19 Yr Old Apprentice Needing Advice!

miss_duke

Hopefully this will be resolved with a well earned rise, however if not, I really would consider a weekend job. It can be done!

I work 3 full days in my main job (office work, so not physically draining to be fair), attend college 2 eves a week to do an access to uni course, and work a Sunday job in a shop to top up my earnings (the plan being to keep this on if I get into uni).

I have 2 kids and am 4 months pregnant, so honestly things can be juggled it just takes a lot of organisation!

How do others on your course manage? Do they do other work or are they still living at home? Is moving home an option for you? After you are qualified you have great earning potential, so its well worth perservering one way or another. Good luck.

p00ni

Thanks im looking at 10-15£ an hour once qualifyed. for skilled manual labour painiting
I admire your juggling skills haha!
Everyone else my age/ on my course lives at home with their parents which is not an option for me im afraid to say.
I don't want to comprise my position at work by asking for a pay rise however i just feel it could be a risky move.

SueC_2

I haven't got much practical advice, but just wanted to say a well done to you for sticking with what must be a very trying situation.

We hear so much about 'young people today' not wanting to work and being better off on benefits, that it is so refreshing to hear of someone actually trying to do well for themselves, even though it isn't the easiest course of action, because frankly, yes, you probably would be better off on benefits. But, although what you're doing is hard right now, in the long term you are going to be so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o much better off, and I don't just mean financially.

One small thought re. cost cutting:

You say you are lodging on a commercial basis, which could mean many things, and I have no idea about your landlord's situation, for all I know they may be letting out a room because they're desperate for the cash, in which case this won't work. But, it might be worth asking if they would drop the rent a little in exchange for you doing jobs around the house, sorting out the garden, babysitting a couple of nights a week, whatever. A friend of mine negotiated a rent-free month, on the basis that he decorated throughout the house instead. He had time but no money, the landlord had money but no time, everyone was happy. As I say, their circumstances may mean it's a no-go for your landlord, but you don't lose anything by asking the question.

But back to the point, well done for getting as far as you have, and don't give up now! :T

p00ni

thank you but she needs the money i believe haha!

elvis1

Just like to say, Well done to you for standing on your own two feet. If you do get a second job and you are paying tax etc for your apprenticship and second job, speak to the tax man to see if they can change your tax round to the less earning job. This way you wont pay as much tax on your apprentice wage. Speak to them first but if someone can advise if I am correct to be able to do this. I also think going to the CAB is a good idea as benefits change all the time. I would also look into changing you car insurance but I know how expensive that is for young lads. My sons was nearly £2000 last year.

KiKi

SueC wrote: »

But, it might be worth asking if they would drop the rent a little in exchange for you doing jobs around the house, sorting out the garden, babysitting a couple of nights a week, whatever. A friend of mine negotiated a rent-free month, on the basis that he decorated throughout the house instead. He had time but no money, the landlord had money but no time, everyone was happy. As I say, their circumstances may mean it's a no-go for your landlord, but you don't lose anything by asking the question.

Great suggestion, Sue.

KiKi

hellokitty08

ok, to be considered an Aprrentice who is exempt from the national minimum wage and therefore can be paid £2.50 an hour you must be registered on an Apprenticeship programme with a college or training provider.

I am not aware that you can do a level 1 Apprenticeship programme, as Apprenticeships should start at level 2 or 3.

If you have been registered on a level 1 part time college course and not an Apprenticeship, your employer is breaking the law by paying you £2.50 an hour.

As you are 19 your employer would be able to pay you £2.50 an hour for the first year of your training, but after this would have to pay you the minimum wage of
· £4.92 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20

hellokitty08

Plus I have worked 6 days a week for three years now.

soccermom

Do you like football? If yes how about doing a short course in football refereeing. My lads referee on a sunday in between games and get £15 a match. Many kids I know are using it to pay for their car. If you contact a club you can get all your work through them possibly refeering one match after another.

Theres also a call for doing refeering midweek and possibly county games on a saturday. In our district you can get £30 a game for doing saturdays and the league is desperate for more.

Its all tax free it's definitely worth a look.