Young cashier refuses to give little sister $10 from every paycheck after parents turn her first job into family allowance: 'Why should I give her my money?'

Author image for Celeste Mello
Celeste Mello • Writer and Editor
Jul 8, 2026 8:00 PM EDT

Getting your first job is a big deal. It's a step toward independence and responsibility. No one would expect that a family's first reaction would be an immediate suggestion that their daughter's new paycheck should be shared with a younger sibling who didn't earn it. 

The situation is very unfair. Why should part of that paycheck become her sister's allowance? The parents' suggestion is confusing because the younger sister already has access to money through them and earns something through chores. So this isn't a situation where a younger sibling needs help with her necessities. It sounds more like the parents want the older daughter to share just because she is now working as a cashier and earning money. But that's a decision that the older daughter herself must make. It's her money.

Besides, earning money doesn't mean losing the right to decide what to do with it, even if it's your first job. The cashier explains she had been trying to get a job for a while, and now that she finally got one, she wants to save it for college. Incredibly responsible goals for a young woman. I would have spent it all on food. But she's already thinking about retirement early, college, and maybe eventually helping her family's finances.

Helping family can be a really nice gesture when it is voluntary. Buying your sibling a treat, helping with college, or contributing to family needs when you can do it can feel very satisfying. But that's really different from being told that your paycheck belongs partly to someone else. 

So the cashier isn't wrong for saying no. Her sister is not entitled to a cut of every paycheck she earns just because she got hired. She is setting a reasonable boundary around the money she'll earn with her own time and labor. And that's an important part that her parents are ignoring. 

Advertisement
  • A young woman working as a cashier, illustrating a first job and family money expectations.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    A young woman working as a cashier, illustrating a first job and family money expectations.

    Subjects are models.

  • AITA if I don’t give my little sister a cut of the money I make?

    So I recently got a job and will be making money soon. While getting food, my family was talking about this achievement, (since I'm relatively young and have been trying to get one since forever), and my sister came upstairs
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • saying since I'll be a cashier she'll be coming to me to check out. I'd misheard her and said "no I won't give you my money." She corrected me, I said that was fine, and she left. My
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • parents said I should give her some of my money, my dad suggested $2 every hour I work, then they said $10 out of my paycheck. I said no. They called me r de for that.
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • I also suggested that she also get a job in a few years, they shot that down by saying "the three of us work, why should she?" Which like... then why
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • should I work? Actually they didn't even want me getting a job, but helped me anyways. Whatever.
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • A cashier using a register at checkout, representing a young worker’s first job and a paycheck dispute with her family.
    via Unsplash+ (Simon Kadula)

    A cashier using a register at checkout, representing a young worker's first job and a paycheck dispute with her family.

  • The reason I wanted a job is because I want to save for college and put something in retirement early. Any
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • money left is for me and personal spending. It's not like I'll never buy her anything, but she does buy things with their money and earns some from doing chores and such, so why should I give her an allowance?
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • This isn't because I'm selfish either, I want to save to pay off my parent's debt and maybe pay for my sister's college. I just don't think I should have
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • to give her money when she doesn't need it at all right now. I don't know, I feel like I'm overreacting by posting but it really rubbed me the wrong way and I want to know if I'm actually being an ahle.
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • A savings jar representing college savings and long-term financial goals behind a young worker’s refusal to share her money.
    via Unsplash+ (Towfiqu barbhuiya)

    A savings jar representing college savings and long-term financial goals behind a young worker's refusal to share her money.

  • I feel like I might be the a hole because I refused to give my sister any money I make. That may make me the a hle because she's my sister and family provides for each other.
    via notthedayoftheweak
  • cowboyconstellations I guess I'm confused. Why would you give your sister any of your money?
    via cowboyconstellations
  • MunkiLord21 Of course NTA, your parents are weird and out of line expecting you do their job and give your sibling an allowance.
    via MunkiLord21
  • No_Control8031 NTA. Firstly it's your parents' role to provide for the family. You shouldn't be saving to pay their debts or contributing to your sister. Secondly, it's your money so you can do whatever you want.
    via No_Control8031
  • Thirdly, your sister has not actually demanded any money so it's bizarre that your parents have made this a massive issue.
    via No_Control8031
  • Zestyclose-Pay-6604 Stop right now thinking you're going to save up enough working as a cashier to pay your parent's debt and your sister's college. Worry about yourself and your own college.
    via Zestyclose-Pay-6604

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family money older sister cashier paycheck drama paycheck little sister first job entitled parents
Scroll Down For The Next Article