Should you help pay bills when you're 15?

Question

I'm 15 and I'll be 16 soon. Here in Ohio where I live you have to be 16 to get a job period. But I do web designing & graphic designing online and I do get paid a good amount of money for myself.

Every time I have money (from my web designing job), and my mom doesn't (she doesn't have a job and she's always has no money) she's always asking me to borrow money for food, gas, drinks, her boyfriend, etc. Over the past year I've let her borrow over $500 total and she hasn't paid back $300. She said she would pay me back.

And now we moved a week ago and I had to buy all the blinds and all the stuff you need when you move, it was $130 and she said she would pay me back.

Then we called & got the electric, gas, etc on and the lady on the pone said we had to pay a $71 deposit for the Electric before the 21st.

My mom asked me if I would pay that and she'll pay me back. She knows I get paid on the 20th. I didn't say anything it always seems like she's asking me for money.

Last night her and her boyfriend were arguing a little over the money for that electric and she kept coming into my room and asking me if I was gonna pay TODAY or not, and I told her I don't even have money..

she came into my room about 5 times asking me the same thing and it ended up pissing me off and I was ignoring her.

So today I wake up and she's arguing with me again over my money.

My dad pays me child support, it's not a large amount & she doesn't get me anything out of it, I consider that my money to her.

So should I be paying bills at 15 years old??

Answer 1

So really we're talking about $300 here? over a year's time. That's not really alot, only a small fraction of the bills you create. However you ARE only 16 and you get to get away with that for a little while longer. It's nice if you can help out and $300 over the course of a year is not alot.

But you should be able to cash your checks at the bank instead of depositing. The bank will not keep records of checks cashed so she won't know. (unless you have no way to get to the bank)

Answer 2

Well... your mom should get a job.

Tell her; be firm. She should get a job, you can't be supporting the whole family with your money. But of course, while she doesn't, like right now, you have to help, since there is no other way.

And by the way, where do you get this freelance work? I am a web programmer and a little of a designer but have had trouble finding work online. I am 15 and will be 16 soon, too. Please talk to me at andresjriofrio on AIM or Yahoo Messenger. Or send me an email at andresjriofrio at GMail. Thanks. :)

Answer 3

no get stuff you want ,, its cool to help your mom but if shes out of work for that long then it sounds like shes not trying. it sounds like your really good with money and finance so that will help when you have your own family, house, car, bills but until you have to move out and start all that then spend it on your self. Also maybe start a bank account and you will have money to get settled on your own b/c it sounds like you won't have much help...  

Answer 4

Hey, I am a single mom here and I think your mom needs to choose you over her boyfriend.  She needs to get a job. You should help if she needed help but if she is not working and expects you to do it... then no.

It is like she is expecting you to support her and that is not right.

Save as much as you can, study as hard as you can and get the h**l out of dodge when you can.

Why do women pick men over their kids?  My ex does nothing for me, doesn't help with the kids and hasn't seen them since the divorce 5 years ago.  But I work hard and make decent money to put a nice roof over our heads and put food on the table.  They get to do a lot of activities at school and afterschool.  Why is it that you are raising your mom?

Keep your head straight and go do great things.  Don't let her obstacles get in the way of your future.  

Good luck!

Answer 5

You need to sit down and have a conversation about it with her. When you help paying rent and bills is all relative depending on different family situations. You should probably discuss these things with her:

- That you aren't comfortable lending her that amount of money, particularly paying for her boyfriend I think is inappropriate.

- What happens to the child support? If she considers that her money and does not pay for things for you from it then you should probably stop lending her money.

- If it isn't enough, discuss paying her an amount of rent a month but there have to be limits and you cannot give her any more than that. If you don't ear a consistent amount then agree on a percentage of whatever you might earn that month.

Make sure that you stay calm and rational about things. Even if she gets angry and/or shouts at you. She might be embarrassed about the money situation and people often vent embarrassment by turning it into anger. Good luck!