A teen’s first job can feel like a financial turning point for the entire family: suddenly, your child has a paycheck, a debit card and opinions about how that money should be spent. For parents, the tricky question comes next—does earning money mean the teen should start paying for gas, clothes, meals with friends and other expenses Mom or Dad previously covered? There is no universal formula, but immediately handing over every expense can leave a new worker with little opportunity to save or learn from the money they earn. A better approach is deciding which expenses represent growing independence and which remain part of raising a teenager. That conversation matters even more when everyday costs are high.
