I AM 15 years old and have worked 9am to 5pm on the market every Saturday for almost a year.

It really annoys me that most teenagers rely on their parents for money. What's the point?

Parents aren't going to be around forever and I think a lot of teenagers should make more of an effort to find a Saturday job.

I must admit, I wasn't too keen to start my job at first, while all my friends got to go shopping and hang out.

It just didn't seem fair!

But since I started working, I have never had so much confidence or so many friends.

It has really helped me to learn the value of money and I now realise that it can soon be gone if you spend it carelessly.

Knowing I work hard for my money each weeks stops me wanting to spend for the sake of it and I always put £10 in my bank each week.

I just want to say that working at this age isn't all that bad.

In fact, it is possibly one of the greatest decisions I have made.

GEMMA NOLAN, Kendall Close, Blackburn.