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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want my dd to get a job?

46 replies

Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 03/11/2024 15:12

She just turned 13 and a couple of her friends have little ad hoc jobs earning themselves a bit of cash. She gets pocket money but is never enough to cover what she wants to buy!
Is 13 too young - should she just enjoy her childhood before starting her many years of working?
If not, hit me with some ideas on what she can do!!

OP posts:
MyNeedyKoala · 03/11/2024 16:10

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

V0xPopuli · 03/11/2024 16:12

Pet sitting is about the only one.i paid a 14 year old to feed my cats twice a day once.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 03/11/2024 16:14

I think definitely teach hard work here, not to want less 😂

Yes nothing wrong with a few chores for neighbours or a paper round if she can get one (like gold dust here!) ~ how about babysitting? I wouldn't trust a 13yo to babysit DS solo, but I often ask a neighbours teen to come play with him whilst I WFH for an hour or two!

UmbrellaEllaEllaElla · 03/11/2024 16:14

I didnt work until 17 so I'm a bit surprised. Although my dad and mum left school at 14/15 to work.

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/11/2024 16:17

Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 03/11/2024 15:30

Gosh sorry l only meant an hour or so a week - one of her friends does a paper round but with winter coming, not sure how that will pan out and another one does odd jobs for a neighbour so a bit of cash in hand.
I always offer her more money to jobs around the house but she rarely takes me up on it! But then wants more money for make up/skin care/ sweets etc!

Does she get regular pocket money? That's the trick. When it's gone, it's gone. Rewards saving, teaches about money. And if they whine, "do you have enough?".

Sethera · 03/11/2024 16:18

I was expecting the DD to be 23 not 13 😃

ThinWomansBrain · 03/11/2024 16:30

Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 03/11/2024 15:30

Gosh sorry l only meant an hour or so a week - one of her friends does a paper round but with winter coming, not sure how that will pan out and another one does odd jobs for a neighbour so a bit of cash in hand.
I always offer her more money to jobs around the house but she rarely takes me up on it! But then wants more money for make up/skin care/ sweets etc!

Stick to the current arrangement - she gets basic pocket money from you but can earn more by if she wants/needs it by doing specific additional tasks that you will pay her for.

Don't build a rod for your own back though and end up with a stroppy older teen and beyond that has no concept of contributing around the house - difficult balancing act,

Flopsythebunny · 03/11/2024 16:40

Anyone employing anyone under 16 would need a permit from the council. I know when we took on teenagers for paper rounds we had to jump through hoops and fill in lots of paperwork for the council. They had to have a permission letter from their parents and a risk assessment done too. We were only allowed to employ 14 year olds and older.
Some councils may permit from 13 years though

indigopotion · 03/11/2024 16:59

My 14 year old DS does some jobs for neighbours and makes quite a bit at weekends. Do you have a neighbourhood FB or Nextdoor page where you could advertise some services she would be willing to do?

Boymum2104 · 03/11/2024 17:01

She's a child, we spend enough years working

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 03/11/2024 17:02

13?!

Bloody hell, I thought you were going to say 16/17!!

13 is definitely too young, even a paper round they have to be 14.

RandomUser82 · 03/11/2024 17:06

NMW for under 18 is 6.40 an hour, so one hour a week is £25.60 a month. Really not worth the aggro of finding a job.

murasaki · 03/11/2024 17:08

I did some baby sitting at that age. But only for young kids, not babies.

JaceLancs · 03/11/2024 17:13

My DC used to do some jobs for me at this age - over and above their normal share of household chores
Also used to do a few extras for elderly neighbour eg weeding and pet sitting/dog walking for neighbours
I did make sure they were fairly paid too, as DD was asked to be a regular babysitter for a friend of an acquaintance and I challenged the rate they offered

Ilovelifeverymuch · 03/11/2024 18:00

StormingNorman · 03/11/2024 15:22

Definitely not too young. Send her up the chimneys.

😂 😆 😂 😆 😆 😂 😂

Aquacrab · 04/11/2024 20:51

OP, are you saying she needs to get a job because she doesn't have enough money to buy sweets?

Scutterbug · 04/11/2024 21:20

Mine all had paper rounds at 13.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 04/11/2024 21:25

Definitely too young, though pet sitting and dog walking would be appropriate.
i think my DD looked after my friends 8 year old for an hour after school one day at 14 though, took her to the park.

MartinCrieffsLemon · 04/11/2024 21:43

Scutterbug · 04/11/2024 21:20

Mine all had paper rounds at 13.

Much harder to get nowadays

NewName24 · 04/11/2024 21:57

Too young, but at 13, mine was gaining experience - so, for example, there was a family that "employed her" to babysit for them, but I would take her and stay there with her. So she was feeding, changing, entertaining and reassuring the baby, but obviously I was there if needed. Of course this only works if you have a friend who needs a babysitter and you are able to give up that time.

Then keeping up swimming skills so was able to do the lifeguard qualification at 16 and so forth.

user1494050295 · 14/02/2025 15:11

See if your dd will ref football. My dd does it. Starts at 14. An hour a time. She get £35 for U12s. Great for pocket money and confidence.

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