Post by penguingrrl on Mar 22, 2024 20:45:14 GMT -5
Yes, we were required to work. Being able to pay for my own food and clothes helped my mom make ends meet. My oldest has a job now, they’re saving for car insurance (they turn 17 in august so can get their license) and to help with college costs.
My parents were poor so I’ve had a job since I was 14. We are doing fine so my kids won’t need a job the way I did but I’ll definitely be encouraging it once they are old enough.
kadams767 I'd say it was a bit out of the norm for high schoolers in my area not to work. A few would work over summers/school breaks if they played more than one sport.
My parents paid for my car, gas, and insurance (it was a 1987 Ford Escort, not the used BMW that I wanted) as well as my sibling's (Ford Tempo, not even a used Taurus). I worked 20-25 hours/week in high school and up to 30 hours in the summer and was in management by the time I was 17 and a Senior. I was on the Honors & AP track and could work as long as I kept a B average. In college my parents said no working during school as school was my job since they were paying for it. I worked at the same place every chance I could-breaks, summer, holidays, and the odd weekend if I was home & they were short handed (and dad said ok). That was my spending money until I'd run out towards the end of the semester and need to ask my parents for some. The last 3 years of uni I worked at the stables on Sundays year round cleaning stalls, feeding horses, doing turn out, etc. It got me a little pocket money and an extra practice ride/week. My parents figured I'd be out there anyway and might as well get paid for it. Having said that, I didn't play HS sports, just rode horses as I did many years before that. My parents paid for the weekly lesson; I paid for everything else.
For reference the minimum wage in 1990 was $3.85 or about $7.60 today. Gas was about $1/gallon or about $2 today. My car cost $700+$400ish to fix the AC or about $2000 in today's dollars.
Post by RoxMonster on Mar 22, 2024 21:42:40 GMT -5
My parents didn't really "make me" but I wanted a job in the summer and on weekends in the spring/fall. I worked at a seasonal place (mini-putt/arcade place) so I worked full time in the summer and then just weekends until they closed in the fall and then weekends when they opened in the spring. I was in too many after-school activities do work weeknights during the school year.
I wanted a job, I think just to be independent and have some money.
I took the bus there after school and my parents picked me up. I worked almost every day but only 4 hrs at a time because of my age. It was a scrapbooking store and everything was cute so I ended up spending a chunk of my paycheck there.
I also babysat on weekend nights. Looking back I was probably working too much for a HS kid but at the time I enjoyed it.
My H worked as a janitor’s assistant starting at age 13 for reduced tuition at his Catholic school. Probably entirely illegal, but in 1972 Toledo, Ohio, nobody cared. His parents were extremely hardworking blue collar folks putting 7 kids through Catholic school and needed all the help they could get.
Similarly, my parents put 8 kids through Catholic school on dad’s wages as a truck driver and mom working part time when she could. Jobs were sort of quietly expected. However, none of us worked in direct exchange for tuition, and none of us were required or asked to turn in our wages.
Post by basilosaurus on Mar 23, 2024 6:13:42 GMT -5
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
There just wasn't a lot of time after the school day in which we could have fit work. And I was a bad student who rarely did my homework. I still had hours of reading.
I was so lucky with lucrative babysitting gigs. My parents were even strict about that. They'd get angry if the parents were out after midnight and continually call for updates. Chill, dad, I'm getting paid to watch MTV and fall asleep on the couch, oh, and I finished my school reading plus another book just for fun. Dream job!
Car and its insurance was more a benefit to my dad than to me which is why I think he dropped the pay your own way threats before I had my license. Unpaid chauffeur for the other child plus he didn't have to do drop off
Post by starburst604 on Mar 23, 2024 6:21:26 GMT -5
I got a year round job once I had a car, so summer before senior year. My grandfather gifted me his car but I paid for the insurance and gas. Before that I had done some babysitting for spending money and one summer I worked weekend mornings cleaning at a motel that our neighbors owned. Not very glamorous but they paid me well in cash. I think it’s harder for teens to work now because they have so many activities along with keeping up with school.
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
There just wasn't a lot of time after the school day in which we could have fit work. And I was a bad student who rarely did my homework. I still had hours of reading.
