OT Sweet 16 Average Budget

[Just-a-Mom]

Why does everyone not believe me? Why can't a fifteen year old girl learn how to save her money? What do you all have against me?

I don't have anything against you... I'd literally never heard of you until about half an hour ago.

I'm just more inclined to believe math than someone on a message board who may or may not even be a 15 year old girl.

Math: $8000 saved up from 12 years old to 15 years old. So that's about 3 years. You said you only put 40% of your money into savings. $8000 is 40% of $20,000. So, as a newly turned 15 year old, you're telling us that in a state where it's illegal to work more than 15 hours a week, you've made $20,000 over the past 3 years? Only one year of which you could even legally have a job?

So let's say $10,000 of it was from that year. You made another $10,000 when you were 12-13? Especially since people are saying you posted about other factors, presumably in other threads, that would limit your time for work I'd think.

The math doesn't work. Sorry.

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[njallday]

20 hrs a week year round? In her current state she is limited to 15 hrs a week while school is in session. I guess it's possible for her to make the majority of that over the summer months just not what you typically hear of for a 14-15 yo.




Didn't you just turn 15 in August which means you've only worked 1 year at this place?

ETA: where I live kids that age are very limited on jobs and it usually ends up as babysitting, ice cream shop, or family owned business and are not fortunate enough to have an opportunity like you working in a restaurant in a high end area making that much money.

**Don't mind me, just one of the girls here**

not defending one way or the other (and I live in a different state with different laws), but both of my first restaurant jobs were paid cash under the table and while the owners of the businesses could have gotten in a lot of trouble financially, they chose to take that risk. I started work at 14, working more hours than probably allowed and went home with cash every night.

 

[Deleted member 41136]

20 hrs a week year round? In her current state she is limited to 15 hrs a week while school is in session. I guess it's possible for her to make the majority of that over the summer months just not what you typically hear of for a 14-15 yo.




Didn't you just turn 15 in August which means you've only worked 1 year at this place?

ETA: where I live kids that age are very limited on jobs and it usually ends up as babysitting, ice cream shop, or family owned business and are not fortunate enough to have an opportunity like you working in a restaurant in a high end area making that much money.

**Don't mind me, just one of the girls here**

Yes I have only worked there for a year but I have followed my plan for three years now. I never once blew a crap ton of my money on anything not important to me. I am a lot smarter than people give me credit for and I'm done being told I can't do something or something is not true because I'm a teenager.

 

[Deleted member 41136]

not defending one way or the other (and I live in a different state with different laws), but both of my first restaurant jobs were paid cash under the table and while the owners of the businesses could have gotten in a lot of trouble financially, they chose to take that risk. I started work at 14, working more hours than probably allowed and went home with cash every night.

I have never heard of laws limiting hours of teens. I have always been paid cash

 

[njallday]

I have never heard of laws limiting hours of teens. I have always been paid cash

child labor laws are actually pretty strict. They limit the age you can work at, the hours per week you can work, and the times you can work. I had one hostess job at a bar/restaurant that seriously followed the laws and the managers would escort me out of the building a 9:59 pm (half because it was a bar and I was a 16 year old girl so they wanted me safe, half so they didn't get in trouble.)

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

I don't have anything against you... I'd literally never heard of you until about half an hour ago.

I'm just more inclined to believe math than someone on a message board who may or may not even be a 15 year old girl.

Math: $8000 saved up from 12 years old to 15 years old. So that's about 3 years. You said you only put 40% of your money into savings. $8000 is 40% of $20,000. So, as a newly turned 15 year old, you're telling us that in a state where it's illegal to work more than 15 hours a week, you've made $20,000 over the past 3 years? Only one year of which you could even legally have a job?

So let's say $10,000 of it was from that year. You made another $10,000 when you were 12-13? Especially since people are saying you posted about other factors, presumably in other threads, that would limit your time for work I'd think.

The math doesn't work. Sorry.

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I took the "saved the $$$ from 12-15" as not working but as money saved up from receiving money from birthdays, Christmas, chores, graduation money, money for good grades, etc. Depending on the family, I think it's possible for a kid to save up a good chunk of money between those years if they are getting a lot of money doing those things.

 

[Cheer Dad]

I have never heard of laws limiting hours of teens. I have always been paid cash

I would be careful if you are working under the table in an eating establishment. You are technically not covered by insurance if you get hurt.

Google the laws for your state. You might be really surprised to find out how bad they may be taking advantage of you or how lucky you are depending on what you read.



**Don't mind me, just one of the girls here**

 

[Just-a-Mom]

I took the "saved the $$$ from 12-15" as not working but as money saved up from receiving money from birthdays, Christmas, chores, graduation money, money for good grades, etc. Depending on the family, I think it's possible for a kid to save up a good chunk of money between those years if they are getting a lot of money doing those things.

I did too.

I'm just still not believing a 15 year old has saved up $8000. And if it was the kind of family that had that kind of cash flow, I doubt we'd have this thread, because she would already be having a sweet 16.

But it's neither here nor there to me. Obviously her parents have enough sense without my help.

Eta... If she has saved that much, then that's impressive. However, I still don't think spending it on a sweet 16 is a good idea. Jmo

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[mamabear]

Is this another ploy to get information for your book/ 45,000 word essay? I am also confused because I thought you told us that your birthday was going to be at Top Dog Allstars? I remember you asking about sports bras as favors and diffferent FBers stepping up offering to make it a reality.

 

[MissCongeniality]

OP - you do know that everything you have posted on here is searchable, right? So when your stories don't mesh people are going to raise their eyebrows and doubt your honesty.
If you have saved this money...kudos to you! Don't blow it all on a Sweet 16...there are so many more things you will want and need down the road.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Is this another ploy to get information for your book/ 45,000 word essay? I am also confused because I thought you told us that your birthday was going to be at Top Dog Allstars? I remember you asking about sports bras as favors and diffferent FBers stepping up offering to make it a reality.

I thought we were supposed to have a copy of that novel posted by now?

 

[Keep_Believing]

elaws - employment laws assistance for workers and small businesses

 

[Pebbles49]

I must thank the OP for this thread. After thoughtful thinking about this topic and reading others experiences, these parties seem to be, so trivial. This sweet 16 thing, starting to have me feeling like we are teaching our children to be narcissistic and wasteful. I made up my mind that I think my daughter will learn more about life, if I have her thinking about how she can enhance herself long term. I still will celebrate, but it will be small, family oriented and personal...

Eta: of course, these comments are not directed at people who culturally celebrate milestones like the Jews and Hispanics...These children have a Rite of Passages that culminates with a celebration... The Sweet 16 parties do not have this...Sorry for being so melancholy now on this topic...

 

[Just-a-Mom]

Is this another ploy to get information for your book/ 45,000 word essay? I am also confused because I thought you told us that your birthday was going to be at Top Dog Allstars? I remember you asking about sports bras as favors and diffferent FBers stepping up offering to make it a reality.

OK so I'm not crazy. I thought this was the same person, but the app wasn't letting me search it.

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[Cheer Dad]

OK so I'm not crazy. I thought this was the same person, but the app wasn't letting me search it.

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Yes you are but in this case it is irrelevant.


**Don't mind me, just one of the girls here**