Interview at McDonalds tomarrow!

[projectdarkside]

I really need this job, and gotta guarantee that its mine!
-Any advice, experiences, etc that I should know
-Btw this is my first job, and if I dont get it theirs no way I can get an iPhone:frown:

Please Help
Thanks! Wish me Luck:wink:

[Alexander]

Express long term interest - not just a Summer Job (even if that's what it really is). Be polite, and choose flexible hours. Let them know of any schedule conflicts in advance.

Good luck!

[Hawk]

Sit up straight in the chair, sit forward- no leaning back.
Look them in the eye
Be polite
If you don't know the answer to something and they are waiting for an answer, take an educated guess. or if you really don't know, just tell them that you dont.
interview with clean, pressed clothes on
keep a nice smile on your face.
Smell clean and nice- NOT overpowering cologne or body spray.

IF you can't land a job with that, then there is another problem.

Oh, fresh breath is a must.
neatly groomed
No farting - seriously.

[dturner]

^^ Agree with everyone above, and especially the part about flexible hours. That will get you far in the retail sector.

[iCafe]

I have a picture of your soon to be boss,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ronald_mcdonald_thailand.jpg/450px-Ronald_mcdonald_thailand.jpg
whatever you do, DONT STARE AT HIS SHOES
i heard he hates that!

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

I have a picture of your soon to be boss,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ronald_mcdonald_thailand.jpg/450px-Ronald_mcdonald_thailand.jpg
whatever you do, DONT STARE AT HIS SHOES
i heard he hates that!

Ouch -- I just stared at his shoes and my weenie fell off.

[iCafe]

Ouch -- I just stared at his shoes and my weenie fell off.

you to huh?
i tried warning you
Stare at his crown and everything should get fixed..
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/ceo_socnet/image/burger-king.jpg

[Luckykelleyk]

you to huh?
i tried warning you
Stare at his crown and everything should get fixed..
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/ceo_socnet/image/burger-king.jpg

AAAH! Its the man from my nightmares!! :foot:
lol. Seriously though. The king is creepy.

[chcorey52]

good luck man...im pretty sure im going out for a joob at a tennis club so ill need these too

[Buffy]

Good luck! You sound like a sharp guy, you should have no problem getting the job. My first job was working at Taco Bell - good memories! Back then minimum wage was $3-something an hour. :eek: Let us know how it goes!

[Saverino]

I really need this job, and gotta guarantee that its mine!
-Any advice, experiences, etc that I should know
-Btw this is my first job, and if I dont get it theirs no way I can get an iPhone:frown:

Please Help
Thanks! Wish me Luck:wink:

...dont let fake nails fall in the burgers. Hahaha

[projectdarkside]

^^ Oh yea you told me about that one lol!

I'll thank everyone who "seriously" contributed to this topic when I get on my laptop :)

Btw I posted this on another forum, and some said that everyday ill come home smelling like grease and hamburgers Lol! And that you have to start take 2 showers, cause the smell of grease from your clothes never actually comes out lol!

I'll definitely let you guys know how the Interview went :)

Thanks again!

[Saverino]

^^ Oh yea you told me about that one lol!

I'll thank everyone who "seriously" contributed to this topic when I get on my laptop :)

Btw I posted this on another forum, and some said that everyday ill come home smelling like grease and hamburgers Lol! And that you have to start take 2 showers, cause the smell of grease from your clothes never actually comes out lol!

I'll definitely let you guys know how the Interview went :)

Thanks again!


Is that aimed at me??

