I have been playing the flute for 6 years now and am in my freshman year. I am also in wind ensemble which is good. I still have my flute from 4th grade, which is a Yamaha 221 and I'm getting really bored of it and its sound is't really clear and it sounds really harsh sometimes. Recently when I went to a music shop to buy some things I decided to try out their Yamaha 361H flute that cost 1,200 and it sounded BEAUTIFUL! My mother also said that we are maybe interested in buying it, so we got their number and the model #. I showed my band teacher as soon as possible and he told me that it was a really good flute at a really good price and seemed really happy for me. But recently my mom said she was never going to buy it and it made me mad that she had acted like we were going to buy it. So now I am planning on buying the flute myself, or at least half (600). I need ideas on how to get the money, and remember I am only a freshman and not old enough for a job, so that is out of the question. I really want this flute because I am planning on playing flute during college too. Please give suggestions!! Thanks!

Babysitting, dog walking, a paper route, shoveling driveways, mowing lawns.

In addition:
You have 4 summers before college. If you make 7.00/hr this summer, half time, 8.00/hr half time after grade 10, 9.00/hr full time after 11, and 10.00/hr full time after 12, you should have saved take home pay of about 10,000.
Not sure why you are mad at your mother? She told the store she MIGHT be interested. Parents rarely jump right into an expensive purchase. Plus it sounds like she plans to chip in half?
Don't forget that some of the most famous musicians in history grew up in miserable poverty, and honed their skill on the most worn out broken horrible instruments. They proved themselves, and THEN got the best.

I was a flautist in school and needed a better instrument as I improved as well. I babysat, walked dogs for people, watered plants and took in mail when neighbors went on vacation, pulled weeds, cleaned dog poop up in the spring in neighbor's yards and just about anything else people would pay me to do. Seeing how hard I was working, my parents ended up pitching in a lot toward it and other relatives gave me cash for gifts for my birthday, etc. to help toward the purchase.

If you buy a used flute, make sure to play it and test it out. Have someone like your band director look at it to make sure the pads and springs and head cork are in good condition, too. A premium instrument generally should be overhauled before it's resold, with everything working in good condition.

Be patient - if this particular flute is sold, don't loose heart - there are others out there. Most important is a sterling or silver plate head, even better is if the whole flute is sterling or silver plate but that adds a lot to the cost. It makes for a beautiful tone. Also be prepared to get used to open holes. If you buy a second hand instrument, be aware they sell little plugs for the holes. You can use them as needed until you are used to the open holes - it takes some work but you'll get it down if you practice.

Thanks for all the answers and advise, but the thing is I don't have a lot of time to do these things with homework and track season. I have asked my parents that I can clean the whole house for $50, but they just laugh. My dad even says that he doesn't believe that I'll stay with my flute though college, but in reality band is the only class I am happy to go to and truly enjoy. I don't know what to do.

Plus, there is only one in stock

Thanks for all the answers and advise, but the thing is I don't have a lot of time to do these things with homework and track season. I have asked my parents that I can clean the whole house for $50, but they just laugh. My dad even says that he doesn't believe that I'll stay with my flute though college, but in reality band is the only class I am happy to go to and truly enjoy. I don't know what to do.

Plus, there is only one in stock

If your parents won't pay for it, which they're not obligated to do, then the only option you have is to work for it. If you don't have the time to work, why did you ask us how to earn the money? I'm confused.

You have been drinking too much coffee at the All or Nothing Café. Been there myself.

You have to have this flute. You have to have it now. There's only one in stock. You want to know how to raise $600, but have no time to work, but you have tried to get your parents to pay you to do work that you are supposed to help with anyway.

I recently bought two things I just had to have: a 57 Chevy and an antique candy machine made by an ancestor of mine. But I waited SIXTY SIX years to do this.

I notice you sailed right over my summer work calculations. No homework excuse. No track excuse. Whoosh!

Joy, this was never about her actually doing the work. She either hoped we'd tell her a way to convince her parents to pay the entire thing, or she wanted someone to say "oh, you have a passion, here, let me give you the money".

She never intended to actually work for anything. Welcome to today's youth, they feel they're entitled to have anything they want, let other people pay for the things they have to have, while they're sitting on their a$$ doing nothing.

