My mom is keeping me financially dependent on her. What do I do.
I’m M17 and it was my birthday recently and I received almost 700 dollars from my extended family as a birthday present. We were at a restaurant and my mother immediately said as I was given the money that she was going to hold on to it for me and that I can’t have it. I didn’t argue with her because I didn’t want to make a scene in front of my extended family. My mother forced me when we got home to put the money in HER SAFE and I have to ask her if I want to spend it. It’s not just this money either. She controls my bank account and debit card as well. I’m 17 and the banks in my area won’t let a minor open a bank account without a parent being a co-owner or something like that on the account. She says I can’t have my own bank account. She got me and my two siblings Greenlight debit cards, which are basically like parent controlled debit cards. The parent can put money on the card and take it off and can restrict how much money you spend and where you spend it. I am looking for a job and I want to have independence but it is really hard to find someone who wants to hire a 17 year old with no experience. I live in a big college city so everywhere I apply I am competing with college students for entry level jobs. I don’t want my mom keeping me dependent for the rest of my life. What do I do?
Posted Sep 6, 2025, 8:57 PM UTC