15-year-old quits barista and babysitting jobs to focus on volunteering for college, parents protest she won't pay rent any more: 'Neither my brother or sister has ever contributed'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Dec 16, 2025 9:00 AM EST

A teenage job is a rite of passage, but it shouldn't be needed to pay the bills.

While there are minors out there who contribute to their family's finances or even act as the breadwinners, it is a responsibility that, technically speaking, parents have an obligation to shelter them from before adulthood. Learning how to manage money from a young age can indeed give a young person a head start, but there are ways to do that that don't involve them contributing to the household financially. It can be a delicate topic.

Having a job can be great as a teen to encourage extra independence, give some work experience, and save a little money. Still, there are other priorities to be had in these vital years as well. Sometimes, it is good to think about the other stuff for a while and let professional matters take a back burner. Ultimately, it should be the teenager's choice.

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  • a young female barista cleans a coffee machine with a cloth
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • One teen felt like it was time to focus on preparing for college, so she decided that she wanted to quit her jobs as a babysitter and barista. Instead, she wanted to volunteer at her local library to give her some insight into studying library science. Her grandparents had an educational trust fund for her, so she didn't have to worry about saving money for her future degree.

    However, her parents protested as they felt she was being shortsighted. She claimed that she would be fine to continue working if they didn't make her pay rent, and reasoned that her older siblings had never had to work or financially contribute to the household, so she shouldn't either. She wondered if she was being unreasonable. 

  • Am I wrong for quitting my job because my parents expect me to pay rent and stuff?

    I'm 15f. 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.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • 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.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • a corridor with shelves of books stacked either side and an overhead light
    via Zetong Li (Unsplash+)
  • 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.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • 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.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • 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.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • a woman sets a disposable coffee cup down on the counter
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Immediate-Worry-4091 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.
    via Immediate-Worry-4091
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 Not all my money. Just a big percentage of it.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • Travelerman310 So they don't let you keep ANY of your babysitting or part time job money? In that case, NTA. When I first got a job, my parents expected a bit of help here and there (maybe pick up milk now and again), and to start funding the insurance, gas and maintenance on my car (and start paying them back for it). I don't get what your folks think they're teaching you. Part of the value of children working chores for allowance, babysitting, or later jobs as teenagers is to learn a work ethi
    via Travelerman310
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 No. They weren't going to take it all. Only like $250 a month. That is still a huge chunk. For me anyway.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • Borntoolate1952 Did they do this to your siblings at all?
    via Borntoolate1952
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 My brother and sister never worked.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • AlternativeLie9486 How much money were you earning and how much were they taking?
    via AlternativeLie9486
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 Depending on how much babysitting I did between $400 to $700 a month. They wanted $250 a month.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • bp_516 I often hear about parents charging "rent" or some other fee, saving the money, and then giving it back when the child turns 18 or hits some other milestone (starting college, moving out, etc.). Are you 100% certain that wasn't happening?
    via bp_516
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 Don't know. I was already saving without their help.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • MatthKarl Yes, you are. If you earn some money, you can and should contribute a bit to the common costs. And giving up a job just to not have to pay money to your parents is super lame. You learn a lot for life at any job, might make friends and still give you (more) money to spend. Quitting a job for that reason just makes you a lazy leech. And you don't say anything about how much they expect you to "pay", but I assume they don't take all your money but a reasonable portion of it. Let's say yo
    via MatthKarl
  • OP QuirkyHovercraft9378 Well I'm currently not earning money so obviously, by your logic, I don't have to.
    via QuirkyHovercraft9378
  • No_Lavishness_3206 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.
    via No_Lavishness_3206
  • Beginning_Cow_972 NTA. And if they're mad you're telling people, they know their behavior is wrong, or they wouldn't be embarrassed about it.
    via Beginning_Cow_972
  • MyFriendsCallMeEpic >My parents have said that I'm being short sighted by quitting a job and leaving my babysitting clients in the lurch. I wouldnt 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 removed your self and the temptation of them stealing from you, before t
    via MyFriendsCallMeEpic

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teenager job parenting volunteer daughter money college quitting
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