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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:
Nonverbalmum · 30/03/2023 15:15

I started working at my local stables in exchange for lessons rather than money at 13. Then I started working full time at 17, on top of my second year of sixth form, really long story around family breakdown and needing to contribute financially. I went straight from that to an A level management scheme and have worked full time since.

I’m quite excited to be working 26 hours a week now 😁

Namechange224422 · 30/03/2023 15:15

I started working when I was 15 - just a Saturday job. My parents supported me through uni but I always worked a couple of evenings a week plus full time over the summer to pay for socialising, holidays, extras etc.

Ive always supported myself since then, although not always worked full time. My preference is 3 or 4 days a week full on hard work balanced with some non working days.

trickyfriendsone · 30/03/2023 15:15

I worked from 14. Started off as 8hrs on Saturday in retail which Increased to 20hrs a week from 15 then got a full time office job from 17 when I left school and I've worked full time ever since.

Paperexcelandpens · 30/03/2023 15:15

I had a paper round from the day I turned 13. I then worked Saturday and Sundays from age 16 through A Levels. I then got a full time job at 18 and have worked since.
I'm very proud of this and get great satisfaction in earning my own money and supporting myself.

cartagenagina · 30/03/2023 15:17

I started working part time at 14 but didn’t work ft until I graduated Uni.

OP, with regards to Uni, it’s very different now than when I went. I had free uni tuition, and a full grant to pay for my living costs. So I just topped that up with a few hours in retail, and didn’t need a Penny from parents.

Now, tuition fees have to be paid by loan, and there are no government grants for living expenses. Students have to get by with additional loans, parental contributions which the government assumes will definitely be made, and working if they can balance that with their coursework.

It isn’t really a fair comparison.

WhatHaveIFound · 30/03/2023 15:17

Started with weekend work at 16, went full time for 10 months when I was 17. Then had a gap when I went back to college. Work experience organised with college led to a full time job offer when I left.

So I've been working full time since I was 20 apart from a 6 month stint travelling and 2 x maternity leaves. Had one parental loan when we set up business (which was paid back in 2 years) plus 1 day a week childcare from the in-laws.

Our DC have been helping out in our business since their mid-teens and DD has been working part time (shop/bar work) for the last 2+ years to help with her university living expenses.

I'm not sure I'd know what to do if I stopped working!

eurochick · 30/03/2023 15:18

I had Saturday and holiday jobs for a family business from 13 to when I finished education at 23

Then:
Worked 6 months in England
Internship 6 months abroad
Worked 1 year abroad
Returned to England for 6 months of training to finish qualifying into the legal profession at 26
From 26 to 46 worked full time ++++ as an employee/partner (barring 6 months of May leave)
At 46 continued to work full time but on a self-employed basis

I'm tiiiiiired.

Purplecatshopaholic · 30/03/2023 15:19

First job was a few part time hours in local supermarket at 16. Worked there until I left school for Uni. Worked in an off licence (Victoria Wine, remember it?) and then various restaurants part time all through Uni. I didn’t ‘need’ to work really as my mum gave me money, but I liked the social side of hospitality and wanted extra money to get drunk and buy clothes, lol. Worked full time since I finished my undergrad degree (did all my post grad study part time while working full time). Never not worked at any point since I was 16.

GravyGroover · 30/03/2023 15:21

I started working part time at 16 until I went to uni. I then worked every summer holiday out of term time at uni until I graduated. One month after graduating uni I started a full time job and have been working full time ever since (no kids yet but trying)

WeeBitOfWoo · 30/03/2023 15:22

I got a Saturday job in a hairdressers aged 14 Grin.

When I started university at 18, I always worked p/t in some capacity - bar work, cleaning, delivering leaflets etc during term time, then all sorts of low level office stuff through a temp agency in the longer holidays. My mum paid my rent and bills for the first year, then I funded myself. I took out student loans and had the money I saved from my holiday jobs. I was skint, but it was fine.

In my final year of uni I got a part time job in the industry I was hoping to go into, then a full time job straight after my finals. I moved onto a flat share with friends and have been on my own two feet ever since Grin.

HurryShadow · 30/03/2023 15:22

Took a Saturday job at 16 (£2.08 an hour!) then started working full time 3 days after my final A-level at 18 and haven't stopped since! (44 now!)

In terms of post school education years, the introduction of the new professional apprenticeships has given lots of school leavers more options than just work or university.

I have a number of friends whose children have now reached 18 and those that want a career in engineering, for example, have gone to Uni, but those that don't have aspirations for jobs that need a degree have all gone in to apprenticeships.

