When I was 12 years old I landed my first job while in high school… babysitting.

I know, babysitting isn’t for everyone but I really liked it. I was my own boss, I was able to hand pick my clients (families) and after the kids went to bed I got to stay up, watch cable t.v. (I didn’t have cable at home and Netflix didn’t exist yet) and eat junk food. 

By grade nine I had at least 10 families in my community vying for my time on a Friday or Saturday night. I’m not going to lie, the babysitting gig wasn’t great for my social life, but I was willing to sacrifice a night with my friends for a handful of cash.

From age 13 on my parents never had to pay for my clothes. I had enough money to buy the things I wanted and to do the things I wanted to do. By 18 I had saved enough money to fly to Thailand and travel very comfortably for over a month.

Getting a job at 12 and continuing to work throughout high school taught me a lot.

I learned the value money. I had to give up a lot of Friday and Saturday nights. A lot of movies with friends, house parties and sleep overs in order to earn money. Before I made a purchase I really thought about what I had to do to earn that money….a lot of dirty diapers and grumpy kids.

I learned responsibility. Starting at age 13 I was caring for children as young as 9 months old. I had to cook and clean, I had to bathe children and change their diapers. I felt a huge sense of responsibility and I took my job seriously.

I learned how to negotiate. Initially I found this really hard.  When a parent would ask me how much I charged per hour I would say, “Oh, I am fine with whatever you offer.” Wrong answer. Like I said, I was giving up a lot of my weekends to babysit so it was up to me to make sure that it was actually worth it. Over time I learned to negotiate with parents. I would tell them my rate and if they weren’t willing to pay it, I had other options.

I learned to work hard and always do more than was expected. There were a lot of eligible babysitters in my community however, none of them came close to generating the amount of clientele I had. Why? Because I worked my butt off. I was serious about my job. I would always make sure to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen…when I left the house it was often cleaner then when I got there. I always played with the kids. I didn’t just plop in a movie and call my friends…though it was tempting. When parents came home to a sparkling house and happy/sleeping children they wanted me to come back, and they would pay a bit extra to get me.

I got of taste of financial independence. My parents were always very generous but when I wanted new clothes from an expensive store I had to spend a lot of time convincing my mom that I NEEDED that shirt or pair of pants and would DIE without it. Not anymore, now I could buy the clothes I wanted without a negotiation. Although, now that I was spending MY hard earned money, I was a little more thoughtful in my purchases.

I learned to prioritize and stay organized. In grade 9 and 10, the peak of my babysitting career, I had a lot going on. I had my other full time job…high school, a social life and after school sports. I learned to keep a calendar so I would never forget where I needed to be and when. When I had exams I would reduce the number of jobs I took. When the kids went to bed I used the time to study instead of watching t.v.  What other job will pay you to study??

My advice. Get your first job while you’re young. Whether it’s babysitting, working at a golf course or landscaping — I’ve done them all!! You’ll be surprised how much you learn, not just about money, but about yourself, your skills, what you like….and what you don’t like.