Those of us who have entered the working world, be it part time or full time, have all experienced the thrilling rush of that burst of newfound financial freedom. How did you react to it?
I remember when I first began working nearly two years ago, the first paycheck seemed like such a huge amount of money and the possibilities of ways in which to spend it seemed endless. Although I listened when a friend advised me to save up and not go on a wild shopping spree, I ended up spending my first month’s wages on mostly online shopping. Previously, websites which could only be dreamily gazed at were now in my reach and so they received waves of orders from me.
This pattern continued for a few weeks as I enjoyed the power my job had given me but then thankfully, my brain caught up with my overactive shopaholic eyes and I realised that I had in fact wasted quite a lot of money on things that were unnecessary or just simply too expensive. Perhaps shopaholic is too strong a descriptive but to me it did feel as though I was behaving like one as the change from not being able to buy anything to being able to consider it was quite drastic.
So slowly-though not slowly enough according to my dad-I began to tone down the amount I spent and the aim of me working which was to save money for the future was finally being achieved.
What was your first job and at what age did you begin working? Did you react like me to your newly boosted bank balance or did you exercise greater self-control?
Until Next Time,
A Worried Student
An update on yesterday’s post and requests: Tomorrow I shall post the completed requests. I am also thinking about putting a PayPal donate button on my blog for people to perhaps show their appreciation but it is NOT for the current requests so do not think aaaah what is this! It will be for future things related to my ‘art work’ so please do not feel pressurised in any way for I would hate for that to happen 🙂
A WORRIED STUDENT 
Back in 2003 my very first job was babysitting all the neighborhood kids. I’m pretty sure I went crazy and bought candy with my earnings and a big electric scooter and video games. My first real job was at a Tim Horton’s and by that point all my money went to either gas in my car or for my horse I had at the time. My very first pay cheque was spent on spoiling my family with Christmas presents.
LikeLike
Haha some interesting buys and wow, a horse! Love horses, even though I have never actually ridden one but the dream is still there!
Aww a selfless way to spend it unlike me (guilty face)
LikeLike
Yeah, I was 20 when I got my first job at McDonalds, and my husband and I already had plenty of bills and a 2 year old so all my money went away as soon as I got it. 😦
LikeLike
Aww so you never really got the chance to spoil yourself with your first pay check. Did you celebrate it in any way though?
LikeLike
Nope, I gave my check to my husband, and we payed lights, water, and bought diapers. And that was my whole check.
LikeLike
Aww but at least you put the money to good use. Do you think if you had worked at a younger age, would you have gone a bit crazy like me?
LikeLike
Most definitely, I probably would now if I worked or coyld afford it. ; )
LikeLike
Haha 😀 this makes me feel a bit better about my spirited away pounds!
LikeLike
First job was at Wendy’s summer cashier job when I was 16. Lol that was an interesting time, I didn’t go shopping spree crazy thou cause at the time I didn’t really care for such things….now is a different story lol
LikeLike
I began working at 16 too but looks like you had it under control.
Haha now it’s I wanna buy everything! Right?
LikeLike
At the time I was helping out my fam so didn’t really notice the shopping fun about it lol OMG yes! Ahahhaha
LikeLike
Aah for me it was a bit different as I began work because I didn’t want to rely on parents for money. It was after a few weeks that I realised I was now expected to contribute to the family costs and then the reality and responsibility of money hit me!
Haha 😀 When I bought a nice watch recently, I went a bit mad as I began to consider buying another at the same time and then I just froze and told myself off lol
LikeLike
Ahahaha I know the feeling! Getting one present is just the start!
LikeLike
Lol yh!
LikeLike
Back when I got my first student loan I went crazy, buying playstations, going out every night, eating the best food. I lived like a king……. for a month, then it all turned to shit and I realised I was poor 🙂
LikeLike
Haha the typical uni student story Must have felt great, while it lasted! Did you behave differently when you got your next installment?
Sadly when I receive my first student grant I will have to save it for next year’s fees so no crazy spree for me!
LikeLike
I didn’t behave differently with my next one! I’m really bad with money. Obviously I’m still paying off my student loan 😦 don’t make the mistakes made 🙂
LikeLike
Haha! So how did you manage once the money ran out?
LikeLike
I had to beg my dad for money. He still brings it up ten years later!
LikeLike
Haha that is exactly what my dad would do!
LikeLike
Hahaha 🙂
LikeLike
My first job was walking/watching peoples dogs while they went on vacation and babysitting at 13. Then my first real job was when I was 16(I wanted to at 15 but my mom wouldn’t let me) at culvers and I honestly don’t remember what I spent my first paycheck on. I saved a lot and bought myself a car when I turned 18 which I still have.
LikeLike
Wow that is amazing! Well done you for saving up enough to buy a car just two years later!
LikeLike
I only got my first job because I wanted to buy a camera, so I saved for more than a year!
LikeLike
Wow must have been a really amazing camera!
What happened after you had enough for it? Did you continue working?
LikeLike
Unfortunately I didn’t continue working. Well the remainder of the money remains in my money box – which I actually had forgotten about till now! I really wish I could find a job but I’m so unsuccessful
LikeLike
Ahah well at least that’s saved.
Yh it certainly is difficult to find a job these days so don’t call yourself unsuccessful 🙂
Just keep on trying and applying. Using your contacts can really help.
LikeLike
That’s a really good idea, I will certainly true. How did you manage to get your tutoring job?
LikeLike
Aah well my tutoring job was gained through contacts but a better way to do tuition would be to sign up to tutoring websites so that students can find you instead.
LikeLike
I never knew they existed! Wow, I will certainly look at the available options after my exams
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve barely been out of college for two years now but I felt as though I hit the mother-load with my first paycheck!!
I started out working in a boarding school as a houseparent where my job demanded very little of me outside of just being available to the boarding students. However, my housing/food/any possible living expense was completely covered. Thankfully, I’ve always been very frugal so my new financial situation simply allowed me to buy things I truly wanted without entering massive credit card debt. My frugal attitude has definitely paid off over the past year though as I now work for a non-profit where I make close to nothing!
LikeLike
Looks like you have it all under control, well done!
LikeLike