I had an eye for earning money when I was a kid. Around 11 I started doing construction on weekend jobs. I was a great go-for girl. I would go get things, clean up things, hold things in place, and I knew every tool so could run and grab one if needed. I made about $20 over a weekend and would often spend that buying clothes for myself or when my mom would take us somewhere I remember her saying I could pay for my own food. Mind, she made enough money to cover everything and stash money into a mutual fund that grew exponentially. I decided then I would hide some of my money in a jar. So if I earned $22, $2 went in the jar, if I earned $18, $3 went in the jar. no rhyme or reason just some to get stored away. I didn't like that now that I had the money, I had to buy items my mother should provide. I knew at an early age to build and grow.
After saving up about $30 my mom didn't know about, I took that money and bought arts n crafts. I bought stuff to tye-dye t-shirts and to make bracelets with embroidery floss. The tye-dye stuff made one good shirt and was too costly for me to really make money on but the floss only cost a few dollars for a whole mess of it. So I began to make bracelets and sell them in school for $3-5. I always had one attached to my pants by a safety pin and would tuck the excess in my pocket to walk around. When I wasn't doing important stuff I was weaving patterns into the bracelet.
I also picked up jobs babysitting and cleaning up yards. I would also help my mom with her business of cleaning houses. I spent just about everything I made buying all the things I should not have had to buy but saving that few dollars a week it grew. I continued doing this till around 14. I wanted this one dress for the military ball cause I was in N.J.R.O.T.C. (Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and was trying to impress a certain boy. I spent my money all on that dress and accessories to go with it, like $300 total by that point. I had dipped in for a small amount before to go with friends to the movies or an amusement park, but nothing so draining on it. The dress worked and I had his attention but alas he was in love with another. I learned that day not to invest everything I had into a pipe dream, and expect it to stay with-in that tunnel vision.
My grandparents came to visit that year and my grandfather took me to get an account at the Navy Federal Credit Union after I had confided in him that I was trying to save money but other than a few dollars at a time I couldn't hide it from my mother. He explained that my savings account had a 1% interest gain after each quarter and that I should try to leave it in there at least for the 3 months time frame. I did this and things went pretty well. Until my mom found out about the account when they sent me a quarterly statement and I was at an afterschool drill meet. She wanted me to give it to her "for safekeeping" and when I refused because it was mine and safe enough, she made my life difficult more so than it already was. She stopped paying me for helping her with the houses she cleaned saying that my bed and roof over my head were payment enough. I fought this and fought to not work with her, she fought back harder. She had told me I could pay $400 a month rent, which back then was too much. At 16 I got a job as a dishwasher in my friend's parents' bar and grille. I informed my mother I would buy my own food, clothes, and spending money as I had been doing anyway and would be moving out soon.
That did not go over well, and over the course of the next two weeks I found out that she had gone to each of my jobs trying to get me fired. Only my friend's parents refused to fire me and only they told me what she had done. After finding this out and trying but failing to discuss this with my mother I decided to run away. I lived off the grid babysitting some other kids and using my savings to get by. At 17 I left that state and moved to live with my grandparents. Having visited this place throughout growing up I felt good about it and knew my grandparents would not try to take everything I had earned for themselves. I had often came to visit during summers and would always go down to a carriage company and offer to help them with barn work and cleaning carriages.
This time was no different my grandfather picked me up from the bus station and I asked him to stop by there on the way home. The boss lady wasn't there and I didn't recognize anyone. Undeterred I marched up and boldly asked where Mrs. Bosslady was and if she would be coming out today. Then asked if they would write a note on the side of the worksheet that day, saying I was back and want to work again. By the time we got back to the car and drove up the hill, the boss lady was calling. I had a job and started the next day at 6 AM. I was so excited that night I hardly slept a wink. But was grateful I had a fresh start.
To be continued...