It's the teen syndrome, and I really hope these teens learn that they have to work for their wants and needs, before it's too late.

When I was 14 I had a job. I paid for a trip to Germany, which cost over $3000 by babysitting, working as a janitor for 2 years, and saving every penny, when I was 16.

Today's youth expects everything handed to them on a silver platter. This OP never intended to work, she posted that she has not time! So why did she post the question? Did she hope that one of us would offer to give her $600? Sorry sweetie, I have to work hard for the money I make. You're not getting it.

Alty, sigh, I got to agree...

Alty, sigh, I gotta agree...

It's scary, isn't it? These are the children that will be our future. Heaven help us.

If I see one more post from a teen saying "I want, I want, I have to have, and my mean parents won't buy it for me", I may quit the site. I'm so sick of these children that think they deserve to have anything they want.

Here's a news flash kids. Your parents are required to provide you with food, clothing, a roof over your head, and an education. Everything else is extra. If you want an iPhone, get off your xbox, get a job and earn it! If you want a new flute, get off your arse, and work for it!

The part of this OP's post that really ticked me off is that she's mad at her mother for not shelling out $1200 so she can have the flute she wants! Seriously? She's mad that her parents won't pay her $50 to clean the house? You live in the house, the least you can do is help clean it! $1200 is more than I make in a month, and I work my arse off! $50 to clean my house? My kids wouldn't even dream of uttering those words. Why? I pay for their food, their clothes, the home they live in, and everything else. What do they pay for? Nothing! Cleaning the house, I do most of it, but if I say "clean this" you better believe they're doing it, and I'm not paying for it. I pay for enough!

Selfish! When I was your age I worked harder than you'll probably ever work in your life. If you want a new flute, which isn't a necessity, then earn it. If you don't have the time to work, then forget about it. In this world you have to work for the things you want. Get used to it. It's reality.

Today's youth expects everything handed to them on a silver platter. This OP never intended to work, she posted that she has not time! So why did she post the question? Did she hope that one of us would offer to give her $600? Sorry sweetie, I have to work hard for the money I make. You're not getting it.

I sorry if it came out that way, I actually would never accept money over the internet and I have applied for a summer job and planning on get one when I turn 16 in a couple of months. To be honest I just wanted suggestions on fast ways to get money or a way to convince my parents to get me one. I know that you probably had to work for the things you wanted, but I think I do deserve this flute. I have been working hard and maintain good grades. I am also really mature. To be truthful I do ask for money for clothes, but I have stopped recently and saved over 100 already. Sorry for coming of as a really spoiled brat.

It's scary, isn't it? These are the children that will be our future. Heaven help us.

If I see one more post from a teen saying "I want, I want, I have to have, and my mean parents won't buy it for me", I may quit the site. I'm so sick of these children that think they deserve to have anything they want.

Here's a news flash kids. Your parents are required to provide you with food, clothing, a roof over your head, and an education. Everything else is extra. If you want an iphone, get off your xbox, get a job and earn it! If you want a new flute, get off your arse, and work for it!

The part of this OP's post that really ticked me off is that she's mad at her mother for not shelling out $1200 so she can have the flute she wants! Seriously? She's mad that her parents won't pay her $50 to clean the house? You live in the house, the least you can do is help clean it! $1200 is more than I make in a month, and I work my arse off! $50 to clean my house? My kids wouldn't even dream of uttering those words. Why? I pay for their food, their clothes, the home they live in, and everything else. What do they pay for? Nothing! Cleaning the house, I do most of it, but if I say "clean this" you better believe they're doing it, and I'm not paying for it. I pay for enough!

Selfish! When I was your age I worked harder than you'll probably ever work in your life. If you want a new flute, which isn't a necessity, then earn it. If you don't have the time to work, then forget about it. In this world you have to work for the things you want. Get used to it. It's reality.


I sorry for making you mad. I respect you for working hard and I have noticed that I ask for too many things and I have stopped asking. Again I didn't mean to make you upset. Also I know I shouldn't be mad at my mother, but she made it seem like she was going to buy the flute as soon as I consulted my band teacher. She even asked about it. Sorry again.

