Helping With Household Expenses

Do you have an after-school or part-time job? If so, are you spending all your money on yourself, reasoning that it is your parents’ job to provide for you? Really, though, when was the last time your parents spent money only on themselves? Are not most of their resources shared with the family? Would it not be reasonable, then, for you to lend a hand with household expenses?

“I do,” answered young Stephanie when asked that question. She and three other family members are Jehovah’s Witnesses and serve as full-time evangelizers. “It’s necessary,” says Stephanie, “and it also serves as training, for there is no place where a person can live without helping with the expenses.” Adds a youth named Albert: “It’s only part of my responsibility. If I was not living at home, I would have to do it anyway. So I feel I should give freely.”

True, your parents may not expect anything from you. But a youth named Tommy made a good point when he said: “I feel it’s only fair. They brought me into the world and have taken care of me up to this point, so I should do something to pay them back.”

[Picture on page 15]

If you have a job, do you voluntarily share household expenses?