Many parents urge their children to get a job at the earliest age they are able to do so.
Be it babysitting or waiting tables, gaining early work experience not only teaches them discipline and a strong work ethic but also financial responsibility.
Once children start earning money that is truly theirs, most learn quickly the importance of saving that money for something important, rather than spending it all at once.
Of course, there are some parents who might urge their children to use their hard-earned money on something that they might not otherwise have thought of.
Not always benefiting them.
Redditor QuirkyHovercraft9378 had recently started earning her own money through two different jobs.
Unfortunately, the original poster (OP)’s parents had very different views of how she should use her income than she did.
Eventually leading her to quit her jobs.
Having some doubt about her decision, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**Hole Here” (AITAH).
Unlike the similar “Am I The A**Hole” (AITA) subReddit, AITAH allows Redditors to ask for advice on issues that are not permitted on AITA, such as asking for advice or posting about ending relationships. Nor are voting acronyms required or a final judgment declared.
The OP asked fellow Redditors:
“AITAH for quitting my job because my parents expect me to pay rent and stuff?”
The OP explained why she decided to quit her jobs:
“I’m 15 F[emale].”
“I have an older sister 18 and older brother 21.”
“Neither of them have ever had jobs.”
“My sister is in her last year of high school and my brother is in college.”
“I’m in my first year of high school.”
“Our parents work hard to take care of us and I get that.”
“However I don’t think it’s fair to take my money that I earn to pay for food and stuff for the family when neither my brother or sister has ever contributed.”
“So I made a decision and just quit what I was doing to earn money.”
“I no longer babysit for the neighbors and I have given two weeks at the coffee shop where I did a few shifts a week.”
“I applied to be a volunteer at my local public library and I hope to use that experience when I apply to university in library science.”
“I have an education trust fund from my grandparents the same as my siblings so as long as I get accepted I can go to university without help from my parents.”
“My parents have said that I’m being short sighted by quitting a job and leaving my babysitting clients in the lurch.”
“I said I would continue to work if they let me keep my money.”
“They refused so I said they couldn’t force me to work and I will concentrate on my studies so I can try for a scholarship.”
“I did tell both sets of grandparents and my parents are pissed about that too.”
“They said that they are adults and do not answer to their parents.”
“I feel a little bad for snitching but not much.”
“AITAH?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in, with some using the AITA voting acronyms:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
While not everyone felt that the OP had to, or should, quit her jobs, they all agreed that her parents were not entitled to her money:
“NTA.”
“LoL.”
“I thought you were an adult living with your parents.”
“I was so ready to call you out on it when I read the title.”
“You are just a kid.”
“That’s your money.”
“Good luck with school.”
“I know nothing about library science, but it sounds cool and I love libraries.”- No_Lavishness_3206
“NTA.”
“And if they’re mad you’re telling people, they know their behavior is wrong, or they wouldn’t be embarrassed about it.”- Beginning_Cow_972
“And now you have learned a very valuable lesson in standing up for the right to your own labor.”
“NTA.”
“You deserve a round of applause.”- NotObviouslyARobot
“‘My parents have said that I’m being short-sighted by quitting a job and leaving my babysitting clients in the lurch’.”
“I wouldn’t call it short-sighted, I would call it calling a bluff.”
“Although what you did might seem to them short sighted.”
“The government would call them criminals because your parents have a legal obligation to feed and house you til 18.”
“they cannot take your money legally.”
“Better that you remove yourself and the temptation of them stealing from you, before the government found out and intervened for you.”
“In fact you should be celebrated for your long sightedness.”
“NTA, not at all close to it even.”- MyFriendsCallMeEpic
“If your babysitting clients ask why you won’t be doing it anymore you can also tell them your parents stole your money they paid you.”
“Then tell your parents if they are worried about your former clients, they can start babysitting for them.”
“Then they actually have the right to keep the money they get from that.”- emkemkem
“That’s f*cked up, hell no you’re not the a**hole they are the a** holes.”
“Good for you for telling your grandparents.”
“What the heck?”
“I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
“Wow. If my kid was working at 15 I would never do that to them I would be proud.”
“Wait three years and get out.”- pickanametouseonredt
“NTA, charging your kids rent is bottom feeding.”- eeyonwww
“Can you move in with either set of grandparents?”
“If your parents object, I’m sure CPS would have some colorful words for your parents, to help them change their minds.”
“But no, NTA Focus on school.”
“You’ll need it.”
“You know you can’t rely on your parents for anything.”- Baudica
“NTA.”
“You earn money as a minor, it’s preparation for the future.”
“To hold the expectation that you have to pay ‘rent’ (from what I’m getting is your whole pay, which is definitely wrong) while your siblings don’t isn’t fair.”
“They should’ve been supportive of you becoming more self-sufficient and even getting a job at such an age.”
“That isn’t an easy thing to do in modern society.”- Immediate-Worry-4091
“NTA.”
“Your parents are terrible people.”
“Legally, they have to support you, keep a roof over your head, and feed you.”
“They should never have touched a dime of your money.”
“Could you have a trusted adult, like a grandparent, open a custodial account for you at a bank?”
“That way, you could have paychecks directly deposited and your parents would not have access to your money.”
“If they threaten to throw you out, then call CPS.”- AutomaticTap310
“NTA.”
“They can ask your adult siblings to step up and contribute instead of stealing your babysitting money to support the two freeloaders.”- MelodyRaine
“NTA.”
“At your age, it’s not your job to financially support the family.”
“Focusing on your education is a much better investment in your future.”
“Where I live there are resources available to people struggling to pay for groceries.”
“There are food banks to get food immediately, and they can apply for food assistance, called SNAP in the US.”
“As for telling your grandparents, you are certainly allowed to talk to members of your support system about your situation.”
“You aren’t snitching because your parents are right, their parents hold no authority over them.”
“You are simply seeking guidance and support.”
“It’s odd that your parents wanted to take money from you, a minor, but not your brother who is an adult.”
“I’d ask my grandparents if they had any insight into that.”- slugposse
“NTA.”
“My answer would be different if your parents had a rule that part of your funds must be put into savings for something to benefit you – car down payment, fun money in college, etc.”
“As it is, they’re basically asking you to subsidize your older siblings, who were never asked to similarly contribute to help you (nor should they have been, it’s just a thing that makes it worse).”-TheUnculturedSwan
“NTA.”
“Your parents are trippin lol.”- mechshark
“NTA.”
“If they’re even were taking half your check and putting it away for you until you went to college, I would completely understand.”
“But charging a 15 year old rent is just wrong.”- Money-Snow-2749
“NTA.”
“Pretty sure parents by law cannot make minor children pay rent, and if they try they can be charged with child abuse and neglect.”- zeiaxar
It would have been one thing, and very noble at that, if the OP took her jobs because her family was struggling, and she wanted to help them out.
However, seeing as the OP lives with two older siblings, neither of whom contributes to the household, it doesn’t seem fair or right that she should need to contribute herself.
One imagines that if her family needed the money, then they would have demanded their other two children work and contribute as well.
As that is not the case, one senses that her parents simply want the extra money…