[projectdarkside]

Is that aimed at me??Of course not bro, Im talking about the actual "Thanks" system:tounge: I were talking about the people who actually gave advice and tips on how to pass the interview ant what to expect:laugh2:

Why would you think I was directing it towards you?:gasp:

Edit: I see where you got it from, I put the "^^" little arrows things cause the first part of my post was replying to what you had told me about your aunt or someone in your family working at McD and her nail falling in a hamburger lol! The second part was not directed towards you mybad for the confusion of my typing :(
-I was typing this from my HTC 8125, and it was my first time using Wi-Fi on it so I went to EIC and trying to see if it could post from it, little did I know that it had like a 250 character limit:angry:

[cdinca]

Good luck! You sound like a sharp guy, you should have no problem getting the job. My first job was working at Taco Bell - good memories! Back then minimum wage was $3-something an hour. :eek: Let us know how it goes!

what up!!! Me too. 21 years ago! I can still roll a burrito in 2.7 seconds.

My friend who got me the job still works there.

[projectdarkside]

what up!!! Me too. 21 years ago! I can still roll a burrito in 2.7 seconds.

My friend who got me the job still works there.Wow that astounding:laugh2: Is that learned/taught or skill:wink:

Cause I have a friend that works at McDonalds who told me you have to learn how to make a Big Mac in a similiar time?

[ArEa_CoDe_415]

Working at McDonalds for an "apple" product. . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2570108134_e100c1a9dd.jpg?v=0

[Hayesimus]

well, I will tell you two things that are Very important. Practice saying Sir and Ma'am! To everything they ask. Also practice a good fake laugh. Nothing obvious. Just a gentle haha. They may make a joke that could be terribly dull or hilarious! Point is, just a moderate laugh no matter what. If you laugh too hard they'll think you are faking or weird. Not enough and they'll think you are boring. Have an upbeat personality! Tell them you are very excited about your first job and that you look forward to a productive learning experience.

[dcom]

Good luck, I agree with what everyone else said about being polite, making eye contact and also give them a good firm handshake if it's offered to you, looking them in the eye and smiling. Be attentive and listen to the interviewer when they're talking to you.

My first job was with McD's back in the mid 70s. I learned a lot about what it means to have a job and it also sparked my interest in learning to cook. Not that I'm a chef or anything, but I still use the knowledge I gained from that experience.

[Starry]

CONFIDENCE!!!!!

Don't show you've never worked before, don't be arrogant but have confidence in yourself that you've done this a thousand times! Ego's are useless Confidence is everything dear... :)

YOU will do good....I'm anxious to hear ;)
Good Luck!!

[JoeT]

Dress nicely. Clean yourself up (haircut, shave, remove piercings, cover tattoos, etc). Realize that most of your peers who will be going for the interview will dress like slobs, have tats and metal all over, pay scant attention, answer in short "uh-huh's", show modest levels of enthusiasm, and (if my observation of 20-somethings is relevant here) act like they are entitled to everything.

So don't be them. Stand above. Show that this job means more to you than to them. Be polite, answer in full sentences, think about what you will answer before you speak. Do a little research on who the franchisee is (The local one here is the Casper Company) and at least know the name - you may have a chance to use the name and show that you have half a business clue. Your peers will think that Ronald actually owns the place. :) I might even ask if employees who do a good job are eventually considered for management positions - shows drive and infers that you plan to excel in your job all in one innocent question. Don't have a short term goal for the job ("I want to work here to earn enough for an iPhone") - because then you will quit right after you reach it.

The better you sell yourself, the more likely you'll get the job.

Hope this helps.

[Hayesimus]

Throw in little things like you have a strong set of core values and ethics and determination to do a good job.

[projectdarkside]

I GOT THE JOB!!!
Matter of fact I got hired on the spot, you guys are awesome the lady was like "Have you done this before, I thought this was your first job?" I just did alittle fake laugh cause I wasnt telling here where I got help from:wink:

I wore a light brown shirt tucked in my dark brown pants, with brownyish shoes lol, It looked so nice:2cool:

Heres how it went... I wake up at about 6:30 from my annoying cell phone alarm that I had set -first time ever using it- to wake me up early to get ready. I took an extra long shower, washed my hair twice, and used that axe bodywash stuff lol! I get out comb my hair, brush my teeth, and put my clothes on:wink: Dad driving to McDonalds...

