Convincing My Parents to Let Me Get a Job

Question

So here's the deal:

I'm turning 16 in about a week and plan to get my first job. Problem is, my parents don't want that. I currently don't have a driver's license or a car and my parents don't plan to pay for either. So I want to get a part-time job to pay for the car, insurance, driver's training, etc. They tell me it's not because they can't afford it, because we are an upper middle class family, but rather I am too young and naive. They also go on to state that my other peers at school that have jobs or cars have troubles in school and will inevitability have debts and crisis in later years. So now, here I am car-less and job-less, any advice?

Answer 1

maybe you can get at a job that a friend's at so you can get a ride with them.

plus you're getting older and you need to learn this stuff.

with me my parents don't give me any money,  or buy me anything next to food.  

and!

people need money these days.

(:

good luck.

Answer 2

tell your parents to let u have a job under these conditions.

1- you will quit if your grades slip.

2-if you get overstressed you will quit.

and 3- tell your partents that if you get this job then you can get a sence of dicipline and ready yourself for college.

Answer 3

You have your entire life to work.  It sounds like your wanting a car and trying to be a more responsible 16 year old by working to assist in the expense of ownership.  You need to approach them or maybe just one of them that you are closest to and discuss this more. You don't elaborate on your grades, type of friends etc....this can make it tough for those of us with kids to give you an appropriate approach with your parents and give you our viewpoints of where we are coming from.

Ok - it sounds like you're a good student.  Take one of them aside and speak with them about it.  I think it is completely normal that at 16 you want to have some independence.  In addition to the expense of a vehicle--once you have a car it creates a certain sense of insecurity to us as parents--once you get a car you will be gone more and less at home.  If you are at home it allows us to keep better tabs of your whereabouts, only because we care and want you to be safe.  We know once you have that car, it is out of our control what happens to you.  You will have friends that want to be taken places and let's face it--we got a little crazy--so we expect you to as well.  Try subtle with the job--maybe start with something with few hours, then it is easier to work into taking on a few more.  What you need to to decide is what you want to take on first with your parents--focus on the car or the job first and the next will follow--no matter which comes first they go hand in hand.  Good Luck!

Answer 4

I hate to say this, because you make a good point, but your parents are right here. You don't need a car - most cities have public transportation that's more efficient and cheaper. A bicycle will also get you most places you need to go.

If you're dead-set on finding a job, you shouldn't go about it the usual way. You don't want to be trapped working 4 hours a day bagging groceries or selling hamburgers. One way many teenagers find success is by starting their own business based on something they love.

Here are a few good examples of ways to start businesses based on something you love:

- If you like making music, start recording it. Buy a $10 microphone and download Audacity and just record. If you write songs you think are good, start finding open mic nights in your area. Get noticed (do this by playing a LOT.) Eventually you'll be able to book live shows and get decent amounts of money: at the local level, it's likely you won't be making more than a few thousand, but it should be enough to propel you through college.

- If you like programming, start a website offering something no other does. This is hard. Alternatively, find a company that needs a programmer skilled in a language that lets you work from home and do just that. Alternatively, write a game or a program that is full-featured and sell it for a small amount of money - see Braid as a good example of this. This is also hard. Nevertheless, you can get a lot doing this if you put your all into it.

- If you like reading, write some essays or poetry and submit them to prominent publications, such as the New Yorker and McSweeney's. Look in the magazines to be sure you're submitting what they're looking for. You get paid a decent amount per article.