I was so lucky with lucrative babysitting gigs. My parents were even strict about that. They'd get angry if the parents were out after midnight and continually call for updates. Chill, dad, I'm getting paid to watch MTV and fall asleep on the couch, oh, and I finished my school reading plus another book just for fun. Dream job!
Car and its insurance was more a benefit to my dad than to me which is why I think he dropped the pay your own way threats before I had my license. Unpaid chauffeur for the other child plus he didn't have to do drop off
I worked at a movie theater for most of junior and senior year (and then summers in college). Evening shifts during the school year were either 5 or 6 to 10 or 11 PM. Before I had my own car, my mom would be home from work in time to take me (although I worked with a friend whose brother worked there too so sometimes he would drive us, that was one of the bonuses). I would do my homework as soon as I got home from school (I got home earlier, I think it was like 3, and would have to leave at 4:30 for the 5 PM shift) and also take some with me because if it was slow I would be able to do some while working, especially if it was just reading. If I had to, I would finish when I got home, or on the bus to school in the morning, or during homeroom, or lunch, etc. I was a top student, but I did scramble to get work done at times. Weekends I often worked a double on either Sat. or Sun, so 11-11, and then an extra shift the other weekend day. I became really good friends with the manager who made the schedule and was a good worker, so I often got to have input on my schedule and I worked a LOT.
I worked, but it was my choice because I wanted more spending money.
I worked in retail and restaurants. It was an interesting experience. I ended up hanging out with much older people, going to their parties, dating older guys, and just generally being exposed to stuff I shouldn't have been at that age. If my kids want to work, I'll probably try and steer them to things not like that.
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
There just wasn't a lot of time after the school day in which we could have fit work. And I was a bad student who rarely did my homework. I still had hours of reading.
I was so lucky with lucrative babysitting gigs. My parents were even strict about that. They'd get angry if the parents were out after midnight and continually call for updates. Chill, dad, I'm getting paid to watch MTV and fall asleep on the couch, oh, and I finished my school reading plus another book just for fun. Dream job!
Car and its insurance was more a benefit to my dad than to me which is why I think he dropped the pay your own way threats before I had my license. Unpaid chauffeur for the other child plus he didn't have to do drop off
My dad bought me a car $2600 and I paid him back $100 a month. He put it away for my college tuition. So I drove myself.
I got out of school at 2:05. (started at 7:05) I'd work 3-6 or 6-10 plus weekends. Usually worked about 20 hours a week. I didnt play sports
I just did my homework on work days, before or after work or during study hall.
I worked at a grocery store. they closed at 9 but the last hour was putting away overstock, washing registers, filling bags and leveling grocery aisles. I started as a cashier and eventually worked in smoke shop where the cigarettes, lottery were sold and bottle returns collected (before machines)
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
There just wasn't a lot of time after the school day in which we could have fit work. And I was a bad student who rarely did my homework. I still had hours of reading.
I was so lucky with lucrative babysitting gigs. My parents were even strict about that. They'd get angry if the parents were out after midnight and continually call for updates. Chill, dad, I'm getting paid to watch MTV and fall asleep on the couch, oh, and I finished my school reading plus another book just for fun. Dream job!
Car and its insurance was more a benefit to my dad than to me which is why I think he dropped the pay your own way threats before I had my license. Unpaid chauffeur for the other child plus he didn't have to do drop off
School got out at 3:00 I think, so when I wasn’t playing a sport, and I was driving, I could be to work by 4, and I think we closed at 8? I worked at a small flight school as a receptionist and cashier (ringing up flight lessons, etc), so there was a lot of downtime and my bosses didn’t care if I did homework when it was quiet. I think I did maybe 2 weekday shifts and 2 weekend shifts. I made a whopping $6/hr.
When I babysat, I typically brought work with me to do after the kids went to bed.
ETA: my parents were able to afford an older cheaper car for my sister to drive, then me after she went to college. I think it was like $2400. They also paid for insurance and gas. I think by that point they were relieved to not have to drive me around the county for school, sports, music lessons, etc.
If I wasn’t in am activity, I was expected to work.