We arrive at McDonalds and I'm so nervous, and what made it even worse was that as I was walking in their was this asian guy staring at me cause I was dressed up:embarrassed: I tried to ignore him but his stare was like he wanted to give me a pre-calculus test or something. I walk to a lady with a "blue" McD uniform on, and assuming she was the interviewer I walked up to her and she said "are you here for the interview" I say "yea... I mean yes ma'am":tounge:.
-While I was their she was interviewing someone else, and what shocked me was that the girl was wearing regular clothes like she had came from the mall or something(yea she was that preppy lol), and I was I had a shirt, tie, boots WTF! I said in my head I better get this job, cause if she can get it I sure as well can. 15min later she passes the interview, but supposable she's worked at 3 McD's before this one:foot:

Theresa the Interviewers name, called me over and told me "come over and review these papers"- about tattoos, piercings, shaving before work, showing up in uniform, etc

She then asked me general McD hiring questions:
Why do you want to work for McD?
How would deal with an angry customer?
If you saw an employee spiting is a customers hamburger...
How do you think McD will benefit you?
-But the hardest question was, WHAT'S YOUR PANTS SIZE? cause I really didnt know, then she started joking around on how I have a small waist, and that I'm not that big a guy! WTF I F'n Weight lift like crazy, but of course she wouldnt be able to tell by the clothes I wore

It then concludes by her telling me that that I need 2 different copies of identification like Birth certificate or I.D Card, and her telling me TO COME IN TOMORROW FOR "ORIENTATION"
-Im guessing orientation is where you watch the sexual harassment videos, and workers ethics kinda stuff?

Now I'm guaranteed to have an iPhone before summer break is over. What even weirder is I get hired on the release day next month of the iPhone 3G

Thanks Everyone! I wont let you guys down

[dcom]

Congratulations! Now begins the phase of your life called "Coming home smelling like hamburger grease". :) Whenever I walk into a McDs, the smell still brings back memories.

[iCafe]

Congratulations

[Buffy]

Awesome! I knew you'd get the job - congratulations! It's empowering to earn your own money and decide what you want to spend it on. I'm happy for you - thanks for giving us the update. :laugh2:

[projectdarkside]

I cant wait to start, eventhough my main motivation for wanting to work is the iPhone, I think I will benefit alot from getting a job and taking my first step into the realworld, nomore mommy and daddy helping me :)
-Well atleast until I go to college, Im gonna need some wicked help affording that lol!

[Saverino]

Congrats!!

[Hayesimus]

Kudos! Good luck with your new job. Cherish it. One day you will be looking back to your first job and all the friends you made and the good times you had. My first job was at a Dairy Queen, some of the best times of my life. I'd go back if they could afford me. They don't pay enough lol.

[Starry]

*Chair dancing*

WOOOHOOOOO

I knew you'd do good!!! So very proud of you hun!!

[psylichon]

congrats! Sound like you have an interesting summer ahead of you...

"what would you do if you saw an employee spitting in a burger".... dear lord, they really ask that? Must be a common problem...

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Kudos! Good luck with your new job. Cherish it. One day you will be looking back to your first job and all the friends you made and the good times you had. My first job was at a Dairy Queen, some of the best times of my life. I'd go back if they could afford me. They don't pay enough lol.

Dairy "Queen?"

Don't make me go there...:laugh2:

j/k!!!

[Starry]

Dairy "Queen?"

Don't make me go there...:laugh2:

j/k!!!


OMG Doing everything I CAN to NOT "GO THERE"... *HOWLING*.... "QUEEN" *Roaring with laughter* LMAO

YOU KNOW I love ya NAPOLEON!!... YOU KNOW IT!

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Then where's my hug?!?

[psylichon]

"Dairy Queen" is the punchline to the joke "what do you call a gay milkman?"

