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
Teenagers

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

Original poster

Do most teenagers have part time jobs?

26 replies

fizzbuzz · 25/07/2007 14:28

Dss17 and dss21, have never had any sort of job. Is this usual?

My ds 13 has a paper round. Dss 21 is at uni, and doesn't have any sort of job.

My neice who is 22 works all holidays to pay for uni.

Am I unreasonable in being a little pissed orf?

OP posts:
MaryAnnSingleton · 25/07/2007 14:29

I always had Saturday and holiday jobs, but dh didn't...

MaloryTowers · 25/07/2007 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marne · 25/07/2007 14:31

My dss (14) has a paper round and works with dh if he is busy.

I think i worked as soon as i was 14, waitressing, paper round etc..
Worked most nights when i was at college and worked in the holidays.

princessmel · 25/07/2007 14:32

Not if they're chavs

meandmy · 25/07/2007 14:33

between 16 and 18 i had two jobs, paid for everything by myself,
my sis and half bro 16 and 15 have no interest in getting a job and all you hear is mom can i have have you got me it bugs me!
my sis thinks she is too good to have paperround, fill shelfs work in fast food place like how me and my other sisters got on to have better jobs and qualifications!

meandmy · 25/07/2007 14:34

meant i did two jobs at a time papers in week filled shelves weekend, then went on to train as nursery nurse and continued to fill shelves at weekend

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 25/07/2007 14:35

Well Malory, he sits up in his room all day, eating us out of house and home.

He has student loans, pays no board (although dp pays £25.00 per week for him), and I am wondering if I am right in being pissed off

OP posts:
Carnoodleusfudge · 25/07/2007 14:37

From about 14 I expect DC to have some sort of job - probably babysitting and then moving onto the shelf filling/kitchen portering etc. In holidays when a bit older work in offices doing errands, photocopying etc. DH & I both earned money from about 14 onwards. Worked every holiday during Uni.

Where are they getting their money from?

MaloryTowers · 25/07/2007 14:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Carnoodleusfudge · 25/07/2007 14:39

I would be really pissed off.
I would demand he paid for food and lodging out of his own pocket. If he objects tell him you will rent out his room to a pying lodger.
Old enough and ugly enough to get a life.

RGPargy · 25/07/2007 14:40

My DS (17) also is reluctant to find work. I am VERY pissed off with him. I do not sub him AT ALL and he still asks for money, which i tell him "no".

I would like to know very much how to give him a good kick up the jacksy. I'm fed up with it!!!

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 25/07/2007 14:40

They don't seem to need much money[Hmm].

Not subbing exactly, but he probably costs more like £75.00 in board than £25.00.

Just feel like something is not right, and I am been taken for a ride......

OP posts:
Carnoodleusfudge · 25/07/2007 14:43

Sit down and explain that - it's costing you £50 a week which you are not prepared to conitnue doing.

If he has a student loan presumably has some sort of...skill...which he could be using.

I would give him a months notice to start paying £50 a week and get a job...he sounds like he's got it good. Obviously you don't do his laundry do you?

sandyballs · 25/07/2007 14:52

I agree at his age he should be working, but I overheard someone saying that kids couldn't work these days until they are 16 - even shelf stacking. Surely that's not true.

evenhope · 25/07/2007 14:53

We've found here that you can't get a job until you are statutory school leaving age, which for a September born child means they are almost 17 before they can work.

It's frustrating for my 15 yo but my older 3 all work (17, 19 & 21).

Oblomov · 25/07/2007 15:19

I think that if I was living at the 'hotel fizzbuzz', I wouldn't bother getting a job, or even getting out of bed for that matter. Mum provides meals, washing , ironing and everything else ?
You need to be more strict fizzbuzz.
I had 3 jobs at aged 15 and bought my own car, for my 17th birthday.

Lilymaid · 25/07/2007 15:47

Fizzbuzz - yes you are unusual. DS1 (possibly the laziest boy on the planet) has managed to have a Saturday job in 6th Form and vacation jobs - this year a proper internship - as well as DJing work on the side. DS2 aged 15 has done paper rounds for nearly 3 years. Get them off their backsides. Both have been in full time education doing full time courses and have managed social lives/sporting commitments as well. (They don't do much round the house, but that's another thread).

Lilymaid · 25/07/2007 15:48

Another thought - how are they ever going to get "proper" jobs without an employment history for student/temp work?

PenelopePitstops · 25/07/2007 15:53

fizzbuz they should get jobs immediately.
I have worked doing babysitting, working in tesco and a bar since i was 14 and im only 19. You are obviously giving them too much. DO they not need petrol money? or going out money? a student loan does not cover you all the time. How does he pay for uni?

Kick up the jacksee immediately!

Also he will find it very very difficult to get a job with no work experience in whatever field.

browniedropout · 25/07/2007 18:15

Good, this is one I have a strong opinion on ... some ds, dss ds etc are taking the mick, others are paying the price. I also worked from 15: grotty jobs, menial, stifling etc and so I have made one DS work from 13. He got a paper round and in the end, because of school demands I ended up doing it with younger DD. She wanted to take it over but it was dangerous - major main roads, suspect home owners vicious letter boxes and dogs. If DSS is at Uni, then yes, for sure he should be working. At 15, 14 13 in the South its impossible to get a job except paper round or specialist coach, but I think your DSS is just lazy. I've worked with uni students working as after school child care workers and then going on to other jobs afterwards and working weekends elsewhere.

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 25/07/2007 18:37

I completely agree with you all.

DP agrees dss is lazy, and should have a job, but has in effect given up hounding him, as it made no difference.

I however feel resentful, that I am subsiding somebody who has enough spare time to sink a ship, and shows absolutely no interest in supporting himself.

OP posts:
Carnoodleusfudge · 25/07/2007 18:47

Then stop!
Give him a cupboard in the kitchen with a few basics and a lesson on how the washing machine works and leave him to it. What reason does he have to change? You'll be posting the same in 10 years time otherwise!

PenelopePitstops · 25/07/2007 19:25

fizzbuzz do soemthing drastic and fast

if he has a supply of money food and water with free washing he will be happy for the rest of his days.

get him some work experience the sooner the better!

Original poster
fizzbuzz · 25/07/2007 21:16

Oh, he can cook and wash clothes and look after himself like that.

Just not interested in a job

OP posts:
mumeeee · 25/07/2007 23:12

DD1 20 is at Uni and she has had a Saturday job since the age of 16. DD2 17 has applied for several jobs but has not been sucesful yet. DD3 15 is going to look for a job when she is 16.