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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

what do your teenagers do to earn money?

28 replies

ska · 03/05/2007 12:59

my 13 nearly 14 year old dd is desperate to earn some money. I can't afford to pay her much to do anything around here! I used to work in Boots and did that from about 14 until I was 22 and had finsihed college. Worked saturdays and then mondays too when at college as well as all the holidays. But what do kids do now? Any ideas welcome!

OP posts:

mumblechum · 03/05/2007 13:03

I have a horrible feeling they're not allowed to work in shops now till they're 16, but not sure.

Could she wash cars for neighbours?

Babysit? not v. tiny babies, but toddlers would be ok.

Sell some stuff on ebay/car boot sale?

AngharadGoldenhand · 03/05/2007 13:04

Paper round?

lyra41 · 03/05/2007 13:06

My 14 y o does a paper round, just the local free paper, he earns just over £10 a week. He also sometimes goes over to my mum's and she sets him to work cleaning her car, digging in the garden etc. I think she pays him £5 an hour and is on the generous side - that's Nanas for you!
I offer him £5 a week pocket money, conditional on him doing his jobs (making bed every day, dirty washing in the basket, clean washing put away, school bag and coat hung up when he comes in and the odd request from me such as emptying the dishwasher) but he can't be bothered to do any of these.
A friend of his worked at the barber's doing odd jobs like going for the lunches, sweeping up etc. and he earned £25 every Saturday, 8.30 - 5.30.

hth

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 13:07

I 'm sure you're right about shops - every shop I go into I ask how old you need to be to work there and most of them say 18!! She is rubbish at cleaning cars - we tried her on ours - and she put up a poster advertising dog walking and small pet sitting but nothing came of that. At the moment she's delivering leaflets for an organic box scheme (it's me officially and we will have to help get her to some of the roads) and that's ok but she would like something regular really. All ideas (legit) welcome!

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Lilymaid · 03/05/2007 13:07

DS has worked as a paperboy (now also sorts papers). There are legal restrictions on child employment and large firms often won't consider employing under 16s. Main legal details are:
The youngest age your child can work part-time is 13 years old, with the exception of children involved in television, theatre, modelling or similar activities.
Children may not work:
without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council;
in any industrial setting eg factory, industrial site etc;
during school hours;
before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm;
for more than one hour before school;
for more than four hours without taking a break of at least one hour;
in any occupations prohibited by local by-laws or other legislation eg pubs, betting shops;
in any work that may be harmful to their health, well-being or education;
without having a two week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year;
Term time:
During term time children may work a maximum of 12 hours per week, of which:
a maximum of two hours on school days and Sundays
a maximum of five hours on Saturdays for 13 to 14 year olds;
School holidays
During school holidays 13 to 14 year olds may work a maximum of 25 hours per week, of which:
a maximum of five hours on weekdays and Saturdays;
a maximum of two hours on Sunday.

I hope that is helpful!

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 13:09

so do i have to ask the council for an employemnt slip for her - that sounds completely unworkable in practice which may be why no one employs them!

OP posts:

littlemissbossy · 03/05/2007 13:10

DS1 baby sits for neighbour once (sometimes twice) a week
DS2 has a paper round

mumblechum · 03/05/2007 13:11

Blimey, not like when I was 13 and worked 8 hours non stop carrying dishes up and downstairs (upstairs cafe, d/stairs shop). It was knackering, for which I got £3 a day!

Kids these days.....

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 13:13

babysitting would be a possible - i wouldn't let her do her siblings as they argue too much with her (hate her being in charge) but she is responsible and caring.

OP posts:

Lilymaid · 03/05/2007 13:14

Despite my long posting, DS has never had to produce any documentation himself concerning his work as a paper boy! Perhaps the newsagents have to do that?

KristinaM · 03/05/2007 13:15

what about cleaning / general mothers help or gardening ( help) for freinds and neighbours? I dont mean cutting teh grass or watching kids as she's too young. I mean being an extra pair of hands to someone you knwo ( and trust)

PenelopePitstops · 03/05/2007 13:19

you will probably struggle to find something legit until she is 16.

Do you have any restaurants nearby that you could try, they might be looking for pot washers or waitresses depending on the age they take people. ALso local hairdressers as a saturday girl on the phone and sweeping up etc this is quite often done by under 16 year olds. SHe will struggle to get into a mainstrem store to work until she is at least 16 as they regulation about when you can work change.

