I just want to take a little poll as my ex-husband and I are on two different pages. With this, it has me curious about what other parents would do——15yr old gets their first job should the parent make the child pay for gas to get to and from?
Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. Should teens pay parents gas money? - Mamas Uncut
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I wouldnt. Trying to put them in a hole when they are first starting out us wrong.
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I personally wouldn’t and my parents never did that; a point of a job is to hopefully save money.
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Uhhh no. If they were driving your car then that’d make sense but no.
No. Kids should not be obligated to pay for parents’ stuff
Depends. Give them a time frame of in Xweeks you have to contribute X amount to the gas. Teach responsibility
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My 16 yr old did. He has his own car now.
I understand having then help pay for gas because they would have that expense, but don’t use their money. Save it all up and give it back to them at graduation. That way they learn about budgeting and responsibilities but they’ll be rewarded in the end for it.
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Yes! I think they should help. They should pay part of their insurance too. If you don’t want to take their money for gas and insurance, still ask for it so they can learn responsibility and put it in a rainy day fund for them without them knowing……
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For me and my sons father we do not make our son pay for gas and he drives his own car (that we bought him). Even though he is working. We switch off paying every other week to fill his car.
Our now 19year old got her first job at 13, because I was driving her too and from, she gave me 30 a week for gas. It’s about teaching them accountability and responsibility - my hubby is the same (his daughter not mine), but I always pipe up and explain why I think this way
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No I would only charge my kids if they lost there licence for being irresponsible and I had to taxi them then I would charge other then that no I wouldn’t
I would ask them for some fuel money if I needed it to take them to and from work otherwise I wouldn’t ask them for it. I would prefer them to put money in savings and spendings for themselves.
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No that is absolutely insane.
After their first check, we discussed savings, expenses, and fun money. There’s a cost to privilege. My kids budget for gas.
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No and we give our daughter gas money now for her car. She’s a senior and if we can help her we will always
My son as always paid for his gas. I have helped with insurance. Now he 18 and pays for both.
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NO… I would never ask my child for gas money… HOWEVER if it was the childs own vehicle then yes…
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Maybe after they’ve worked a little and see how much driving it really is. It’s a definite cost.
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No that’s ridiculous! And just be ignorant
Every now and again, why not? But all the time no.
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No you are the parents so grow up
Yes, otherwise they can take the bus.
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Depends on how far I suppose. But
No. Set them up to succeed not fail.
Let them get used to even having a job & earning their own money before you start requesting money from them.
IF you do I highly suggest you save that money for them & give it to end when they move out. It’s their savings it’s just you were helping.
Set em up to succeed
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I can honestly say that I have never heard of parents requesting gas money to make sure that their kids go safely from a to b.
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Depends…if i saw that they were waisting the money they made on stupid stuff and not saving it then yes iwould ask them to contribute to the gas…
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I would rather them learn to save and invest a portion of their money. They are still under 18 and the parents responsibility. I think teaching them to save and have money to fall back on is much more important. Then they can buy their own car at 18 and be responsible for that.
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I think it all depends on if you want to teach your child life lessons or not.
As soon as both my boys got jobs they elders responsible for their own gas and any money needed to go out with friends or what they did in their free time! I mean they are living in our homes for free
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No I take my daughter anywhere for free
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No, now if the teen wants to drive the car for Luxury things like going out with friends and they have a job then yes. That teaches them responsibility.
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No give the child time to learn how to handle money
No. When they get their own car they can pay for some of their gas. Of course I would help, no child still in high school should be required to pay their own way.
For required life things absolutely not but maybe if your kid does a lot of extra bullhonky for fun I’d say yeah and put what they pay towards their own vehicle or savings
No have him or her put 10% into an IRA or some other retirement account that they have to put away every paycheck so they can hopefully retire earlier than the rest of us! 
If it isn’t desperately needed, then put the money away to give said child when they graduate instead?
