My Son got a Job!

[StartingOver]

My ds14 got a job (his decision not mine) about 2 weeks ago and a local pizza place. I was actually very surprised that a 14 yr old would even get hired....anyway

He will be receiving his first paycheck in a few days, and he's already making plans how he's going to spend it. My suggestion to him was: Bank everything and keep $20 for yourself. Make a goal and save for it. He gave me that "deer in the headlights kind of look."

What do you parents of working teenagers advise? What worked for you?

We've talked about a car once he's old enough, gas money, insurance, and that pesky little thing called "college."

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[LuvMyHubby]

Congratulations to him. 14 is young...does he have a work permit?

I have to tell you... my daughter's first paycheck she actually saved half and blew half, I probably would have let her do as she wished with that first one as she was 15.

However, my kid has always been frugal and saved to buy her own first car, scours clearance items etc., pays her car insurance, buys her own books for school. It is never something that I had to force or remind her to do, it is just ingrained in her.

My thoughts are if he is a good kid and he knows that after the first one there will be expectations (whatever you set) for how he saves a portion of his check and what he will be expected to foot for himself. I don't see it as a big deal if he spends the first one.

If he isn't as frugally conscious as you, well then you may have to start from scratch with the first check.

Good luck with whatever you decide is best.

[FrugalMomof3]

I think that's great and he's only 14... first off he probably wants to blow the entire first paycheck and I say go ahead, he is only 14.

2ndly, teach him about that now that he has his own job if he wants those expensive sneakers he has to help chip in for them and other things he wants but doesnt need. He will get the point sooner than later.

[StartingOver]

I never heard anything about obtaining a work permit? I know nothing about that, nothing was mentioned, but thank you, I'll inquire about it. I know he can't work more than 24 hrs a week and cannot work after 7:00 pm.

I believe he's too young to work (my dh says I have to cut those apron strings sometime). I did place stipulations on him. He quits the job as soon as I notice his grades start to slide.

On the bright side, he gets to eat one free meal a day there if he works. I don't know how the kid can eat that much pizza *sigh*

[Darlene]

I'll always remember the looks on my kids faces when they got a look at all the $ taken out of their first check for various taxes. Talking about it before hand & seeing it in their personal hard earned check were 2 different things.
Congrats to your son and to you for raising a cool kid.

[Mom23boys]

Congratulations to your DS on his first job!!

[LuvMyHubby]

I don't think 14 is too young at all with proper number of hours and enough school/free time. My brother and I used to mow lawns and help not only our mother during haying season but others as well to earn spending money at about that age.

I only mentioned a work permit because in our state it is required for anyone under 16 and it is obtained throught he school superintendants office. Your state may not require one but just have age restrictions that business are to uphold.

I would say during school ten hours a week is reasonable for that age. DD's senior year when she got all I am 18 and can move out and be independant worked a whole parcel of hours and still went to school, cause mommy and daddy weren't going to pay her rent. She eventually moved back home.

I say good for your son, and more than likely he has already thought of what he would do with his first check, I would say as long as he knows he will have expectations with future checks then let him go for it with this one.

[Darlene]

Oh wanted to add, I'd let him do what he wants with the first check. Continue to talk about what you both think is fair as far as paying for future privilages and their associated costs. He have his own savings account? If he's like my son he loved watching it add up as he saved for his goals and then thought twice about spending it.

[StartingOver]

He have his own savings account? If he's like my son he loved watching it add up as he saved for his goals and then thought twice about spending it.

Yes he does have a saving account and this is exactly what I'm thinking (hoping) he will be like.

Thanks for the advice all. We'll see what he does when he gets that first check. I hope if anything out of this work experience, he'll gain a good work ethic, responsibility.

[LuvMyHubby]

LOL, it is quite amazing how tight fisted they get when it is money they earned on their own.

[jamie79]

Yds just turned 17. He got his first job 7 months ago at the Dairy Queen. I personally think 14 is too young. Before DQ, yds did odd jobs to earn a little money. He is required to do two things. He must always make honor roll, and he has to put half of his earnings or more into the bank.
Just this summer alone he was able to put $1200 in the bank, save $ 500 or so for a PS3 and still have money upstairs. Now that school is back in session he works about 15 hours a week. For a two week period his take home was $154. He put $ 100 in the bank and kept the rest

[MisaLady]

I'd let him blow the first check. But after that, why not let him spend half? It's really hard to keep working for $20 every two weeks, especially when $20 covers so little now.

[antkaki]

congrats to your son!

i hope he puts at least half away for savings for now good habit to get into and keep). hope his grades stay up and he does well....i don't think 14 is too young...i think it will help him learn more about money and how to be more responsible with the money!

i remember my first job at 13...worked as a porter, in a sub shop, cleaning up and cutting onions and lettuce using the slicer....i made $2/hour and i was so happy when i got a .10 cent raise. i did have to have a work permit (back in 1973) and only worked after school 3 days and 6 hours on saturdays...not too much money but back then it was like a million to me. my mom said if the grades slip you quit (she was the bookkeepper in the company's office). i worked continuously since then until 2000...if only i had kept saving half of what i made i wouldn't be where i am today! lol

give him a hug and hope he learns about being more responsible.

[Goodwin17]

:luck1: to your son on his first job. I don't think 14 is too young. I started babysitting full time during the summer for two young boys when I was 15. He may want to blow his first paycheck, but he'll soon learn how to save for things he really wants.