I agree that many kids these days aren’t expected to get jobs. I blame the culture of everyone needing to be so self-focused and the absolute best at everything. Kids have less capacity. And if it isn’t enriching it isn’t worth their time.
My son has a summer job. I think it is so important to learn how to do something that you are just getting a paycheck and it isn’t self-focused. You have to learn how to serve others and just grind through a shift. It is an important life lesson. Plus money pf course.
Farm kid checking in. I worked on the farm from the time I could walk. Got an after school job at a coffee shop as soon as I could drive. Not because my parents made me but because it was significantly easier than farm work.
My own kid started working the day after his 14th birthday. But that was entirely his own initiative.
Saaaaammme lol. I am a delicate flower. I wasn’t made for farm life lololol.
I worked for fun and to have my own money to buy more clothes - most of my friends did. I worked at the mall. I was still involved with lots of things at school but I was a disinterested student. My parents believed it was important for me to learn about budgeting and banking and paychecks and taxes but they paid all my expenses through undergraduate graduation. The jobs I had in high school and college were really formative and taught me a lot about problem solving, management and service.
My parents were in the school is your job camp. My sisters and I didn't get a car to drive at 16 unless we did Running Start at our local community college. I chose to opt out of that so I rode the school bus until I graduated from high school.
While attending said community college after high school I got a part time job my sophomore year at a dental office in their child care for employees' kids. I worked 20ish hours/week. I got that job entirely on my own and made minimum wage (7.62 if I recall correctly). I was responsible to pay for my own books and extras through college and needed the money.
When I transferred to a 4 yr college I had to volunteer for my three of my classes my junior year so that was an unpaid job. My senior year I got at a job at the Head Start child care center in town. I worked 20+ hours/week that school year. Due to my schedule I only had classes 2x/week so I worked the other 3 days. My boss there said she'd hire me FT if I was staying in town after graduation. Small town of 3,500 year round residents that grew by 17K during the school months. Hard pass.
I subbed at my dance studio but that was it in high school. We were expected to be busy; I did ballet for almost 20 hours a week so my parents felt like that was enough. I did assist several beginning ballet classes which heavily discounted my ballet tuition. In the summer I went to summer intensives for 6 weeks plus church camp for a week so I was pretty much gone the entire summer.
My parents basically just required that we have a regular, significant commitment that kept us busy. When my youngest sis quit gymnastics after junior year, she was required to get a job to fill her time.
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
There just wasn't a lot of time after the school day in which we could have fit work. And I was a bad student who rarely did my homework. I still had hours of reading.
I was so lucky with lucrative babysitting gigs. My parents were even strict about that. They'd get angry if the parents were out after midnight and continually call for updates. Chill, dad, I'm getting paid to watch MTV and fall asleep on the couch, oh, and I finished my school reading plus another book just for fun. Dream job!
Car and its insurance was more a benefit to my dad than to me which is why I think he dropped the pay your own way threats before I had my license. Unpaid chauffeur for the other child plus he didn't have to do drop off
For me, school dismissed at 2:30. Busing wasn’t available to me, so I walked home (just under 2 miles; the family 2 houses down qualified for a bus, but we were too close) or walked straight from school to work.
My earliest jobs were a grocery store and the gap, and they often had me do shifts from 5-9/close (which meant working until 10-10:30 at gap because we had to clean the store before leaving). Both were within walking distance of my house so I mostly got myself there and back, although my mom would pick me up when it was late at night.
Senior year I had a car and worked in a dental office. I had to be at work by 3 and worked until 7 or so two days a week.
I'm curious about those who did work, how that worked out logistically? On a good day, without sports, the bus got me home 430 at the earliest. Once I was driving and had to wait on my sister we got home around 5 or 6.
I didn’t play sports, but I did activities/clubs and was a yearbook editor. On a non-activity day, I got home at like 3:15. So there was time to do homework, eat, and work from 6-9:30 or whatever. And I just didn’t work on days when I had after school stuff. That was 1-2 days a week at most, and I worked 1-2 weeknights at most, so there was time. And I was lucky to work for a small business owner who was willing to work around her employees’ school activities.
