Negotiating (yes, even at 14)
Asking for more — at home or at work — is a learnable skill that pays for the rest of your life.
Three places teens can negotiate now
- •ALLOWANCE — when you take on a new responsibility.
- •FIRST JOB raise — after 3–6 months of solid work.
- •SAVINGS account interest — actually, this one's true: ask if your bank has a higher-rate option.
'I've been here 4 months. I've covered 3 closing shifts that weren't on my schedule. I'd like to talk about going from $12 to $14. Is that something we can do?' Then stop talking.
+$2.50/hour
Devon's coffee shop raise
Devon prepared his case (months of perfect attendance, learning espresso, training a new hire), asked once, and got $11 → $13.50.
Three rules: (1) ask in person, (2) bring evidence, (3) stop talking after you ask. Silence makes the manager fill the gap.
Real life: meet Devon goes from $11 to $13.50
Devon worked 4 months at a coffee shop. He listed his wins: zero late shifts, learned all 4 stations, trained a new hire. He asked for $14, got $13.50. That's $5,200 more per year on a 30-hr/week schedule.
+$2.50/hr × 30 hr × 52 wk = $3,900/yr
Takeaway
Pick a thing you want. Build evidence. Ask once. Then stop talking. Negotiating is just preparation + nerves.
What's the most important move RIGHT after you ask for a raise?
Takeaway: Negotiation is a teachable skill — and the earlier a teen practices it, the more comfortable adult negotiations become.
Try together: Role-play asking for a raise. Practice the ask, then practice 30 seconds of silence afterward. It's harder than it sounds.