Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When did you start working and when did you start full-time work?

154 replies

areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 14:48

Also when did you start paying for yourself completely?

I started work at 15 and carried on from there

I was working full-time at 18 and never stopped for long until I went self-employed and now switch between full and part-time.

It seems natural that my child would begin working around the same age, but is this normal for people now?

At 18 I was considered an adult and expected to buy everything for myself. I moved out then and have been independent ever since.

I never got any funding from parents at uni, I thought this was normal then, or is it a new thing to fund grown up children until early twenties?

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/03/2023 14:51

I had jobs since 13, corner shop etc, then worked 20 hours a week during uni, then full time after graduation. I only dropped to four days after my second child arrived, but that was only for about a year before I went back up to full time. Nearing 40 now, so worked for nearly 27 years, of which 18 were full time.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/03/2023 14:51

Oh and I lived at home for uni so not cash funded but free acom and meals as at home.

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 14:51

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/03/2023 14:51

I had jobs since 13, corner shop etc, then worked 20 hours a week during uni, then full time after graduation. I only dropped to four days after my second child arrived, but that was only for about a year before I went back up to full time. Nearing 40 now, so worked for nearly 27 years, of which 18 were full time.

And is this a situation you enjoy? Would you want to work less?

OP posts:
Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 14:52

Do you feel proud that you worked a long time or hard done by?

I feel proud, and happy, as there have been a lot of good experiences and I enjoy being independent.

OP posts:
BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 30/03/2023 14:53

Started working at 12. Full time at 18 (college at night for the final year of my course), worked ft until dc3(10) was 4 weeks old & I was made redundant. Went back to part time work last year when dc5(5) started school, after 8.5 years as a SAHM, (although I've had a pt SE income too since 2011).

Itsbytheby · 30/03/2023 14:54

I wokred part time from around 16, then a year before uni full time, then in uni holidays as and when, and full time again after uni.

I wouldn't expect my kids to work before they were 16.

maddening · 30/03/2023 14:55

Started Saturday Jobs/holiday jobs at 14 through to throughout uni and got my first full time permanent job the August after I finished uni. I have been full time ever since except for a year after I too voluntary redundancy and I used my redundancy pay to fund a year off with my son from when he was 1-2.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 30/03/2023 14:55

I had a paper round when I was 14, then worked Saturdays in a cafe when I was at college and working full time when I left at 17 (nearly 18). I've been working part-time for years so worked full time for nearly 40 years. Yikes... I don't think that's normal now as I don't think many kids do paper rounds these days, and parents seem to pay for everything and give them allowances so there's not much incentive to get a part time job. Add to that the fact that most young people go to uni and don't start working until they are 21/22 so they are not financial dependent much later in life.

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 14:58

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 30/03/2023 14:53

Started working at 12. Full time at 18 (college at night for the final year of my course), worked ft until dc3(10) was 4 weeks old & I was made redundant. Went back to part time work last year when dc5(5) started school, after 8.5 years as a SAHM, (although I've had a pt SE income too since 2011).

12?? What did you do?
Is that even legal? Or was it a long time ago?

OP posts:
Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 14:59

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 30/03/2023 14:55

I had a paper round when I was 14, then worked Saturdays in a cafe when I was at college and working full time when I left at 17 (nearly 18). I've been working part-time for years so worked full time for nearly 40 years. Yikes... I don't think that's normal now as I don't think many kids do paper rounds these days, and parents seem to pay for everything and give them allowances so there's not much incentive to get a part time job. Add to that the fact that most young people go to uni and don't start working until they are 21/22 so they are not financial dependent much later in life.

Right, so do you think that's good for kids?

I can't imagine it as it's so alien. My child's young but it was never an option for me to be bankrolled by my parents at uni. I worked shifts and upwards of 30 hours a week to pay for everything I did.

Not working until 21? How do you even get a job at that age with no work history?

OP posts:
Squiblet · 30/03/2023 14:59

I had summer jobs every summer from when I was 14 onwards. The early years weren't great, to be honest ... they were shit jobs and I was shit at them.

Got the sack from the first two jobs I ever had, which really hit my self-confidence.

RosesofAmsterdam · 30/03/2023 14:59

Started at 13. Full time over the summer months from 18 while at uni. Full time all the time since 21. Now 35!

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 30/03/2023 15:00

Itsbytheby · 30/03/2023 14:54

I wokred part time from around 16, then a year before uni full time, then in uni holidays as and when, and full time again after uni.

I wouldn't expect my kids to work before they were 16.

Yes mine was only a very small job. I'm impressed by working at 12!