I used to work there, too. Now, whatcha got for me, old man? ;)

[Youngbinks]

Congrats on getting the job! Looks like a new iPhone is just around the corner.

[JoeT]

"what would you do if you saw an employee spitting in a burger".... dear lord, they really ask that? Must be a common problem...


I've read more than one news article both here in FL and when I lived in NY concerning people spitting and (get this) expectorating and, well, blowing their NOSE in a burger. The brain surgeon who blew his nose in the burger did it to a COP. All of them went to jail.


On a lighter note, CONGRATULATIONS! Hopefully our advice helped! Now your next task is to use those l33t life skillz that we gave you to KEEP the job... Rule #1: No adding your own "special sauce" to the food! :laugh2:


But seriously, the best advice to keeping and excelling at that new job:

1. Always be at least 5-10 minutes EARLY and ready to work on time.

2. When you're not busy, make yourself busy - clean something, organize something, do something for someone else. Your boss WILL notice.

3. ALWAYS do whatever possible to give the customers a positive experience. Make eye contact with them and smile! The yes sir/ma'am thing will go a long way here with customers your parent's age and older.

4. If a customer is still being a major pain in the butt, excuse yourself politely and get a manager. They get paid to deal with the problems - don't become one of them.

5. Leave your personal problems at home - when you are working, be positive, upbeat, and cheerful.

6. Have fun, but remember that you are there to work. They aren't paying you to socialize and goof off. Avoid peer pressure to violate this rule.

7. If you have to be late for or miss work, let your boss know as soon as possible. Obviously, you should have a very good reason. If you are late, apologize to the manager and offer to stay later if needed (if you can, obviously). Don't sneak in, don't have someone punch you in, just man up and deal with it responsibly. Everyone is late once in a while, it's how you deal with it that makes you a better employee.

8. Remember that in this economy, with ever present layoffs and lots of people looking for work, now that you have the job, you want to KEEP it. The more valuable you make yourself to the company, the less likely that you will get fired/laid off/etc. Not to say it's a guarantee, but you always want to improve your odds here.

9. McDonald's hires mystery shoppers - I was one of them. You WILL be graded on your customer skills (thanking customers, eye contact, etc) and you CAN get fired if you are caught doing stupid stuff. I actually observed an employee (a supervisor, no less) chase her friend into the parking lot with a cup of water and throw it at her. Her friend chased her back, spraying her with a squirt bottle of cleaner (and why did she have this?!). She was fired two days later after they read the report.


Hope this helps!


- Joe

[Hayesimus]

I've read more than one news article both here in FL and when I lived in NY concerning people spitting and (get this) expectorating and, well, blowing their NOSE in a burger. The brain surgeon who blew his nose in the burger did it to a COP. All of them went to jail.


On a lighter note, CONGRATULATIONS! Hopefully our advice helped! Now your next task is to use those l33t life skillz that we gave you to KEEP the job... Rule #1: No adding your own "special sauce" to the food! :laugh2:


But seriously, the best advice to keeping and excelling at that new job:

1. Always be at least 5-10 minutes EARLY and ready to work on time.

2. When you're not busy, make yourself busy - clean something, organize something, do something for someone else. Your boss WILL notice.

3. ALWAYS do whatever possible to give the customers a positive experience. Make eye contact with them and smile! The yes sir/ma'am thing will go a long way here with customers your parent's age and older.

4. If a customer is still being a major pain in the butt, excuse yourself politely and get a manager. They get paid to deal with the problems - don't become one of them.

5. Leave your personal problems at home - when you are working, be positive, upbeat, and cheerful.

6. Have fun, but remember that you are there to work. They aren't paying you to socialize and goof off. Avoid peer pressure to violate this rule.

7. If you have to be late for or miss work, let your boss know as soon as possible. Obviously, you should have a very good reason. If you are late, apologize to the manager and offer to stay later if needed (if you can, obviously). Don't sneak in, don't have someone punch you in, just man up and deal with it responsibly. Everyone is late once in a while, it's how you deal with it that makes you a better employee.