You are a freshman, getting good grades, but are 16 before the end of the school year?

You are a freshman, getting good grades, but are 16 before the end of the school year?

No I turn 16 at the end of summer, so I can't be paid yet.

I sorry for making you mad. I respect you for working hard and I have noticed that I ask for too many things and I have stopped asking. Again I didn't mean to make you upset. Also I know I shouldn't be mad at my mother, but she made it seem like she was going to buy the flute as soon as I consulted my band teacher. She even asked about it. Sorry again.

Now you've earned some of my respect.

The fact that you came back and weren't angry about what I said, is a sign that you are as mature as you claim to be.

Now for the tough love. The fact is, unless your parents are extremely wealthy, $1200 is a lot of money. You have a flute. Is it the best? No. Is it good enough? Well, you seem to be doing fine with it, fine enough that you're recognized for the music you make with it.

Would a new flute be nice? Sure it would. Is it a necessity? It isn't. This is a want, not a need.

Wants are things you work to get, not things that are handed to you just because you want them.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

That flute would mean so much more to you if you had to work hard to earn it.

Just saying.

Now you've earned some of my respect.

The fact that you came back and weren't angry about what I said, is a sign that you are as mature as you claim to be.

Now for the tough love. The fact is, unless your parents are extremely wealthy, $1200 is a lot of money. You have a flute. Is it the best? No. Is it good enough? Well, you seem to be doing fine with it, fine enough that you're recognized for the music you make with it.

Would a new flute be nice? Sure it would. Is it a necessity? It isn't. This is a want, not a need.

Wants are things you work to get, not things that are handed to you just because you want them.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

That flute would mean so much more to you if you had to work hard to earn it.

Just sayin.

I do understand and I have notice that I want a lot of things, that's why my siblings call me spoiled and a miser, so I'm working on that and now asking for only things I need. Also I really do want to pay for it! As soon as I got the idea to pay for it, I thought of bake sales, selling electronics, and selling homemade jewelry, but in reality I would only make about 200 which isn't enough. I am not rich and my parents are putting my brother in college, but my flute is like a stress reliever for me. I don't play at home because it bothers my dad, but I play it at least 4 times a week for 60 minutes in school. I want to make beautiful music and maybe with my new flute I can make first chair instead of 5th. But now, I guess I will wait until I actually have the money and see if I still want it then. Thanks for helping me.

I do understand and I have notice that I want a lot of things, that's why my siblings call me spoiled and a miser, so I'm working on that and now asking for only things I need. Also I really do want to pay for it! As soon as i got the idea to pay for it, I thought of bake sales, selling electronics, and selling homemade jewelry, but in reality I would only make about 200 which isn't enough. I am not rich and my parents are putting my brother in college, but my flute is like a stress reliever for me. I don't play at home because it bothers my dad, but I play it at least 4 times a week for 60 mins in school. I want to make beautiful music and maybe with my new flute I can make first chair instead of 5th. But now, I guess I will wait until I actually have the money and see if I still want it then. Thanks for helping me.

Kris, there's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. Hard work, working towards a goal, is always the way to get what you want. If you want it badly enough, you'll find the time and the way. This is a matter of deciding how badly you want it.

You're old enough to babysit, you can put up a flyer (with your parents permission) in your neighborhood. See if your local paper is hiring (again, ask mom and dad). My son made $200 a month delivering our local paper 2 times a week. It took him around 1 1/2 hours, 3 hours a week. Surely you have enough time for that. If you live in an area with snow, go door to door to the houses that haven't shoveled, and volunteer to shovel. Set a price, or ask the person upfront, how much they're willing to pay you for the job. You'd be surprised how many people will pay good money just to get out of shoveling. I know I would, and I'm not rich by any means. I can still afford to give $20 for 2 hours worth of shoveling. That's $10 an hour tax free! Ask your neighbors with dogs if you can walk them for a fee.

Really, if you do all of this, and really work at it, you could probably have the $600 in 3 months. If the flute you want is gone, you find another one and continue saving until you can afford to walk into any store and buy the one you want without anyone's help.

