Teenager reluctant to get a job

Beencounting

Hi all

I'm usually a lurker on the board, but hope someone has some ideas that can help with this problem!

My eldest DD, 18, will be starting uni in September. She'll be staying home with us and commuting (her choice). OH and I would like her to get a part time job to help with the costs and especially the cost of her expected social life. However, she's quite reluctant.

OH and I have tried to explain the situation re our finances and have told her that she will only have a very small allowance which will basically just cover her food during the day at uni.

I'm quite sad that she's not making much effort to find a job as I feel that she will miss out on so much, and of course, being a mum I feel guilty about not being able to provide more (yes, I know that's my problem!)

Has anyone else experienced this?

Does anyone have any ideas on how to motivate my teen to find herself a job?

Thanks

Beencounting

carolinejane_2

She is an adult now so if she has no money to spend on clothes or going out then she will soon re think. If you keep funding her she wont so I would say give no money at all apart from the university costs

xxvickixx

It depends, how many hours per week was her course. If it is full time then as you are also expected to put in the hours to study - I think holding down a job could be detremental to her studies. If it's a 10 hour a week course for example I think a job would not impact so much.

Gemmy_2

I can't believe your giving her some sort of allowence to be honest.
She won't bother to get a job if she doesn't need to, and by the sounds of what your saying - she won't need to.

carolinejane_2

xxvickixx wrote: »

It depends, how many hours per week was her course. If it is full time then as you are also expected to put in the hours to study - I think holding down a job could be detremental to her studies. If it's a 10 hour a week course for example I think a job would not impact so much.

well I know lots of students do not have the choice to sponge off the parents for luxuries and when does that stop? At that age they have plenty of energy and resources to be able to manage both working and studying and socialising

Beencounting could she try to get a job in the student union at her uni and combine a night out with getting paid:)

LilacPixie

Its her choice. Cover what you have too and no extras. if she wants the extras then she works. A few weeks of not being able to join her new friend in the local union because she is skint or no new clothes will soon send her scuttling to the nearest supermarket/bar/shop for a PT job.

I worked at uni, it did me good and I learnt how to portion of my work time from my study time and my chill out time.

kafkathecat

It is widely reported that students who work part time do less well in their degrees but you only have so much money at the end of the day. I would think that when money is tight she will reconsider.

Beencounting

xxvickixx wrote: »

It depends, how many hours per week was her course. If it is full time then as you are also expected to put in the hours to study - I think holding down a job could be detremental to her studies. If it's a 10 hour a week course for example I think a job would not impact so much.

Hi Vicki

The course is full time, five days a week. Technically it's further ed, rather than higher ed, so luckily we have no fees to pay this year, although that will change next year. With travel to and from, I expect her to be out of the house from about 7.30am to 5.30pm. I think there will also be the expectation that the students will have to put in additional hours on top of this.

TBH I'm not expecting her to do loads of hours, I want her to be successful on the course, but just maybe a few hours a week.

Been

Beencounting

Gemmy wrote: »

I can't believe your giving her some sort of allowence to be honest.
She won't bother to get a job if she doesn't need to, and by the sounds of what your saying - she won't need to.

Hi Gemmy

The allowance will only be enough to cover food while she's at the uni (ie, during the day). It's basically a continuation of the dinner money she had while at school plus a little bit more as it'll be more expensive at uni than it was at school.

Been

Beencounting

carolinejane wrote: »

well I know lots of students do not have the choice to sponge off the parents for luxuries and when does that stop? At that age they have plenty of energy and resources to be able to manage both working and studying and socialising

Beencounting could she try to get a job in the student union at her uni and combine a night out with getting paid:)

Hi Carolinejane

I won't be providing any luxuries (can't afford it anyway!), it'll just be enough to cover her lunches.

I think your suggestion of a job at the uni would be ideal, and it's definitely something we/she can look into once she gets there.

I agree also that teens have lots of energy and should be able to combine the two (I did at her age).

Thanks

Been

Beencounting

LilacPixie wrote: »

Its her choice. Cover what you have too and no extras. if she wants the extras then she works. A few weeks of not being able to join her new friend in the local union because she is skint or no new clothes will soon send her scuttling to the nearest supermarket/bar/shop for a PT job.

I worked at uni, it did me good and I learnt how to portion of my work time from my study time and my chill out time.

Hi LilacPixie

Must admit, this is what I'm hoping will happen. Trouble is, that even though a lot of her school friends have/get more than her, it's never really been enough to get her to actively look for and find a job.

In fairness though, she has recently worked on a temporary role (for six odd days), which she won't be able to maintain once in uni as it's daytime hours. She's made a little bit of cash which I know she's spend (fairly) wisely, but this was a job I found for her. I think it might be a confidence thing, but am not sure .

Been