Issue date: May 2, 1999

Jabari Stewart, 15, USA WEEKEND teen panelist, shares a week in the life of his money:
Special Report: Teens & Money

"I don't get an allowance. When I want to spend money, I'll get it from working, baby sitting or from my parents. Last week I asked my mom for lunch money. She gave me $20 and it was supposed to last two weeks. I've spent $12 or $13. I've bought pepperoni pizza, McDonald's french fries, apples, oranges, cookies. I went out of town last weekend and my mom gave me $20. I spent that on Chicken McNuggets, french fries, sodas and a T-shirt. I was surprised at how fast it went. I ran out of money coming back, at Wendy's. I didn't have to borrow any money; I had just enough. I also bought my friend John a soda. But that was just a friendly thing; I don't expect him to pay me back.

This weekend I'll wake up Saturday morning, do a little cleaning up in the house, then probably call up one of my friends and see if we want to go see a movie, because I have to go to the mall anyway. That will cost $7. I might end up spending $5 or $6 for popcorn and a soda. When I come out of the movies I'll go down to the music store and probably pick up one or two CDs, $13 apiece. Then I'll go to the food court and get a pretzel or something, maybe $5. I'll get that money out of my bank account. Then I'll come home, enjoy my new music.

Sunday, I'll go to church and probably put a dollar in the offering. I don't really shop much on Sunday. It's hard to save because you just can't save your money at your house. You almost have to put it in the bank. When you see money you have, it's so tempting to spend it. I've saved about $160 from baby sitting and things like that. I just finished playing a sport, and I'm getting ready to start back in spring league for basketball. I'll probably end up buying some gym shorts and some socks with money from my mom. Maybe $10 for socks, and for the shorts, another $10. I don't have a job during school. When I want to buy my mom a birthday present, I'll go to Best Buy and buy her a CD or a gift certificate to a place she likes, like Bath & Body Works. It's very difficult to get money as a teen. You have to have a job, but you're in school. If I hadn't saved my money over the summer, I wouldn't have money now."