DEAR ABBY: My two friends and I will be 12 soon. We would like to try to make our own money so we can get off our parents' backs. There are things like lip gloss and magazines we'd like to buy.
We have considered baby-sitting. But are we old enough? We'd appreciate your input. -- KAYLA IN MISSOURI
DEAR KAYLA: In baby-sitting, it isn't how old a person is but how mature and responsible the prospective sitter is. Some 12- and 13-year-olds are mature enough to handle it; others are not.
However, before deciding how your earnings will be spent, talk to your parents to determine how much they would like you to begin saving. It's never too early to start.