June 17, 2007

By AMIE PAPPAS

Frontiersman WASILLA - From parking lot pavement to lakeside lounge chairs, Mat-Su Valley teens say they are spending most of their money at just one place - the gas pump. Local teens are also shelling out for fast food, clothes, cell phones and for friends.

American teenagers have more discretionary income and are spending their wealth at a brisk pace. Between allowances, money from parents, working and borrowing, teens spent an estimated $159 billion last year alone, according to Congressional Quarterly Press. From movies to burgers to iPods and video games, teens are not only spending more, they're purchasing more expensive items.

In the Mat-Su Valley, area teens seem to follow suit. Amanda Gaylor, 16, of Palmer said she works a couple of times a week at an office job in Anchorage and earns about $13 an hour.

“Today I am spending money on my boyfriend for his birthday.” Gaylor said. “But gas is what I spend most of my money on.”

Gaylor's friend Amber Bolam, 17, of Palmer said she earns spending money by babysitting and agreed gas is her No. 1 expense. “It's a huge amount.” Bolam said.

Both teens said they also spend a lot of money on fast food, like Taco Bell, Subway and McDonalds. Gaylor said her friends spend their money on pretty much the same things, and that they do occasionally buy clothes and DVDs.

For younger teens, clothes seem to be important.

“I definley spend most of my babysitting money on clothes,” said Katie Niemi, 15, of Meadowlake.

Her freind Amber Acton, 14, agreed, but said she also likes to take freinds to the movies.

Jodi Dayton is a manager at The Source clothing store. He said most of his customers are teens looking for name brand items they can't find at stores like Fred Meyer.

“We Keep everything up to date and rotate items. We also do a lot of special item ordering for things teens can't get locally,” Dayton said. “Brands like Roxy, Skin and DC Shoes are popular. Backpacks, hoodies and Oakley sunglasses move fast too.”

Cellphones are also important to young people. Cellular One sales assistant Stacy Loye said the favorie phone of local teens is the K1 Krazer by Motorola.

“The style of phone is more important to teens than the plans.” Loye said. “The want flashy, shiny phones with music and texting features.”

At DigiTel Alaska the most popular phone plan with teens is ActivUnlimited, a pay-as-you-go wireless plan for $50 a month. The most popular phone is the Kyocera Stobe.

Cody Wingert, 18, has worked every summer since he was 14 setting up a newspaper subscription stand at local stores. The recent high school graduate he said this will be his last summer without heavy responsiblities. But he's still not care free.

“Moneywise, most of what I earn I spend on gas, then my grilfreind,” Wingert said.

With jobs, school and socializing and growth there are a more teens on local roads.

“It's way expensive,” said Kenny McLellan, 17, of Wasilla. “The main thing I spend my money on right now is gas.”

McLellan said he had been working at car washes around town but now he is using some savings to get by. “I also spend money hanging out with friends, going to movies and buying food.”

Wasilla 17-year-old Kelsey Peterson works at her parents' gas station on Kinnick Road. Fuel isn't where her money goes.

“It's Food, fast food all the time, almost everyday.” Peterson said. “My parents pay for my gas.”

Anthony Benbow is visiting Alaska from Indiana for the summer and said he is “spending some of my money fixing up a Toyota. But, I spend most of it on gas.”

Kris Firey, also 17 of Wasilla, said he spends on video games that run about $60 each.

Fred Meyer Electronics Center assistant manager Preston Hoff said that by far in his department, teens are buying video games.

“We sell about 50 to 100 titles a week.” Hoff said, adding that while sales of CDs and DVDs have slowed, games are still selling bacaues they are harder to pirate off the Internet.

Contact Amie Pappas at 352-2284 or amie.pappas@frontiersman.com.