How much to give a 17 year old?

red_devil

I dont think kids should have a mobile phone until they can afford it. Its too much pressure on the parents all the time.

minerva_windsong

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

I'm honestly amazed that so many people here think that a child should be working alongside studying. It's just not the done thing in Poland - even the poorest parents (no bursaries/allowances/whatever for children!) here will do all they can to ensure that their child gets the best education that they can.

Certainly, expecting a child to work and pay 'board' while they're in school (and our school leavers finish at 19) would be seen as incredibly disgraceful. The parents duty is to support the child, not to insist that they work for a living while attempting to get the best grades that they can. I really don't think that working part time is conductive towards getting the best grades - and I'm not surprised that it's discouraged.

It's definitely hypocritical if the parents are receiving benefits for the child and yet aren't spending the money on the child.

My parents got child benefit for me up until I was 18, but I worked while I was at college and in uni summer holidays because I liked earning my own money and that feeling of being independent. My parents would have been happy to support me - and indeed they did whilst I was at uni - but whilst I wasn't ungrateful for their help that independence and ability to look after myself meant a lot to me. And I got four As in my A-levels so it clearly didn't have that much impact on me (although obviously everyone is different). Likewise, there are people I knew at uni who worked every weekend in term and then either stayed on and worked over the summer or transferred back to their summer jobs back where their parents lived, and they still got Firsts. Most unis don't encourage working more than a set number of hours a week though.

There are however some families where they don't get EMA or enough child benefit to support their children through further education, yet can't afford to support their kids out of their own pockets, and consequently the only way for those kids to support themselves is by getting a job alongside their studies. It's not ideal but sometimes that's the only choice.

jackieb

red_devil wrote: »

I dont think kids should have a mobile phone until they can afford it. Its too much pressure on the parents all the time.

Two of mine go to college 40 miles away. It's peace of mind for me. It'd be a different matter if they were spending a fortune on talking or texting friends all the time, but they only use about £5-£10 a month each - most of that is phoning me!

Lunar_Eclipse

Navvie wrote: »

The vast majority of children/young people these days have it far too easy. No idea of the value of money and no work-ethic.

My parents supported me and did all they could for me all the time I was in compulsory education, when I chose to go to college they made me stand on my own two feet

You mentioned being 28 and young people these days having it too easy and with no work ethic. My first thought is that you are young! Perhaps I have misinterpreted what you meant; are you really saying you have noticed a significant change in such attitudes in the 10 years since you (presumably) left college? I'm 38 and think the change you are talking about has happened over a much longer period of time, namely the past two generations. I think it's my parents generation and above who really notice it. A poor work ethic has been around since I left education for sure. My BIL is a 34 year old average Joe who doesn't have a clue about money and thinks an overdraft (loans/credit card debt) is the norm (as indeed it is).

Also worth bearing in mind that compulsory education has been extended to include college, so it is not a question of choice in the way that it used to be. Does increase the financial pressure on parents IMO.

red_devil

jackieb wrote: »

Two of mine go to college 40 miles away. It's peace of mind for me. It'd be a different matter if they were spending a fortune on talking or texting friends all the time, but they only use about £5-£10 a month each - most of that is phoning me!

people managed before phones;)

generally though kids expect so much and get it, oh and when the phone they have gets out of date they expect another!

pulliptears

My son started on Tuesday, he's 17 after christmas.

No EMA, we earn just over (and I mean a few pounds over). Bus pass for the year £250.
Yes, we are in a higher income bracket, but take into account our other child, bills, mortgage etc and the fact that I'm also in full time education and it doesn't mean a lot.

He's been job hunting for almost 12 months, there is little out there at present. We are hoping for a place at Argos before christmas