8. Remember that in this economy, with ever present layoffs and lots of people looking for work, now that you have the job, you want to KEEP it. The more valuable you make yourself to the company, the less likely that you will get fired/laid off/etc. Not to say it's a guarantee, but you always want to improve your odds here.

9. McDonald's hires mystery shoppers - I was one of them. You WILL be graded on your customer skills (thanking customers, eye contact, etc) and you CAN get fired if you are caught doing stupid stuff. I actually observed an employee (a supervisor, no less) chase her friend into the parking lot with a cup of water and throw it at her. Her friend chased her back, spraying her with a squirt bottle of cleaner (and why did she have this?!). She was fired two days later after they read the report.


Hope this helps!


- Joe


I agree with number 1. Definitely a must!

Number 2. Yes except be careful when you are trying to help others. Just ask,"Is there any way I could help you?" Some people don't like help. Especially from newer employees. Its an ego thing. I would recommend simply asking someone,"Now what would you like for me to do?" That way you will always know what is expected of you.

Number 3 is true of course. The customer is the one paying your wages. without them, you don't get paid. I would like to point out however that any mature adult with any amount of etiquette will expect to be called ma'am or sir at least once during an exchange. It shows a sign of manners and respect. I expect it from people trying to earn my business and I'm only 24 so...

Number 4. Yes if you get a customer who is too busy being mad to allow you to help simply say,"I'm not sure what to do so let me get my manager so that we can resolve this." That way they know you aren't just shrugging them off onto someone else and they feel like you are taking them seriously. Don't ever say," Let me get my manager so they can TAKE CARE OF YOU." May sound nice in your head but can easily be misinterpreted as,"GET RID OF YOU."

Number 5. Very true. Think of puppies and candy and whatever it is that makes you feel great and project that onto your customers. They will always remember a happy face.

Number 6. Good clean fun is alright at certain times. Maybe tell clean jokes and stuff is okay, but don't start rough housing or anything like that. Playing by the rules will take you further in life. Also, DO NOT EAT in a food prep area. Eating is for on break in the break area. Not even one fry. Not even if everyone else is doing it. That is unsanitary and can get the establishment fined and you fired! :P

Number 7. Yes, be honest. I will tell you a trick that can work in your favor however. Be truthful and tell them that you were late for whatever the reason was, but also be very hard on yourself. I've found most often that if I'm overly hard on myself, my bosses will normally take up for me and say,"Its alright. It happens." But if you come in and are just like,"Meh, sorry or something." Then they will be aggravated that you aren't taking it seriously.

Number 8. Try to learn as much as you can and try to have at least one area at which you really excel. At Dairy Queen, I was the only one that knew how to do every single position in the store. Even our mangers didn't know everything. I was extremely versatile and therefore very valuable. I also became a manager at one point because I had the respect of everyone I worked with. They were afraid I was too nice to give peopl orders and all that. But they finally came around and promoted me. The first night I managed, I went on break with the store manager. He told me that he realized that he had nothing to worry about because peopl will do what I ask of them because they respect me so much. :D I was pretty flattered.

Number 9. Well, I kinda think that was a bit much to get fired for. Little things like throwing water on someone in good fun builds commradery. Now if she threw it on an unsuspecting customer... :P We used to take the managers mug and put it in a bucket full of water and freeze it. Then when he'd wanna go on break, he'd have to thaw his mug out! :P

[kokogirl]

Congrats! I told you in another post that I worked at Mcdonalds during college. It was a good job. I also mentioned that your uniform will smell of grease, no matter how many times you wash it. But that doesn't matter. You will earn your iphone! YEAH!:smile:

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

At Dairy Queen, I was the only one that knew how to do every single position in the store.

