The question is not when to get a job, but when you start to realize how much cash you need. When I was a kid, at age 13, I got my first job as a paper carrier. The work was easy, paid decent, and was good exercise, possibly one of the reasons I'm as skinny as I am today. With that money, I could fund myself. I have fairly conservative parents( actually only my mom is conservative, but she made most choices over me) where I was vastly limited to what I could listen to/watch/wear with her money. Using my money, I decided I was going to buy what I want and my mom didn't mind too much, but she did not want her money spent "on the work of Satan" (said after I rented the crapfest "Daredevil" from Blockbuster). My job was able to get me out of the conservative wing and where I wanted to be, which was necessary for me. To sum up my purpose of that boring story, jobs should be obtained when the teen wants one.

I've heard some talk about being too tired after work to do anything. Well if you are tired out by standing at a cash register for an hour or 2, perhaps you should see a doctor. None of my friends were too tired after work either. In fact, half of them ran out the door when their shift was over. A good employer will limit teens' hours to give them plenty of time to do homework, socialize, and anything else kids do these days.

In the way of typical narcissistic teens, they want money. Begging from parents is no way to do this, especially if you've been blessed with your parents paying for your car insurance, or even that brand new sports car resting in your driveway. I'm sure they don't want to pay for you to eat at the fanciest restraunts, wear Hollister and Gucci, and wear the finest makeup money can buy. You are not the daughter of a rich movie star, but the daughter of Stacy Grey. Please, go get a job before you put your parents in debt.

Learn more about this author, Keith Moechnig.
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