Max Ashy, 14, Perth, WA, shares his thrifty tactics:
Walking along the coastal path staring out at the Atlantic ocean, I chatted away to my mum Rebecca, 44.
“When Lexi turns 10, are you going to take her on a trip like this?” I asked, referring to my seven-year-old sister.
It was July 2019 and Mum had taken me on a 120km mother-and-son walking holiday from Portugal to Spain as a special treat for my 10th birthday.
Mum said Lexi had already asked to go to Svalbard in Norway, because she was obsessed with polar bears.
Although I was still on my first special trip, I’d been learning about ancient civilisations at school and knew I’d love to see some relics in the flesh.
Me and mum walked from Portugal to Spain for my 10th birthday
(Image: Supplied).“Why don’t I go to Egypt while you’re in Svalbard?” I said, adding my stepdad, Olaf could take me.
“Great, but I’m not paying for it,” Mum replied, chuckling.
“That’s fine, I’ll pay,” I said. “I’ll save up my pocket money, and get a job.”
So that’s exactly what I did.
At the time, we were living in Singapore.
I always wanted to see Egypt, but mum told me I’d have to pay for it myself!
(Image: Supplied).I started saving my $10-a-week pocket money and washed my parents’ car or mowed the lawn for extra cash.
I was too young to do any other paid work.
In 2020, we moved to Perth.
One day, I saw a pamphlet in the letter box advertising a job delivering catalogues.
“I could do that,” I said to Mum so she called them.
I saved all my pocket money and got my first real job, delivering pamphlets, aged 12
(Image: Supplied).By then, I was 12, and thankfully my young age didn’t bother them – I got the job.
On a Monday, a mountain of catalogues were dropped off at our house.
It took me nine hours to sort through them, then I delivered them to 430 houses in my area.
At first, I used my bike and carried the catalogues in my backpack, but this wasn’t very efficient so I bought a beach trolley.
People started recognising me and saying hello on my rounds, which I did after school.
I got paid $60 a week and did that job for nine months.
I saved $6500 in three and a half years, enough to go on a holiday to Egypt
(Image: Supplied).One day, a lady ran up to me to give me a tip.
“I see you every week. My son’s 16 and he’s seen you, too. You’ve inspired him to get a job, so thank you!” she said.
After three-and-a-half years, I’d saved a massive $6500, and in January this year Olaf and I flew out to Cairo.
We had a great time visiting the pyramids at Giza and sailing down the Nile.
A couple we met asked about our budget and when I replied they looked surprised.
Me and Olaf saw the pyramids and the river Nile
(Image: Supplied).“How do you know about your budget?” the lady asked me.
“Because I’m paying for the trip,” I said proudly.
Now that I’ve turned 14, I’m hoping to get a better paid job working at a pizza place and I’d like to visit my friend Ethan in America next.
I hope my story inspires other kids to save up for what they want.
You don’t have to wait to be an adult to follow your dreams.