I moved out of home at 19 to live with my boyfriend, so started fully supporting myself then.

It was a different time though when you could buy a £70,000 flat on a joint £30,000 income quite easily. (value = 2.3 x our salaries)

Living away from home and being truly financially independent is so much more difficult now.

My team at work includes 5 people under the age of 30 and all of them still live at home, desperately trying to save as much money as possible to be able to set up on their own. Those that have worked here in the past that have managed to buy their own place have had to do it as a couple.

The same flat I bought at 19 with my ex last sold in June 2018 for £260,000 and Zoopla estimates it may now be worth £280,000. The salaries for the jobs me and my boyfriend had at the time are now the equivalent of £48,000. (value = 5.8 x salaries). The difference is staggering.

Sorry - that was long!

gabsdot · 30/03/2023 15:25

I got my first job at 17 when I left school and I worked part time during university mostly and full time during the holidays.
At age 24 I started working full time. I then worked part time for about 20 years in a variety of different jobs including running my own business for 10 years.
Last year I started working 4 days per week.
I'm 53 and am considering going back to 5 days per week and trying to have a proper "Career" for the last few years of my working life.

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 30/03/2023 15:26

Weekend working from age 13 in a cafe. Full time (Mon-Fri 8:30-5) level 2 apprenticeship at age 16. Follwed by a level 3 apprenticeship at age 17. Worked in the role for 9 years. Then took another apprenticeship, at a different workplace, to get my Level 4 at age 27.

StopStartStop · 30/03/2023 15:27

18 when I started work, after A levels.
Wasn't fully 'paying for myself' until after marriage and divorce so about 28.

ItsRainingPens · 30/03/2023 15:28

I've been in continuous full time employment since the age of 21 and 2 months

Dirtydiesel · 30/03/2023 15:29

Part time job at university. Had full grant. ( was late 80s) Nothing extra from parents. Holidays were a combination of holiday jobs and unemployment benefit. Working full time at 22 after PGCE and paid for everything from wage. Could easily afford house with partner at 27. Lucky to be young at a time when that was possible.

ItsRainingPens · 30/03/2023 15:30

Forgot to add that I have been fully self-sufficient ever since.

My parents did loan me money for my first car, interest free, but I paid back every penny

HamzasHairnet · 30/03/2023 15:39

I started working at 22 when I got my first teaching job. I had a full grant throughout Uni and for my PGCE, and I eked it out to cover the holidays as well, although I signed on in the summer. Took early retirement from teaching last July at 55 so I've worked full time for 33 years.

NooNakedJacuzziness · 30/03/2023 15:41

Been in full time employment since 16. Im 50 now, need a nap!!

MissedBreakfast384 · 30/03/2023 15:46

First PT paid at 15
Continued to work PT while at college & uni
Worked 30 years FT so far

museumum · 30/03/2023 15:48

Paper round at 14, Saturday jobs from 15-18.
at uni 18-21 I worked holidays but also received parental contributions.
Worked through my post grad year, multiple pt jobs and borrowed and have received any financial help from my pate since.

Coldilox · 30/03/2023 15:48

First started babysitting when I was 14. At 18 I worked full time (plus a second job in a bar evenings and weekends) for 6 months then went travelling, then went to uni for 4 years after my year out of education. Worked part time in holidays for that time. Have been full time ever since I was 23, in various jobs and careers. Took 8 months Mat leave when I had my son 8 years ago. Am 42 now and plan to work full time til I retire at 60.

WhatDoIDoPls · 30/03/2023 15:52

Am 32, started work at 15, worked part time and topped up with internships and being a subject in academic research until I’d finished uni, then worked full time. Lots of student debt, not as much as some, and no help from parents. Agree, as an adult I’m not their problem - which is why the student loan system which expects parents to top up is unreasonable. Not all parents do.

Wakeywake · 30/03/2023 15:54

I had small part time jobs from 16 until I finished Uni. I didn't get my first ft job until I was 26-27 after I got my PhD. I expect my kids to get pt jobs when they are in uni for a bit of extra money, but I think the pay for under 21s is exploitative. I will certainly support them through uni and I don't think their pt work experience or lack of will count for anything when they go for their first graduate job. No one ever cared about my supermarket or call center experience.

specialk9 · 30/03/2023 15:58

I had my a Saturday job when I started college.

I started full time work at 18 and my first mortgage at 19.

I worked full time until September 2023 when my DC1 was 4 (13years full time exc Maternity Leave) and have remained part time (20 hours) ever since and have had 2 more DC.