Im just commenting here because i see the sweet 16 thing. My daughter (CP) turned 16 last year and have attended several over the years. So naturally she wanted to do one. We talked and decided to do something that she loves and that is different from all the other parties she's been to and something mommy can afford. Right away she said "camping". So I took her and quite a few of her friends camping, 99% of them have never gone camping before and by far it was the nicest sweet 16 any of them have ever gone to. Since then I have taken her and her friends on two additional camp trips and we are planning another one at the end of this month for her entire squad (Laud Help Me!) anyway the trip cost me about $500.00 for food, firewood, etc. All the girls brought $50 each for water tubing and white water rafting.
Now to the OP and the inconsistencies in your story.....are not necessary; however here goes.
1. You made $10,000 AFTER taxes
2. You get paid in cash! after taxes?
3. Are you a server/waitress or Hostess?
If you are a waitress, your actuar salary is way less than minimun wage. A waitress make about $3-5 tops. Their real wages comes from tips.
If you are a Hostess, then yes, your salary is minimum wage +.
If you are being paid in cash, it is under the table and illegal......
All of this other have already pointed out.....not picking on you, just trying to add it all together.
The part of your story that is bothering me, is the fact that you work. Usually kids at your age that work are not usually from wealthy families. I can understand that none-the-less, the money you work for is yours to do with as you please....but I will never let my child spend that much of your savings on a party. Someone pointed out earlier that you would have had to make $20K+ in order to have $8K+ saved to spend on a party. Regardless if this is a saving of 3 years or just one, you are spending 40% of your annual income on a party......At 16 you should be learning life lessons and one of the most improtant ones is how money works 40% of your income spent on one party will be considered leving way above your means.
As a mother, I will not say your idea is a crazy one but think about it some more.
Maybe invite your friends who would like to take this trip and ask them to contribute towards it. If my daughter was invited to a trip like this, my first question would be "how much does it cost". I can understand covering the cost for one or maybe even two of your closest friends who you know can not afford it and you do this as a gift to them. Anything more than that is too much. You are only turning 16, 18, 20 and 21 are coming, save your money to do something you really want to do like travel to a different country.
In some areas Sweet 16's are huge and very expensive, but you don't have to follow what everyone else is doing/spending, be true to yourself and your true friends will enjoy it and remember it not matter what you do.
I do wish you the best of luck and continue to save your money.....who know's what tomorrow will bring.
