14 and 9 months

This coming week Kayleigh would have been 14 years and 9 months old - an age that she had been counting down to since she turned 12. The day that she could go out and get a job. Kayleigh had big plans for working. She had decided that the best first job to get would be at Woolworths in Calwell - 1. because it was close to home and school and 2. because she would get a staff discount that could help her family with the food bill (yes it is only 5% but every little bit counts). Kayleigh had already asked me to set up an internet banking account for her when she started working as she planned to save at least 75% of her income and leave 25% for her to buy things she wanted to - which knowing her would have been things for her siblings or for her dad. Kayleigh figured she could earn $100 a fortnight, and from that she could save $2000 in the first year and over $10,000 in four years (taking into account that the hourly rate increases as you get older). Kayleigh's plan was to buy a property by the time she was 21 - and she knew she needed about $30,000 to achieve this. Her plan included getting full time employment by the time she was 19 - as a personal trainer or gym instructor - and living at home - and saving the 75% of each pay still. She thought she could be earning $35,000 p/a by then, so could save $600 p/f or $15,000 per year. After she got her house, she then planned to rent the rooms out and so she would have extra income to assist with the mortgage.

Of course this was all just a plan and nothing ever works out as you plan it - Kayleigh might have decided to buy a car, or go overseas with her friends, but knowing her, I think she would have done as she planned.