’t have kids, but I had several part time jobs as a teen. Never got an allowance, and was required to pay for my car insurance. Actually think that is a good deterrent to speeding and other stupid things kids do (still got tickets though).

I also think their is a problem of “premature affluence” if the money kids earn is purely for discretionary spending.

 
First job, I was 11 delivering those free weekly papers.. At 14 I worked the summer in the corn fields detassling corn. Used the money from the corn job to buy my first computer ( Commadore 64 )..

Then at 15 started working part time jobs ...which at 16 was used to buy a car, pay for Insurance..

Oh and lots, and lots of :banned:

 
Our daughter got her first job at 15 as a hostess/waitress.. Then at 17 worked as a receptionist at the Ford dealership.. She was responsible for car insurance, gas and upkeep. She was on the honor roll through school... Felt it prepared her well for life and has made her very successful in her career...

Meanwhile, her cousin who graduated 3 years before her, never had a job throughout High school or 3 years of college.. He dropped out of college 6 months before graduating.. We felt he feared having to enter the real world..

He is 30 now, living at home with mommy and stepdad, and working part-time for his Dad.. :mellow:

 
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My oldest, nearly 17 has worked at Starbucks for about 9 months. She has about $7k saved up and has spent maybe 10% of her earnings.  Super proud of her, when she took the job I thought I was going to have to argue to get her to save a fraction of her paycheque. 

 
My 17 year old tried it out recently.  The place wasn't really flexible with him with scheduling like they said they'd be during the interview, and were scheduling him for more hours than agreed upon.  It was causing him a lot of anxiety because he had a lot of other things going on.  

My wife and I really wanted him to do something, but he does so much extra curricular stuff with school, not sure if it is going to be feasible.  We are trying to balance our desire for him to get some "real world experience" with being cautious about his mental health.

 
My oldest is crazy.

Starting in 7th grade he made over $1k selling candy at school (he'd turn $2 of blow pops or whatever into $15).  He is a freshman in highschool, flipping sneakers... last month he made $800 on Jordans and Yeezy's (spelling?).  Kid has $6k in etrade.

He is already eyeballing the local HEB which pays well - he asked me to intoduce him to the GM (old realtionship of mine from wine sales)... and FLAT OUT TOLD HIM TO HIS FACE "I'll be 16 next year and I would like to learn how to man the register and stock the shelves, cutting steaks also looks cool".

The GM looked at me with the funniest grin on his face and told me to make sure he comes in on his 16th.

 
shuke said:
My 17 year old tried it out recently.  The place wasn't really flexible with him with scheduling like they said they'd be during the interview, and were scheduling him for more hours than agreed upon.  It was causing him a lot of anxiety because he had a lot of other things going on.  

My wife and I really wanted him to do something, but he does so much extra curricular stuff with school, not sure if it is going to be feasible.  We are trying to balance our desire for him to get some "real world experience" with being cautious about his mental health.
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There has to be a thousand other options out there to get some experience working.  Every damn fast food/retail/bank I drive by has a sign out.

 
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matuski said:
There has to be a thousand other options out there to get some experience worknig.  Every damn fast food/retail/bank I drive by has a sign out.
Click to expand...


I'm going to have him look around once some of his school stuff slows down.  While you see those signs everywhere, it's interesting how some of these places drag their feet on the hiring process.  Also, I understand why they may not want to invest in hiring/training someone that can only do a couple shifts a week.

 
shuke said:
I'm going to have him look around once some of his school stuff slows down.  While you see those signs everywhere, it's interesting how some of these places drag their feet on the hiring process.  Also, I understand why they may not want to invest in hiring/training someone that can only do a couple shifts a week.
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I can see this being the case.  Good luck.

 
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shuke said:
The place wasn't really flexible with him with scheduling like they said they'd be during the interview, and were scheduling him for more hours than agreed upon. 
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This seems to be more common than I'd imagined. I hear it all the time with teens and first jobs, etc.

 
When I first started waiting tables.. they only wanted me to work a couple shifts a week to prove myself.

Then I would earn more and more shifts.

Weird to watch the game change while stilll experiencing wait times at restaurants because of staffing shortages.

 
All of my teens had/have jobs. They have to pay for their own phones if they want data. They have to pay their own insurance and put gas in the car. It seems to work well. 

My 14yo wants a job but he hasn’t found anyone to hire him. So he has built up a pretty good clientele of dog sitting customers. He’s made a couple hundred a month the last few months. He’s very charming and motivated but he doesn’t want to do school work. I’m hoping when he’s 16 to farm him out to a plumber or electrician. 

 
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As someone who kind of had to work when I was young I try not to force it. I posted earlier in the thread about my kids working but my I had to work to help support us. It was the only way to be able to afford anything. So my dad always said you will be working for the rest of your life so enjoy what you can.  I get all the positives of having a job but man it wasn't "fun" to just make some extra money to teach independence it was you need new sneakers for school good thing you have a job

 
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shuke said:
I'm going to have him look around once some of his school stuff slows down.  While you see those signs everywhere, it's interesting how some of these places drag their feet on the hiring process.  Also, I understand why they may not want to invest in hiring/training someone that can only do a couple shifts a week.
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No true background or anything, but heard something recently that lots of businesses are advertising about hiring, but not actually doing any hiring, so they can apply for and receive some government aid.   As in they need to prove they are trying to staff but not getting anybody agreeing to work to get the funds.   So, they've learned to work the system with the façade that they are hiring.

 
shuke said:
My 17 year old tried it out recently.  The place wasn't really flexible with him with scheduling like they said they'd be during the interview, and were scheduling him for more hours than agreed upon.  It was causing him a lot of anxiety because he had a lot of other things going on.  

My wife and I really wanted him to do something, but he does so much extra curricular stuff with school, not sure if it is going to be feasible.  We are trying to balance our desire for him to get some "real world experience" with being cautious about his mental health.
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The scheduling and willing to work with school activities is a big thing.  We are lucky to live in a small community (less than 10k people) and the grocery store here is a student friendly employer.  

belljr said:
As someone who kind of had to work when I was young I try not to force it. I posted earlier in the thread about my kids working but my I had to work to help support us. It was the only way to be able to afford anything. So my dad always said you will be working for the rest of your life so enjoy what you can.  I get all the positives of having a job but man it wasn't "fun" to just make some extra money to teach independence it was you need new sneakers for school good thing you have a job
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I came from a not well off family.  My parents did make sure we had clothes and food, but if we wanted the "cool things" (Air Jordans, Guess jeans, etc.) we had to pay the difference with our own money.

 
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