You can do it. You just have to decide if this is worth it, worth it enough that you'll work your butt off for it. How good would it feel to earn it, to know that you found a way to follow your dream, without anyone's help. That flute, if you make the money to buy it, will be worth so much more to you than it would if it were given to you.

Kris, there's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. Hard work, working towards a goal, is always the way to get what you want. If you want it badly enough, you'll find the time and the way. This is a matter of deciding how badly you want it.

You're old enough to babysit, you can put up a flyer (with your parents permission) in your neighborhood. See if your local paper is hiring (again, ask mom and dad). My son made $200 a month delivering our local paper 2 times a week. It took him around 1 1/2 hours, 3 hours a week. Surely you have enough time for that. If you live in an area with snow, go door to door to the houses that haven't shoveled, and volunteer to shovel. Set a price, or ask the person upfront, how much they're willing to pay you for the job. You'd be surprised how many people will pay good money just to get out of shoveling. I know I would, and I'm not rich by any means. I can still afford to give $20 for 2 hours worth of shoveling. That's $10 an hour tax free! Ask your neighbors with dogs if you can walk them for a fee.

Really, if you do all of this, and really work at it, you could probably have the $600 in 3 months. If the flute you want is gone, you find another one and continue saving until you can afford to walk into any store and buy the one you want without anyone's help.

You can do it. You just have to decide if this is worth it, worth it enough that you'll work your butt off for it. How good would it feel to earn it, to know that you found a way to follow your dream, without anyone's help. That flute, if you make the money to buy it, will be worth so much more to you than it would if it were given to you.

Thank you a lot for this, you give good advice!! And for the flute, I think I'm going to hold off on getting one until I have the time. But I will try to use some of your suggestions to earn money. THANK YOU AGAIN!!

Thank you a lot for this, you give good advice!!! And for the flute, I think I'm going to hold off on getting one until I have the time. But I will try to use some of your suggestions to earn money. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

You're very welcome. I have a feeling that you're going to make this dream come true. Keep at it, and never give up on it. I can understand your love for the flute, I played in high school as well. The flute I had was a loaner from the school. I saved my money, and I worked hard to get a flute of my own, but my parents didn't want me to "waste" my money on it, even though it was money I earned. So I let it go. I still regret it. I loved playing the flute, and I was pretty darn good at it if I do say so myself.

You can do this. Never lose faith in yourself, and never give up on your dreams.

I wish you the best of luck. :)

The price quoted was a good price but it wasn't extraordinary. Many people upgrade to premium flutes and then quit after high school or college, or just sell them in desperation due to the economy so there will be others. You have identified that you love the flute. As a flautist, I will defend your belief that you need to upgrade your instrument. To those who do not play, it might seem silly but there is such a huge leap in sound quality moving from a student flute to a professional quality flute, and there does come a time in your musical progression where upgrading is the right thing to do.

That said, if you don't have time to work, you will not be earning income. Your deadline is arbitrary. This is a lot of money to save for a girl your age and you need to plan on at least taking a year to do it. To save this much in a year, you need to find enough time to work and earn $100 per month, which you spend on nothing else.

I can tell you, my son is a two-sport high school athlete and one of his sports is golf - talk about time consuming! He is also a competitive rock climber and is taking two AP classes. He still works part time doing the kinds of odd jobs I recommended to you. When it snows, he is out with his shovel when he gets home, offering to clear driveways for a little money. He stacks firewood, pulls weeds, takes in neighbor's mail and so on. He can't realistically have a regular job with his schedule, but he's a go-getter and constantly looks for ways to make a buck. One thing he did was reach out to the retired neighbors. He told them that he is looking for work, and that if they had small jobs they needed done, as long as he could fit it in around school, they should please call him. He gave them examples of what he was willing to do.

One of these neighbors now pays him $150 every summer to spread wood chips in their garden beds. Another will call and pay him $3 to $5 at a time for minor stuff like getting on a ladder to change a lightbulb that's out of their reach. He has a few regular snow-shoveling gigs. He had a ton of people who hired him to rake leaves. He's cleaned out gutters and he helped another homeowner, washing windows together.

I'm sure that as busy as you are, you manage to find time to talk on the phone, watch television and otherwise goof off. If you're serious, you will convert your spare time to cash.

Otherwise, enjoy the flute you have.