This is too easy...:laugh2:

[psylichon]

Yeah Hayes, ya pretty much left yerself open on that one. I cannot assist you any further :D

[Hayesimus]

D'OH!! I can't believe I let that one by me!!! I've gotta start paying attention to what I'm posting... lol

[IphoneTony]

I really need this job, and gotta guarantee that its mine!
-Any advice, experiences, etc that I should know
-Btw this is my first job, and if I dont get it theirs no way I can get an iPhone:frown:

Please Help
Thanks! Wish me Luck:wink:
im sure you will get it.

I worked there when I was 15 ,,,,, just be ready to come home smelling like a bigmac and fries.

[Hayesimus]

TONY! I must keep missing you on the board, or you must be busy. I never see you anymore.

[projectdarkside]

I passed orientation!
-I officially have the job!

Orientation was great cause I didnt have to be alone their was also another who applied and also got hired :)
-The first part of orientation was just how McDonalds strives for excellence with customer service, and how McDonalds is a world renoun Icon...
-Then a whole bunch of papers later I found out that I'll be making 5.85, which is the minimal wage and that I start monday!

-Lets see if my math is correct?:
-5.85 and hour
-3-5 hours a day
-5 days a week
-4weeks in a month (5 x 4)
5.85 x 3hrs=17.55
17.55 x 5days=87.75 averaging a week
87.75 x 4weeks= 351 before tax on first paycheck
-Does this look correct?. . . .Will I be able to have an iPhone before august 2nd :smile:?

Now the only challenges is to find a good "schedule"-cause I dont have a car, and keep from getting fat:tounge:

[Luckykelleyk]

I passed orientation!
-I officially have the job!

Orientation was great cause I didnt have to be alone their was also another who applied and also got hired :)
-The first part of orientation was just how McDonalds strives for excellence with customer service, and how McDonalds is a world renoun Icon...
-Then a whole bunch of papers later I found out that I'll be making 5.85, which is the minimal wage and that I start monday!

-Lets see if my math is correct?:
-5.85 and hour
-3-5 hours a day
-5 days a week
-4weeks in a month (5 x 4)
5.85 x 3hrs=17.55
17.55 x 5days=87.75 averaging a week
87.75 x 4weeks= 351 before tax on first paycheck
-Does this look correct?. . . .Will I be able to have an iPhone before august 2nd :smile:?

Now the only challenge is to keep from getting fat:tounge:


Taxes take quite a chunk out though..... but you should definitely be able to have an iphone before aug 1st if you don't have anything else to spend it on! (BTW, you get paid once a month? It would make more sense if it was bi-weekly)
Are your parents going to pay for the service and activation?

[projectdarkside]

At "our" McDonalds we get paid every 2weeks which I guess is a bi-week?
-No my parents arent gonna help with the iPhone( Well maybe my dad since he knows I can actually pay him back now), It was really the reason I had to get a job cause they wouldnt buy it for me :( But it will feel better paying for my own stuff! :)

I actually plan to get a V1 iPhone and get it activated under T-mobile,cause it will be much easier and cheaper on my little wallet :)

And I think august 1 or 2nd is when school starts back up, and wanna have my dream phone before I go back :cool:

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

At "our" McDonalds we get paid every 2weeks which I guess is a bi-week?

Damn -- if only Hayesimus had said that...

[dcom]

Another congrats!

One bit of advice on the gummint paperwork though so you don't make the same mistake that I did. You will probably fill out an IRS Form W-4 that basically tells the IRS how much tax they're supposed to withhold from your checks. There is a checkbox on that form that says "Exempt from Federal Withholding". DO NOT CHECK THIS!

If you do, they won't take out any federal taxes from your checks, which sounds great, but it'll bite you in the heiny come next year's tax day. I did that one year and ended up paying about $550 that included penalties because they didn't take out enough taxes throughout the year. I just didn't want someone else going through that.

[Hayesimus]

Damn -- if only Hayesimus had said that...