I would encourage at 16 though, shop work, cafe... I actually have really fond memories of my time in cafes.

I started bar work at 17 but no one checked my age then.

OP posts:
LibrariansGiveUsPower · 30/03/2023 15:02

Babysitting from 14, office job in the holidays from 15. Full time on and off around education from 19, properly full time from 22.

seems pretty similar amongst the friends with teens I know. A lot start working around 16.

Cookerhood · 30/03/2023 15:02

I had a Saturday job from 14 - also worked in the school holidays. University at 18 - very small grant plus help from parents. No-one worked when at uni in those days, we used to be horrified at the though of people doing it (we heard tales of US students working). I did work in the summer & Christmas holidays. Worked full time after uni so supported myself from then. Part time after having children, then self employed. Just retired this week!
My children had hospitality industry jobs from 16 & worked while at uni.

Spendonsend · 30/03/2023 15:02

I worked part time in a shop at 14 and then full time from 18. I lived at home until i was 21 but paid rent of 1/3 of my salary and all my own transport, clothes, food etc. (My parent didnt save the rent and give it to me as a deposit)

ILoveCoffee222 · 30/03/2023 15:05

Similar to Bernardsarenotalwaysaints, I started working at 12. By 16 I had 2 jobs - one cleaning after school and one weekend job in supermarket. At 18 I went to university and worked full time (40hrs per week) to pay for rent, a car, my social life etc :) (I prioritised working in a pub over my studies! But got my degree!) I worked full time after uni until I had children, and have worked around 30hrs a week since my oldest went to school (I worked full time in the pre school years as nurseries are good with their hours!).

I do feel proud of having worked hard most of my life. I'd like to have not had to work full time in my children's preschool and baby years. I'd like to work about 18 hrs a week now, but 30 is fine. I can't complain!

When my children are older, I'd like them to get part time jobs. Probably not from as young as I was, but a Paper round at 13 would probably be good for them! They both swim, so maybe they'll teach swimming when they r a bit older. I think all 16yrs plus should do some kind of paid work.

Badleg85 · 30/03/2023 15:05

Babysitting and cafe work from 14, went to full time aged 19. Dropped to PT aged 24 when I had my first and working my way back up now but I'll try to avoid ever working FT if I can, it's not the right balance for me and my family. For my girls I hope they'll do a degree and work PT until that is done.

QuintanaRoo · 30/03/2023 15:08

I was at primary school, about 9yo. Used to get paid 7.5p per punnet of soft fruit which I picked.

moved onto cleaning at a local hotel when I was 14yo.

then shop work at 16.

full time at 20yo after finishing uni

Motnight · 30/03/2023 15:09

A Saturday job from aged 12, also did holidays. Full time working from 21 to early 30s. Then half time for the next 12 years. Then full time again for the past 12 years.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 30/03/2023 15:10

It was y7, most of us had some form of job (although I'm not old, 34). Chambermaid in local b&b's (tourist town so had a dozen within a 3 minute walk), babysitting & pet sitting. Waitressing plus the former from 13.

ILoveCoffee222 · 30/03/2023 15:11

By the way - 12 wasn't legal in my day (I was 12 in 1991). My parent struggled with money and did extra work from home stuff after her day job (bit outing to say what it was, but it was repetitive manual stuff that would get dropped off at our house and collected when complete). She asked for more hours for herself, which I then worked. Noone knew it was me! At 14, when I was officially old enough (or I assume I was, unless someone hired me on the sligh!) I got a pot washing job. I worked up from there to cleaning, waitressing, cashier in supermarket etc.. when olde enough

redrumclub · 30/03/2023 15:12

I started working in a hotel age 15, full time in a cafe when I left college at 18 then started a full time apprenticeship a year later.

It's pretty impossible to get any work other than a paper round under the age of 16 now, but I think a weekend/holiday job from 16 is a reasonable expectation.

quietnightmare · 30/03/2023 15:12

Job 100 percent yes from about 14 ( paper round, glass collecting etc) and 100 percent yes if not in school then a job is a must. Some hours per week if studying but moving out and paying for everything atm is becoming less likely even for full time workers due to the obvious extortionate prices of properties and living especially if only doing a few hours a week if studying 9-5

DanceMonster · 30/03/2023 15:13

I was ‘bankrolled’ through uni as my student loan was £3000 a year, rent was £4500 and tuition fees £1100. I worked to pay my living expenses but my parents topped up my loan for rent and fees.
I started work at 14 (waitress). Worked part time in some way up until I graduated at 22, then worked full time.