When you turn sixteen, thoughts of getting a part-time job may enter your mind as the freedom of simply being able to buy a chocolate without having to beg money from Mum or Dad is something you wish to experience. Let me tell you however, of a few other side effects to getting a job as a teenager.
Your perception of money will change. Suddenly, a hundred pounds will not seem like a great amount to you once the initial euphoria of your first paycheck is over. You will realise that a hundred pounds is merely 16 hours of work and that it does not begin to cover the things your unleashed mind wishes to buy or save up for. (£9,000 tuition fees being a good example here.)
Although you will be able to pop to the shops and buy what you wish, anytime you ask your parents for some cash to buy something slightly more expensive expensive like a laptop or a bicycle, then the answer will be a flat “use your own money.” You can forget about them buying you a car for your birthday.
You will suddenly become the money pot for any younger siblings or even any of your parents who do not work. Unlike a bank though, you’ll just be handing out grants and not making any money yourself.
As soon as people hear you have a job, you will be inundated with ‘treat’ requests. Your cousins -even those much older than you- will tell you that they are waiting for you to take them out for a meal but of course you have every right to curtly respond with “you dudes can carry on waiting.”
These side-effects of getting a job are mostly from my own personal experience and you may have experienced the same. Of course, there are always exceptions as I was once left gobsmacked when a colleague told me that despite working, he still receives a great amount of weekly pocket money! When asked what he spends his wages on, he simply replied, “food.”
Despite these crazy things, I would still highly recommend getting a part-time job as a student. For some such as myself, it is a necessity as money is tight at home whereas for others it is optional. However, working as a student will teach you many skills that will help prepare you for life as well as build up that all important CV.
Until Next Time
A Worried Student
A WORRIED STUDENT 
I started working part-time when I was 15 at a coffee shop. I experienced much of the same side effects. Suddenly all the stuff my parents usually bought me stopped coming and I had to pay for a lot myself. I definitely don’t miss those days, but it was a good experience and my first taste of freedom.
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Nice to see I’m not alone in this! Yup the taste of freedom is great and it’s also when you become more mature about money.
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Getting a part time job would prevent us from clinging to others.My support goes to it.
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Yup definitely! Although some people may start clinging to you lol!
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LOL that’s still better.You get those haughty feelings. 😛
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Haha yup! Then we learn the real meaning of generosity 🙂
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BTW,you are an olevels student?
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A-levels 🙂 Just finished A2 and on to university!
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Oh great! 🙂
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Hahaha yeah I can definitely relate to that and it only gets worse! Great blog 😛
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Haha uh oh! Thanks! 🙂
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Worse and better at the same time I guess 😛
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Yup!
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Part time jobs are hard to come across but great – you get an opportunity to meet so many people who you wouldn’t normally come into contact with! Got to have some means to fund teenage rebellion (or in my case gap year travelling). Where is it you work? Emma
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Yup definitely. Often people who share the same issues you are going through.
Haha! Oh no, no rebellion from me hehe ;P
At a tuition centre 🙂 Flexible hours, not as nice pay…
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I just wrote a post about part-time jobs at university, check it out 🙂
http://alicefiancet.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/part-time-jobs/
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Thanks will do! 🙂
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Dunkin Donuts has been great to my kid. Started him at 15 and he’s worked there on and off for 6 years. He’s home on summer break now, at age 20 and probably working 1 more week, for the last time in this town. When he goes back to college in the fall, I am moving. Love your posts. He and I discuss many of the same realities almost daily when he’s home!
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That’s great, flexible jobs are what we students need but very rare to find (with good pay!)
Thank you 😀 Students (and parents) of the world, unite! 😛
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The great thing about DD is that they pay at least minimum and if you keep things positive you rake in the tips besides! Good luck!
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Aah yes tips! I haven’t worked in places where tips are the norm and plus, in the UK, the tip culture isn’t as big as it is in the US I think, or so I have heard.
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I know what it’s like having a job in high school. I had originally gotten my first job to fund my fare for the school choir’s trip to New York. It’s funny how when you’re actually saving up for something, that tiny pay-check seems even smaller. Now I have a car to pay off and I’m not sure what I can and can’t afford to buy as little treats each day.
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You have voiced my sentiments exactly! Suddenly what you are earning seems so small when compared to your goal.
Working out a budget helps though which can sometimes be difficult if you feel that you need to save as much as possible in the shortest time.
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