I don’t know if you’ve ever listened to Terri Clark’s (a country singer by the way, with a very cool cowboy hat) song ‘Working Girl’ but it’s definitely one of my favourites.
Anyway, there is some point to this post before you start wondering just what the hell I’m on about. No, not an amazing point, but one worth mentioning. Or something.
So today, October 8th marks the anniversary of when I started working. My second anniversary because I have now been a working girl for three years! Shocking!
Yep, that’s right. I started working when I was sixteen and haven’t stopped since.
I’ve actually been with the same company for my entire working ‘life’ although I’m currently in a different division to the one I started in, and now live in a completely different part of the country. So I’m loyal, you see?
My only regret of starting work so young is that I am unlikely to stop working until I retire. Which is a shame really. Although I didn’t have to work when I was sixteen, when I moved out from my mother’s at the age of seventeen I did have to work to pay rent every week. It was a necessity!
So now that I haven’t (thankfully) moved back to living with mother dearest, I still have to pay rent, and still have to work in order to live!
Up until about a month ago I was part time, but for just this year (until next September) I’m now full time whilst I take a year out and get some – wait for it – money behind me!
My advice to you, the young, innocent teen websurfer is this: don’t start working until you truly, desperately have to. There is more worth in enjoying the time of your youth than earning cash just to blow on current trends you don’t actually like.
I do wish I’d waited to start working until I had a need to earn money, but it did mean that when I moved out I had a stable company to transfer jobs with at a time I did actually need money.
So young’ns. Think very carefully before taking up that Saturday job you’ve been tempted by. Do you really need the money that badly?
And there ain’t no time for a working girl.
I’m probably one of those people who loved music when she was a kid, then lost interest in it as she grew up. But I’d check out that song, because seriously, I haven’t listened to anything new these past few days. Besides, if there’s anything I like, it’s the country genre.
Huzzah! Congratulations on your 2nd anniversary of working! Lucky, lucky you! Things go differently in my country, but I sure wish we had an opportunity to be employed as young as sixteen. Oh, well. I wish you luck in continuing what you’ve started — paying for your own shelter and necessities. I admire you for that (I’m 21 and *still* am dependent on my parents, bah!). Life in my country is hard, but we get by. Most of the time, we don’t have the luxury of moving out until we get married. A month’s pay isn’t even going to cover everything a normal person might need. Le sigh.
Oh, yeah. I wondered about this (emphasis mine):
I’ve been thinking of getting a part time job to get some money. I’m in college and my parents are paying for it but I think I should have some money of my own to spend on clothes, books, etc. I feel guilty when I use their money to buy things I don’t need. Then again I have a very weird relationship with money.
But you make a good point: if I start working while I don’t have a real need to do so I’ll only stop when I retire.
I’ll think about it:)
I’ve still lots of years left of studying, and I’m planning to study as long as I can afford to. xP And I never thought of getting a job until then. x)
@ Shari
There is nothing wrong with living with parents until 21. In fact I wish I could have but neither one of my parents could properly support me for what I needed, so I took charge!
And obviously, if it’s not a realistic thing to do where you live, then you certainly aren’t going to go and move out/support yourself. Although it seems a shame that on average you have to wait until marriage – that would drive me a bit bonkers!
Not too sure what you mean at the end of the comment – but I’m probably being my usual stupid self!
@ Ella
I’ll admit I wish I had that sort of lifestyle – ie, parents to pay for college, but then that does mean currently you don’t have to work. Which as I’ve pointed out is a good thing! Lol.
Perhaps rather than make your own money to spend, you could repay your parents money in other ways? I guess if you are living away from your parents at college chores aren’t the answer but perhaps an arrangement could be made for the time you don’t spend at college?
I don’t know! It’s up to you! It might just be nice to show your parents you appreciate not having the need to work for your own money.
@ Viona
Sounds like the perfect way to do things! Keep it that way.
Oh my congrats on the anniversary! I recently decided to stop working at my part time job. I’m still a university student and even though I really liked the extra income… I felt I needed to spend more time on my studies. So yeah lol I like your advice. If you don’t really need the money, I think it’s better for people to relax … and focus on school. It’s nice if you’re able to climb up the company ladder, but not everyone has that possibility. But hmmm sometimes it’s nice to work so you can buy something you really like. I’m a very spoiled kid, but when I got older it just didn’t feel right to receive gifts from my parents. I wanted to buy it myself instead of getting something the easy way… so I think working is not all that bad.
I’ve been working since I was 14. The money was nice and it helped pay for college.
I know what you mean. I’m just lucky that I’m still living with my parents, and when I pay off my debts, I can quit.