It doesn’t hurt them once in awhile and if their using the car for work or to hang out with friends most definitely.
My daughter was to pay for gas and half her car insurance.
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No but room & board $20 /wk or something… depending on how much they make. my mother in law had a savings account for my husband, her son. She put his room & board $ in it each week. When we got married she gave us the bankbook. Was very nice on many levels.
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Nope not until they’re driving their own vehicle.
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I think it is a good Idea. I had to pay to get back and forth to work on the bus so they can pay like 5 dollars every other ride, that includes both ways.
If the child is driving you car then yes they should contribute to gas $$, if you drive them NO. Instead what you can do for them is open up a checking and savings account and teach them young to save. When I was growing up my parents always taught me the value of a dollar and how to save. If you have no set or necessary expenses 60 % should go into savings and the other 40 can be used on what ever they want if they don’t have enough they will need to save up (through there checking for a bigger or more expensive item) savings was used for an experience expense with parents permission but ultimately it was for saving to buy my first car. And have enough for first year of car insurance .
Yes. Set x amount of $$ they must pay you monthly to get them to & from work. How would they travel otherwise ?? and are you the cheaper option? Teach them to budget life’s every day expenses now.
I would ask them for a small set amount to them acclimated to paying for things they need. If they’re working for pocket chang and not necessity then it’s the perfect time to start teaching them about living costs & paying bills.
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My daughter pays for gas and insurance
I did. It came down to respect and my parents having to take time out of their schedule to take me to and from it also taught me how to manage money etc.
Absolutely not no , but should be made to save and have some to spend , so say they make £30 should save £20 and have £10 to do what they want is my opinion
No. My daughter didn’t work at 15, but started as soon as she turned 16. She drives now that she’s able and has always paid for her own gas, but I would have never asked her to put gas in my car for driving her anywhere…
I wouldn’t make them
If it is parents car - no.
If it’s their car - yes.
Could they offer to pay - yeah, should you accept I’d say no.
Did the child want to get the job or did you as parents force the kid to work?
My parents paid for one tank of gas a week, if I needed more than that I was responsible for it.
Figure out a plan and stick with it. Have it the same for both.
I would not do that to my kid at any age 
And if I did it would go into a savings account back to them.
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My mom made me pay gas money and rent at 16 as much as I hated her, it taught me responsibility
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If it was ridiculously far that they chose to work then I could see that making sense but otherwise hell no…
My parents filled my tank once a week then it was my responsibility to get gas.
I say not at 15, they can’t drive themselves yet, but are still trying to be responsible and work. Once they can drive themselves then they can pay for their own gas
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100% I would nothing is free in life and they need to learn that.
Sure I wouldn’t request what it actually costs but definitely a little something
Lmao no. They got a job at 15 that’s more than enough responsibility at that age. You’re the parents . Lol
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Not until they are driving their own car. It will hit home right about the time they find they had gas for fun and running with friends, but not enough to get to work to make more money, to pay for more gas.
I prob wouldnt at 15(kindof young) kids are all diff tho. 1 of my kids is an independant soul and took on his phone bill without even telling/asking me at 16. Parenting is all about preparing them to do well when they leave us and about our relationship with them. Talk to your child about it
Not if you are giving them a ride. When they start driving themselves that’s when that changes
No! Definitely not…let them save up to buy a car then have them pay for their own gas, insurance, etc…
I do feel if it’s full time, yes, 15 a week is fair, part time, maybe 10, teaches responsibility
The agreement I have with my 16 year old is that as long as she helps shuttle her slightly younger sister around for us (that helps me and the hubby tremendously), we will put the gas in her car.
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To work and back…NO
To friends or fun activities. A LITTLE BUT NOT ANYTHING CRAZY
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I say yes. Even if it’s only $2 to run them to work. It teaches them life skills and responsobility
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Maybe accept the gas money and put it away for some funds towards her first car
No, let the teen save for now
Are we talking under 18?
