Chapter 1: My Early Job Experience

As surprising as it may sound, I once earned just £4.50 an hour. At 16, my father encouraged me to seek employment before becoming too reliant on my parents. While I wouldn't shy away from living off their support, he did have a point.

Several friends had part-time jobs in retail or at supermarkets, and I felt envious. I longed for my own income to buy clothes and manage my own finances without needing my parents' approval. After a couple of interviews, I landed my first position at the well-known Toys R Us.

Indeed, the rumors are true: we were allowed to ride on the electric vehicles, got to select toys first, and even played hide and seek after hours. For those under 23, it might be hard to grasp the joy of stepping into a Toys R Us, overwhelmed by endless toys and competing with other kids for a turn on the bikes that often led to a bit of chaos.

However, my job wasn't all fun and games. The first drawback was my pay rate of £4.50 an hour until I turned 18. While it would have increased afterward, I can't recall the new rate. We had to stay after closing to clean up the store, which was particularly grueling during the holiday season. Managers were quite strategic; they aimed to have us finish tidying up within half an hour to avoid paying for an extra hour, a decision rooted in budget constraints.

Moreover, we didn’t receive overtime pay on bank holidays, unlike most retail chains that recognized the extra effort required from staff during busy times. Unfortunately, Toys R Us did not acknowledge this, which often left us exhausted.

Looking back, if I had been more aware of the corporate landscape, I might have realized I wasn't getting a fair deal and would have left. But at 16, I didn’t understand that earning £4.50 was better than £4 and certainly preferable to being jobless.

As of 2024, the minimum wage for those under 18 is £5.28, rising to £7.49 upon turning 18. Comparing this to my experiences in 2013, not much has changed—a concerning reality amid global economic challenges.

April 24, 2018, marked my final day at Toys R Us, which succumbed to liquidation due to competition from Amazon and other discount toy retailers. There were rumors of the CEO absconding with embezzled funds, although there’s no concrete evidence. Such behavior is not uncommon among unaccountable executives.

The brand is gradually making a comeback with the opening of small stores across the UK, but interestingly, they never ceased operations online. Would I consider returning? Absolutely not—especially not for £4.50 an hour. I would need to see that figure increase significantly.

For anyone under 18, my suggestion is to keep working while exploring online income opportunities. While low wages can be frustrating, earning money online is increasingly viable and can lead to unexpected success if you find a platform that resonates.

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Chapter 2: Exploring Alternative Income Streams

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