AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

We all need and want money. Without it, how are we expected to stay entertained?

Everything costs money. Whether it's a movie ticket or just cruising around—gas is expensive! Most students in my school hold part-time jobs to cover their expenses and entertainment.

Based on my experiences, I have some advice to offer about:

• Finding a job
• Saving money
• Not running out of it

Fast-food restaurants hire students.

Find a job

The first step to earning, saving and spending money is finding a part-time job. They're usually easy to find.

Unless you live in a rural area, most restaurants, grocery stores, department stores and small shops will hire young people.

If you're really serious about making money, it's not a bad idea to start job searching at ages 13 or 14. My first job was at Dairy Queen when I was 14.

To work there I needed a work permit, officially known as an Employment/Age Certificate. Most states require work permits if you want to work and you are under age 18, but federal law does not require this.

Does your state require a work permit?

Requirements are different from state to state.

To get the permit in Wisconsin I needed ten bucks, a letter from my employer and a parent, a birth certificate and my Social Security card.

I took these things to my school and had a work permit by the end of the day.

Not just any job!

I decided to get my first job at Dairy Queen for a few reasons. Consider these when you look for your own job.

Did I mention that I like ice cream?

• Driving to work was not an option since I was only 14. I needed a job within walking or biking distance. DQ was less than a mile away.
• I talked to past employees to get the inside story of what working at DQ was like.
• I asked about scheduling flexibility, how challenging the job was, and the pay rate. These questions helped tremendously when job-searching.

Flexibility was more important to me than pay—it was minimum wage—because I wanted to go out and have fun with the money I earned.

At DQ I could take as much time off as I needed. I just wrote a note several days in advance.

I think a young person should consider flexibility their number-one priority.

I had a tough time holding on to my money every payday, which leads to my next point...

Andrews Federal Credit Union What makes credit unions so great? Members like you. Every dollar you invest in your credit union earns you money while other members borrow it. When you're ready for a loan, other members' savings will be there to help you out at the lowest possible cost.