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This might be kind of long. Sorry.
I got my first job not even a month ago. Maybe 3 weeks ago. I work about 2-3 times a week, making minimum wage. I'm 16, too, and have been for about 5 months, and I have my driver's permit. Today my mom told me (more like demanded..) that I was going to get my license by October 1st because she needs help and can't take me to work all the time. I don't want to do that because I calculated that at least 3/4 of my paychecks will go to HER for insurance. There are 4 expensive things I want to get first before I have to pay that much money to my mom (ipod, digital camera, digital video recorder, and laptop). The reason is because it would take me 3 times as long to save up for all of that if I have to pay my mom for insurance because of a license.
What do I do? She doesn't seem willing to compromise..and if she continues to force me to get my license, I may feel inclined to fail the driving test on purpose because my mom is not the only one wanting to save money.
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If you don't want to pay insurence then don't get you license, simple as that. You don't have to fail on purpose, just tell your mom that you can't afford it right now.
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A sixteen-year-old with a job that pays minimum wage JUST CAN'T GET an ipod, digital camera, digital video recorder, and laptop. Heck, I'm 35 and pulling down about $50K a year, and I only have ONE of those things (and that's because I do professional photography on the side and actually need a digital camera).
You need to face reality here. Your mom is making a reasonable request of you, which is that you get yourself to work each day. If you can do it without using a car, then more power to you, but this isn't really about that, it's about you growing up. Get the license, just in case you need to drive somewhere in an emergency. Just because you have a driver's license doesn't mean you have to have a car. Failing the test on purpose would be rather childish and wouldn't help you one bit if your mom just decides not to drive you anywhere.
I suggest that you try to work out something with your mom that you pay her for the use of her car on a case-by-case basis. The IRS allows you to write off 44.5 cents per mile if you use your personal vehicle for work purposes; I think that if you offer your mom 50 cents a mile (just to keep the math easy), it would be a reasonable deal to make. Of course, your use of the car would be at her discretion.
Bottom line: your mom needs a little cooperation and wants you to take some responsibility. You want electronic toys. I really feel that she's presenting the stronger case!
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What I reccomend is asking your mom if your friend can take you to work or if you can walk to work. If you're old enough to have a job, you're old enough to walk there. Also, if you're old enough to have a drivers liscence, you are old enough to pay for your own insurance. If you want the privledge of driving, pay for it. If not, then don't drive at all. Stuff like Ipods and cameras can wait. Once you get your liscense you'll want to be driving everywhere... just suck it up and pay the insurance. It's really not that big of a deal. (sorry to sound like a bitch.. I don't mean to. I'm not that much older than you and I bought myself a car, paid if off AND paid for my insurance all on my own. You don't have much to complain about)
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Make a compromise with your mom. Tell her you'll get your license & pay for the insurance if she can get a credit card at Best Buy (or if she'll buy you these things with her own money). That way you can make small monthly payments to her (since you aren't 18 & not at legal to hold a credit card).
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