Homework-wise, I got as much as I could done during study hall, and fit the rest in. I was a good student and didn’t struggle much with school stuff, so it worked out. It also surely helped that it was the 80s and homework and school activities were less demanding than they would become in later decades, although I do remember some busy weeks when I had group and final projects, term papers, etc.
I was expected to contribute to car expenses if I wanted to continue driving the car they provided. I know I paid my own car insurance (after the initial 6 months they provided) and gas.
I had a regular baby sitting gig with a family after school on Fridays and that usually covered my gas for the week (which was right around $1/gal in the 90s!). I was always done by 7:00 or so and then I’d meet up with friends. My “real job” was at a grocery store and that paid for everything else.
I had to work to pay for my car, extracurricular activities, and spending money in high school. My mom could not afford it so it was something we had to pay for. My sister also worked. I worked entirely too much and it was taking a toll by the end of college.
We are in a better place financially. I have asked my oldest to work for her spending money, but not during marching band season. She simply doesn’t have the time with her courseload and the intensity of her band program. She’s worked summers lifeguarding and picks up pet/babysitting gigs year-round.
My middle DD has a host of special needs so school is a lot of work for her. She recently turned 16 and expressed interest in working this summer. I am going to let her try over the summer; I think it could be good for her.
Post by fancynewbeesly on Mar 23, 2024 11:17:30 GMT -5
My brother and I are 7 years apart. My parents were one of the "school is your job" type people, HOWEVER I also knew they didn't want me to get a job because no access to a car or anything so they would have to drive and pick me up---AND, they would then have to pay for someone to watch my brother in the evenings, etc.
Post by chickadee77 on Mar 23, 2024 12:35:49 GMT -5
I answered no, but we were actively discouraged from getting a job in HS. My parents were adamant that we focus on our studies and extra-curriculars, and I had to beg to get a job the summer between 11th/12th (teaching ballet to kids through my studio).
And no, we were not wealthy. That was just their philosophy.
Post by notsopicky on Mar 23, 2024 12:45:26 GMT -5
I answered no that they didn't make me, but I was super motivated to earn my own money, starting at about 13 or so. I babysat, worked at the local pizza place and then a couple shops in the mall. I usually worked one school night of the week and at least 1 weekend day/night, sometimes both.
I said “something else”. I had a paper route from 4th grade through 8th grade. When I started high school, the deal was that I played a sport or I worked. I had 2-3 hours of homework a night and Saturdays were game days. Depending on the location of the games, we were often gone all day. So I had a lot of regular babysitting gigs through most of high school, but no like paycheck received type of jobs during the year. I was also pretty young and I couldn’t officially get a job until the summer before 11th grade.
I worked through college, first on campus, then off when my sister graduated and I lost all of my grants and work study.
Post by InBetweenDays on Mar 23, 2024 14:45:18 GMT -5
No, my parents did not expect me to get a job in high school.
DD is a senior and had a job last summer at a kayak/paddle board rental place and kids camp. It would be difficult for her to have a job during the school year and nearly impossible in the spring (she has lacrosse practice or games every weeknight). She is planning to work the same job this summer.
DS is a freshman and hasn't had a job. He has the same lacrosse schedule as DD so he too would have a hard time working during the school year. We will encourage him getting a summer job in the future but not this year (he'll be doing driver's ed and volunteering as a counselor in training for high school service hours).
I always worked because I wanted to, even though I was a really privileged kid. I started with a paper route at age 11, got a job at TJ Maxx at 15, and worked nearly 20/hr week + full time during the summer once I turned 16 (at Discovery Zone, Chuck E Cheese's copycat. RIP DZ).
Junior year school ended at 3:30. I'd drive home, change, and drive the 5 minutes to work. I'd get there right at 4. Shifts were either usually 4-9 or 4-10:30. 16-17 year olds were not legally allowed to work past 10:30. Weekend shifts would have various hours from 8 am-10 pm of no more than 8 hours at that age. Seniors could get permission to get out at 2:30. I worked the same shifts but had time to go home and finish homework or watch tv. I opted to use my lunch period to do much of my homework. Let's call it good use of time.