Well I'm going to start of with who I am. I'm Caity I'm 14 and live in Australia. My parents divorced when I was 11 and my dad has been struggling ever since. My mum is fine because she's got this rich boyfriend now who is like 10 years younger than her literally, but you know I guess I'm happy that she's happy with him. My dad has had this job where he was working hard in stock brokering but didn't get paid much at all. I'm one of four so my dad had a lot of kids to look after minimal wage. He got this new job as a ceo of a starting company after searching for a better job and he was so much happier because there was a glimpse of hope that maybe it would be OK for us and I thought so too.

After thinking (stupidly I may add) that we would have enough money to get something that my sibling and I have wanted for so long...a dog. My dad was never able to afford one with all of the food and vet bills it would all just pile up. But now I thought we had a chance so I asked him, he said that he would think about it and I was over the moon haha. I started to look at dogs for sale. I found a couple that were about 200 and my dad said the limit was 300 so I thought it was fine. This next part is really bad cause I do this really bad thing where I look at my dads text messages. I do this because he never expresses his emotions or what's going on in his life. But all I want to do is help him because all he wants to do is make us happy and he will literally skip paying a bill just so we can have a quick getaway.

What I found made me cry. My dad has been getting texts from people saying he owes them money even my MUM. Surely my mum can pay for my guitar lessons no problem right? I go to a public school so its not like school bills are a problem. I told my dad that he is not to get us a dog or anything for my birthday and Christmas at the moment that's the only way I can think of helping him.

I'm going to get a job so that I can help pay bills. Please help me find more ways to help him.

A dog is a long term expense beyond what you pay to buy it, They need fed every day, then need taken to a vet when they get sick, and even if they don't for routine shots and vaccinations.

As nice as dogs are to have... if money is as tight as you say, you really shouldn't have one because the money to raise it will have to come from something else that he barely had money to pay for.

At 14 you are going to be lucky to get a job, and any one you will get will pay almost nothing. Your intentions are good, but at 14 you have no skills and labor laws being what they are in most of the world, someone your age will be the last person they will hire even if it is possible to hire someone under 16. I'm not sure about Australian labor laws, but in the USA where I do what types of jobs, what hours and how many hours is highly limited for people under 16.

Caity! You have a good heart, but all your good wishes are based on a wrong - you snooped. Now that you know your dad owes people money, however, you can't just pretend you don't know. You need to tell him that you read his phone, that you are sorry, and that you won't do it again. You can ask him if he is willing to talk to you about finances, but most parents won't. You are at the age where he is still protecting you from financial worries, but you are old enough to have a bit of adult knowledge of the situation. Leave your mother out of it - it might be court-ordered support. And don't argue with him, just listen.

I take it that public school is what we Americans call private school. Here public schools are the free ones. That must be a large expense for your dad, so I think you have a right to ask if he thinks it might have to end. Ask in a calm, mature way so that he is honest about the situation.

What you can also do is talk to a vet about typical costs for owning a dog, per year. Go to the store and see what good dog food costs (and how much to give, by dog weight, and calculate that too). Then see what you can give up that costs about the same, such as guitar lessons. If you own a guitar and have had a few lessons, true dedication to music would mean that you struggle through the learning process on your own, or by reading online.
14 year olds can babysit and dog walk and houseclean and tend yards. That's when I started.
Good luck and keep us posted.

You heart is in the right place even though snooping is not a good thing to do, and I think you have helped him already by telling him forget the dog, and Christmas, birthdays, and getaways. I doubt your mom lets you work or pay bills, but the biggest help you could be right now, is come clean with mom and especially dad on what you have done (SNOOPED) and let them explain to you the facts about the money that you may not understand.

I admire you wanting to help, but your parents wouldn't want you burdened by adult things they will workout, and you may not fully understand. It's so easy for a 14 year old to jump to the wrong conclusion about adult things and that may lead you to doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Hope that makes some sense to you, and hope you talk to your dad about your snooping, and let him and mom deal with the money problems.

Thank you all for answering and you were all helpful :) I know its wrong to snoop and it was the first time I did it cause my dad was acting strange so I thought that something was up. But I know that's not and excuse and I told him I had done that and he got angry at me but its all fine this morning. Public schools in Australia are free also, so there are no school bills. Ive told him no dog also the dog isn't a problem :). I love my mum so much it's that I don't like my mums boy friend who's needs come before anyone else when ever I'm at my mums house that's what annoys me sometimes. Ill take up baby sitting and ill make some flyers. So thanks for you help :)