January 2026
My parents always instilled a good work ethic in myself and my three older brothers.
We also knew that if we wanted spending money, we had to earn it.
We didn’t get allowance like some of my friends, so we never really had cash.
January 2026
We all remember the thrill of that first “real” job. The promise of a pay check, the feeling of independence, and the transition from teenager to employee. For me, that milestone happened at a factory where the air always smelled like a mix of floral shampoo and clinical conditioner.
January 2026
At 15 years old I decided that the ‘pocket money’ or allowance I got from my parents wasn’t enough. 😊 So, I looked for a part time student job and lied about my age telling them I was 16.
January 2026
My very first paying job was as a waitress at the local Waffle House. I was 16 years old, earning a server’s minimum wage of $2.13 an hour plus tips. By the time I finally left, about 12 years later, that base pay had climbed to a whopping $2.97 an hour.