When I think of money I think of the tuckshop and new clothes. I don't think of bills, tax and when the rent is due.
At the moment, I am lucky to not have to stress about money.
I have an allowance and have to pay for my things,
but I'm not at an age or in a position where I actually have to worry about money. It's great - money is a fun part of my 14-year-old life.
I like earning money by babysitting and busking. I actually enjoy doing both. Babysitting is cool because you get paid to play with kids, watch TV and eat free food.
With busking, people toss money in front of you while you're playing guitar. They are both easy, fun ways to make some extra cash.
I have an allowance of a certain amount each month that my parents give me. I have to use this money for clothes, top-ups, movies and anything else I want but don't need.
This is my parents' attempt at making me a "saver", and I guess it has sort of worked. I can only buy things that are in my budget, and learn my lesson if I don't, when I run out of money way before the end of the month.
The plan has also failed, though, because I still spend money on magazines and lollies, which the classic saver shouldn't.
I can never decide what I would do with a large sum of money.
When I was little the only thing that crossed my mind was to blow the whole lot on chocolate and lollies and have a life-long supply (yes, food was my life). Now I don't know.
I would like to think I would donate it to starving kids in Africa, but I think I would actually spend it on travelling.
Those are a few of the ways money fits into to my teenage life. Hopefully I still feel happy about money in 10 years.
Bridie Laing, Year 10, Massey High School