No unless they are getting a job that’s a far drive then maybe have them put gas in sometimes
I think not until their first paycheck, but after that yes so they learn budgeting skills and responsibility for themselves.
Yes… it teaches them life skills and responsibilities
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If I were to take the money I would secretly save it and surprise them with their own car with the money they worked for (it probably wouldnt be much, but id cover the rest ofcourse) 
I personally wouldn’t take the money though
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Not if they are being given a ride by parents then no. If the child is dribing themsekves then yes. If they are getting rides from friends or family then yes give gas money.
We don’t charge our kids for fuel…We drive them everywhere! They both have decent paying jobs and are 16 and 18. School,jobs,mates,movies,sports etc…
So in return they shout us dinner here and there (about 20 bucks) and buy bread and milk once a week (about 5 bucks)
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When all of my sons started working we never made them pay for gas. Saying that each one of them at different times has offered to buy gas for my car and I’ll let them do that.
Not unless they offer & then they should be told “no but save it”
I made the deal with my kids before they had their licenses that I would drive them to and from work free of charge but at least 1/2 of every paycheck went into savings. Considering they didn’t have a single bill to pay, they had to be saving money. If they didn’t save money I was going to charge them the going mileage rates to account for gas and wear and tear on my vehicle. They never had a problem saving though.
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No. Unless they are wanting to use your car to go out.
I don’t charge mine. Job or no job
Save their money. Get good grades
All I ask for
I didn’t charge even in college. I preferred to let them save
Umm no they are still minors and your children
No. My ex makes my son pay him gas money to get to work. He is the parent and is the one that moved 30 min away.
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Yes they need to learn responsibility gas is not free
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No. But, have them save the gas money that you would charge them to help them buy a car.
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No lol. That’s the first things parents think to do when their kid gets a job is take from them 
. Why you were fine when they didn’t have a job & that’s not a LESSON you teach your child. Todays growing up is so crazy to be because the things you think you need to “TEACH” your child these days only makes them grow to hate you. Just like kicking them out at 18 or making them pay you rent like what ? When you should be letting them SAVE so they don’t have to struggle.
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I mever charged bit I could see parents charging something. It gets them into the habit of remembering when they started driving.
Ours did. But they had our cars and where never home. We paid insurance
No I would never charge them
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Yes. Each of my sons when they turned 16 and got jobs paid for their own gas, cell phone service and paid a small amount for their auto insurance (I paid most of it). This taught them to save money and the value of a dollar and the responsibility of paying bills. 2 things a teen will make sure gets paid on time, their cell
Phone and gas to go places!
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My kids are 17, 16, & 15 - they all have jobs, and no, we don’t make them pay for gas money.
That changes once they are 18 and Graduated.
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If you really need them to chip in, then have them pay for it when needed, but then give it back to them by putting it into savings for later … they can learn responsibility without you taking what they earned for themselves… Once they have their own car, they can pay for their own gas 🤷 even as an adult living at home, I never paid for gas unless i wanted to help out, but it wasn’t expected as long as I was working and paying for my own clothes and necessities… Kids are still kids. It’s no different than them babysitting or cutting grass and being allowed to keep the money they make.
Well they could take public transport? I mean i would be encouraging and personally i wouldn’t charge them gas but after awhile i am sure they can get a license and a car and drive themselves
Maybe a little on days you don’t have it. Or contribute to half of it because you are going out of your way to take them and pick them up. They’ve got to learn responsibility
No. When they get their own car then they pay for their own gas but not for rides
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Yes. Now hear me out on why.
Would he be paying for gas if he was able to drive his own vehicle? Yes. Would he be paying for a bus pass to get back and forth? Yes. Now I’m not saying $100+ a week but $20 a week isn’t bad.
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Not until they drive themselves
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I would charge them but put the money into a savings account for when they get older…
When I was 16 and got my first job i paid for my car and gas!
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I don’t… , ex does… with child support… and if that’s low or late she helps by offering
Work/school no to to hang out with friends yes