“Our teenage girls learnt how to boost their pocket money.”

I have two teenage girls, 13 and 15. There’s so much more for them to buy than when I was their age – phones, clothes, makeup – but they’re too young for jobs. 

We give them £10 a week each – but the rule is they have to sort their own clothes. We cover sports clothes and uniforms. Fashion and makeup, that’s on them!

There are jobs around the house they can do for extra cash, like cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming the house, etc. But they’re not massively into it…

However, they’ve mastered buying and selling clothes on Depop, on rotation. They wear an outfit twice, sell it on. And that money goes back into buying more clothes.

Social media plays a huge part. But if they see something they want, they have to orchestrate it themselves. And they often do save up and buy it second hand.

I don’t get the trends thing. If they’re not swapping clothes, which all look the same to me, they’re buying gimmicks like self-stirring mugs. Just use a spoon!

They both have Kite debit cards, it’s so easy to send money back and forth. It teaches them the value of things – a £30 face cream means three weeks of nothing.

My eldest is itching to get a job. Her babysitting is irregular. She’ll probably get something in retail. My first jobs were lawn mowing and paper rounds!

She’s very motivated to work and would like to move to London eventually. And I know she’ll get there. If she wants something, she’ll find a way to get it.

Staying safe online: Fraud on secondhand marketplaces

If you’re buying or selling on a secondhand marketplace, such as Depop, Preloved or Vinted, never give out personal information beyond what's required (for example, your name and address if you’re buying something).

It’s also important to read a buyer’s or seller’s reviews before going ahead with a transaction and check the terms and conditions of the platform to make sure you’re using it as intended. For example, you must be 13 or over to sign up to Depop and link your account to your parent or guardian’s PayPal account to make or receive payments, unless you’re over 18.

The consumer rights organisation Which? found that 32% of buyers were scammed on a secondhand marketplace between January 2022 and January 2024. Over the same period, 22% of sellers reported being scammed. Buyers that were scammed usually received incorrect or fake designer goods, empty packages or nothing at all. 

Sellers might be scammed if the buyer asks to transfer money through a different payment link, rather than through the marketplace's dedicated payment platform, especially if the seller is brand new to the marketplace and isn't familiar with how it works yet. 

Whether you’re buying, selling or arranging a refund, it’s very important to use the platform’s secure payment system – never an external website or system. If a payment doesn’t work through the platform’s system, contact their customer service team – don’t try to arrange the payment using an alternative method.

If someone sends a link through the messaging section of a site or app, be very careful and don’t click on it straightaway, if at all. It’s also important to report any suspicious behaviour through the site or app’s system to alert them to potential fraudsters.