I just wish the economy wasn’t poo so I could get a better job without having to drive 30 miles each way.
Good luck to you with your saving. Hope you meet your goals. I’m absolute shite at saving, because I have a serious spending problem.
A fellow country fan is hard to find these days! Terri Clark’s music is great. I love her song “When Boy Meets Girl”.
I know where you’re coming from when it comes to being a “working girl”. I’ve been bringing home my own bacon since I was 15. 7 years later, I can definitely agree with you encouraging our younger generation to have fun as long as they can. Trust me folks – you do have your entire life to work. Don’t forget to enjoy your teen years. Great post.
When I read your title, I thought that you would be an exotic dancer, camgirl, etc, etc. Lol…thats generally what “working girl” means to me when I hear it! >.<
But, yeah, I totally agree with you…I started working when I was 16 and…..blech…if you dont have to start working…dont!!!!! Wait until you absolutely have to!
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I guess in a way I agree with you, but I think having a part time job as a teen is kind of a good way to learn responsibility. I started working full time at seventeen, because I too had bills to pay. I don’t regret it, but I guess I did miss out on alot.
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You forgot to mention that once you start working things find ways to eat your money. And not just frivolous things, important things that can’t be ignored! Or maybe that’s just me…
PS. I’m curious to know where you’re at and how much you guys pay for gas! Most of my family is in Jamaica and they pay a little less for gas than the US does because of government subsidies or something like that.
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My job isn’t really a saturday job
I work 4 days in the week, at nights. Yes, I need the money hehe
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I’m still not old enough for a job (only a few more days though!) and I can’t get one until I start driving with a car anyways…which will be a while. I just want a job so I can blow a lot of money and not have regrets. That, and I’m big at saving, and my parents ask me for money a lot. Not to mention, my family is big on nice and expensive gifts so having some extra cash really helps.
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you’re so young when you started working, and you’re still young now. if im correct you’re about 19? gosh~
i’ll take this post to heart. i have always wanted to work and earn some cold hard cash. but upon reading this, i know that im not yet ready to move out from the house, pay my own rent or work in order to live. anyways, i praise for being independent at such a young age. belated happy anniversary working girl =]
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Thanks for your post at pink-robots.com. Congratulations on your work anniversary! I started working at the age of fourteen, I’m twenty years old now and I am an English teacher in China.
In response to your question, I do not speak much Mandarin at all but we are picking up bits and pieces.
I can at least order food and have a basic conversation with street children which is pretty good for two months’ knowledge!
Hi
I’m the opposite type of person…I didn’t move out until this year (my second year of university) and I don’t have a job. I did in the summer, and my parents are helping me with rent. Both my roommates work, and I’ll probably get a coop position next summer provided I keep my marks up!
I did work when I was 16, at McDonalds, but I only worked weekends and I booked off a lot of weekends
It gave me that bit of extra spending money because my allowance was kind of small.
I started working at the age of 14, to help pay for the things I wanted in highschool – the car, gas for the car, insurance, and other things. And it helped me pay for college that I’m attending now.
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I started working really young too. (14) You do miss out on a lot. On the other hand it does keep you out of trouble and teach responsibility!
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I don’t really agree with you. I feel it’s good for kids to earn their own keeps. Teach them what money is worth, and to use their own hard earned savings to buy things they really want instead of relying on their parents. I started working when I was 16 as well, and I worked through the first two years of college and only stopped for the final year. I’ve saved quite a lot and felt really good to get things I wanted with my own money. Besides, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun and work as well because I did.
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You’ve worked since you were sixteen? Impressive! I’m 25 and I’ve never had a full time job.
Angelicas last blog post..Languages
I don’t wanna work. Hahaha ~ I thought that being just dependent on your parents is not that bad esp when ur young right?
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Hey, that must be hard.
I don’t want to work. Haha. That’s why I’m studying really hard right now. 
I want to relish my years of school left.
Good luck with work, anyway. You can do it! In fact I’m impressed that you started to work at sixteen. So I know you can handle your job. I’m rooting for you!
I’m almost 21, and I’ll stay at my parent’s house as long as they’ll let me. It’s fun being with family. As for working, I’ve never had a full time job.Or a job even. More of getting paid to do a task really.
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I stated work at 16 at the weekends when i was still at high school and have never stopped to this day – working sucks sometimes and wish I was a student again lol but then again would need part time work to fund my lifestyle lol so cant win really.
Congrats on 2 years of work – you have a lot ahead of you =)
Hey, hope all is well. You haven’t updated in ages. I guess tho, being a working girl is keeping you busy!
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