18 year old wants to drive for DoorDash (home from college, going stir crazy)

[Anonymous]

The scene: Step son (18), who is at his moms during this lockdown, home from college, DH is going over for visits a few times a week

He wants to buy a car and fund payments with DoorDash.

What say you? Yeah, he's 18 and technically can do what he wants but would you let your college student take this job?

I have no control over this situation obviously.

[Anonymous]

A car is a long-term investment. He needs to do the math.

[Anonymous]

If he has a car? Sure. Buying one? Don’t count on gigs to pay.

[Anonymous]

OP here: I was more saying this from a health perspective (DoorDash = going to a ton of fast food joints with other people and delivering food during a pandemic).

I'll let his mom, who is co-signing for this loan, worry about the finance part of it. DH is not putting money toward this effort because 1. they sold his first car when he went off to college (because he doesn't NEED one there) and 2. he doesn't agree with this whole DoorDash situation.

[Anonymous]

No.

My DS is asked about the same thing, and we just said no. Too high risk. It's one thing if you're trying to pay your rent or feed your family. It's absurd to put yourself (and your family) at risk because you want to make money for _________.

[Anonymous]

He's probably too late, most kids home from college have already snagged these jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

My DS is asked about the same thing, and we just said no. Too high risk. It's one thing if you're trying to pay your rent or feed your family. It's absurd to put yourself (and your family) at risk because you want to make money for _________.

That's absurd.

All food delivery is no contact now, everything is left on the front step.

The CDC has already said that you cannot catch covid-19 from food, if you could there would be outbreaks everywhere related to one particular restaurant.

Mask, wash hands or use sanitizer after each drop off, rinse and repeat.

Let's not drill our anxieties too deep into our kids if we don't have to.

[Anonymous]

This job isn’t going to pay for a car payment, insurance, gas and upkeep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This job isn’t going to pay for a car payment, insurance, gas and upkeep.

This.

My friend’s stepson got sucked in by Uber this way. It has been a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's probably too late, most kids home from college have already snagged these jobs.

DoorDash accepted him as a driver. Unless there is another level of approval for this job that I'm unaware of, he has it.

Anonymous wrote:This job isn’t going to pay for a car payment, insurance, gas and upkeep.

While I'm more concerned about the health issue yeah, there is no way this job is going to sustain a $700+ (apparently will be the payment + insurance - not counting gas and upkeep) a month payment. Especially after all of this is over and the need for DoorDash dips. Not to mention, does he really want to spend any last penny he does make back at school? All things I've brought up...

[Anonymous]

My concern would be more about the financials than safety. Contact in restaurants and at homes is minimal. If he is reasonably self aware, he'll be fine. If not doordash, he has the right idea to do something, it's not healthy for a college-aged kid to be home all the time doing nothing.

[Anonymous]

Save the money for the car and insurance first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's probably too late, most kids home from college have already snagged these jobs.

DoorDash accepted him as a driver. Unless there is another level of approval for this job that I'm unaware of, he has it.

Anonymous wrote:This job isn’t going to pay for a car payment, insurance, gas and upkeep.

While I'm more concerned about the health issue yeah, there is no way this job is going to sustain a $700+ (apparently will be the payment + insurance - not counting gas and upkeep) a month payment. Especially after all of this is over and the need for DoorDash dips. Not to mention, does he really want to spend any last penny he does make back at school? All things I've brought up...

What kind of car is he looking to buy?! He just needs a beater if he’s serious about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

My DS is asked about the same thing, and we just said no. Too high risk. It's one thing if you're trying to pay your rent or feed your family. It's absurd to put yourself (and your family) at risk because you want to make money for _________.

Unless he is under 18 how can you prevent him?

[Anonymous]

It is dumb for him to be buying a car.

It is dumb for him to be putting your two households at risk to do Door Dash.

DH should try to convince him not to do either.

If he is unsuccessful - and even regardless - when he is visiting he should sit outside and they should both wear masks and stay ten feet away.