A paper round is another opening, are there any local papers that come out only once a week so she doesnt have to do it every day. Or a paaper that comes out in the afternoon that she couldso after school.

Advertise baysitting services in local shops etc if you can, and any other services she could provide.

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 13:45

bump

OP posts:

PenelopePitstops · 03/05/2007 14:09

how small is the town where you live?

would nay businesses tske on a saturday girl?

FiveFingeredFiend · 03/05/2007 14:13

nothing legit until 16 in shops only option as far as i can see is a paperround. ALternatlively printing up own leaflets and offering car valeting, pet walking, babysitting.

ALthough i would propose that there may be some element of responsability there that may fall on you as the parent. ( ie. when they want to go out with friends, can't be bothered, the novelty wears off etc.)

RGPargy · 03/05/2007 14:41

Whenever i mention the word "job" to my 16 year old (he's at college 3 days a week) all i get is a dis-interested grunt.

If he turns up a college for all 3 days, he gets his EMA, but i have totally given up on subbing him any money because him actually getting his EMA is not a guarantee! Plus he has to learn to earn his own money. I really wish he'd get a job but i think he suffers from shyness and is terrified of talking to strangers, poor thing!

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 17:49

we live in asmall village and there is a walk of 1 mile to get into the village from where we are. i have to be the taxi driver!

OP posts:

Original poster

ska · 03/05/2007 19:45

bump for the evening crowd

OP posts:

cat64 · 03/05/2007 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ska · 04/05/2007 11:27

all good ideas! still interested in what other kids do though. They can't all rely on hand outs from mum and dad surely?!

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LaineyW · 04/05/2007 16:46

Hi ska,

My 14 year old DD got herself a job last summer holidays (she was only 13 then) working at a local children's playbarn. The school were very supportive of her efforts and gave her the relevant piece of paper which the careers officer signed, then I signed, then her employer signed. This is largely to protect the child from exploitation I think.

We thought it would just be a summer holiday job but she also does the odd Sunday and fills in at half term etc.

She loves it and learned a lot in a very short space of time (not least how to clean loos and wipe up vomit!!)

For what it's worth I think it's admirable when a child wants to earn money. We also have an open agreement with our two DDs that they can always earn extra cash by doing extra washing up, cleaning windows, cleaning cars, ironing etc.

If she's struggled with the car cleaning thing don't give up immediately, let her try it a few times. None of us are experts at anything first time round...

Good luck!

Mumpbump · 04/05/2007 16:53

When I was young, there were at least two exceptions to the 16 year age limit - grocers and butchers. I got a job working in the grocers. They paid an absolute pittance, but that was before minimum wages came in.

duomonstermum · 04/05/2007 20:00

this is a bone of contention in our house. dsd is 14 going 15 and can't stick to 1 day a week work experience so despite reassurances that she'll find something for the summer we aren't holding our breath she does babysit the odd time for her mum's friends but they are braver then i am....

Stephanie1970 · 08/05/2007 13:47

My 14 1/2 DS has had a paper round since he was 13. He's also my babysitter..(he's wise beyond his years)
Before he was 13 he would do odd jobs around the house to earn extra cash.
my 12 1/2 year old is currently my 'little helper'. He wants to earn extra cash to buy Play Station game.
I think it's important for them to earn their own money, and to learn the value of money.
Pocket money is geven to them on the understanding that their beds get made each day (which they do do), and ocassionally to do the dishes, although it is a rarity for me to ask them. Oh and dog walking too. That normally falls to the youngest DS as the eldest is never here lol...teenagers in love

Mum2Luke · 18/05/2007 13:42

My eldest 16 yr old does a paper round and has done for about 2 or 3 yrs, it suits him as he starts school at 8.25 and it gets him up early and on the weekend he is finished for 8.30am so the rest of the day is his own. He has asked about working in JD Sports or somewhere like that locally so that I don't have to run him there but he has to have left school full-time and is hoping to go to 6th form in September, why can't they just let him work weekends?

The 13 yr old has to catch a bus at 7.15am to get to Manchester to go to school so a paper round is out as she gets back at 4.30 (5.30 if she has an after-school club. There's not much for 13 yr olds really, she is not old enough (but yet is mature enough)to babysit so I get her doing jobs around the house like looking after her younger brother.

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