I'm trying my hardest to contain the laughter... :p

[projectdarkside]

Another congrats!

One bit of advice on the gummint paperwork though so you don't make the same mistake that I did. You will probably fill out an IRS Form W-4 that basically tells the IRS how much tax they're supposed to withhold from your checks. There is a checkbox on that form that says "Exempt from Federal Withholding". DO NOT CHECK THIS!

If you do, they won't take out any federal taxes from your checks, which sounds great, but it'll bite you in the heiny come next year's tax day. I did that one year and ended up paying about $550 that included penalties because they didn't take out enough taxes throughout the year. I just didn't want someone else going through that.Yeah that part was scary cause I hadnt never seen that before, but every few seconds I would check back with the manager to make sure I was doing/ or sign something right

-How much shoukld I save from the check?

[dcom]

Yeah that part was scary cause I hadnt never seen that before, but every few seconds I would check back with the manager to make sure I was doing/ or sign something right

-How much shoukld I save from the check?

Chances are pretty good that come tax time, you'll probably get most or all of the tax they withheld back as a refund because of how much you'll make and that you're a dependent. If you're wondering how much you should save for taxes, you shouldn't have to save any extra. If you filled out your W-4 saying you were single and had 0 dependents (which I'm guessing is your situation), they'll take out the most they're allowed to so you shouldn't need to save out any for taxes.

If you're wondering how much of your check to save for what you want to buy, that's up to you because McDs will already take out what's required by law and the rest is yours to do with as you please.

[projectdarkside]

Thanks man!
- My next question is how much money should I save oughta my paycheck, for just general saving?(Like for college or a car)
-Btw currently I'd make $351+ a month before taxes, and I wont start saving until Ive bought my iPhone :)

[kokogirl]

Thanks man!
- My next question is how much money should I save oughta my paycheck, for just general saving?(Like for college or a car)
-Btw currently I'd make $351+ a month before taxes, and I wont start saving until Ive bought my iPhone :)

I think you already have a good idea about money and saving. I will not give you advise on how much to save vs spend because I do not know how much stuff you need to buy for yourself vs what your parents will pay for.

[dcom]

I think it's great that you're thinking about saving for stuff down the road, but you should figure out what you'll need on a monthly basis first. You've already said that phone will be your responsibility so you're already committing to that.

I'm not sure what the minimum plans that T-Mobile offers but you would need to plan for that. Add $5 to $10 for additional fees to the cost of the plan you're going to get. That's a minimum. If you exceed the limits (talk time, TXTs, whatever), you'll need to take that into consideration.

It's not easy to say how much you should save, it's really up to what you want save it for. One thing I strongly suggest you avoid is getting a credit card. Credit card companies will probably start sending you offers as soon as they find out you have a job and a credit card can quickly get you into trouble and it takes a long time to get out of it.

If you're planning on paying for college yourself, then you should save as much as you can...college is VERY expensive these days and by the time you get there, it'll be more. There are other ways to pay for college like scholarships, being a CO-OP student (working every other semester), or student loans but if you can get by without getting a loan, that would be best.

[projectdarkside]

^^ So your saying that I should kinda put away a mini "reserve" of money just in case I may go over my iPhone bill, or need alittle "maintenance" haha?

[dcom]

If I were you, yes, I'd keep a little in reserve. Typically, the first month or 2 may be more than the minimum because you'll be using it more but then you'll probably settle in to a pattern. Just keep an eye on what you do with it that could cost extra each month like going over your talk time or # of text messages

[Luckykelleyk]

If I were you, yes, I'd keep a little in reserve. Typically, the first month or 2 may be more than the minimum because you'll be using it more but then you'll probably settle in to a pattern. Just keep an eye on what you do with it that could cost extra each month like going over your talk time or # of text messages

Plus the first month is going to be more because of an activation fee (unless you can get them to waive them ) and pro-rated service.