My 8 year old has about $100. He got the money for birthday, Christmas, the tooth fairy, etc. he just saves it. Maybe you should ask why someone would steal from a 10 year old.

OP did not need to steal it. He could have found tons of other ways to get gas money,or just walk. I would seriously be pissed if someone stole from me with the excuse that 'You wouldn't give it to me anyway'. I have the right to not to give my stuff to you because it's my stuff. You telling me you would have gotten it either way shows me you think my stuff is yours,which would make me thousands times angrier. Especially if you are my relative.

There's tons of ways to make money? Really? Please tell me these ways to make more without spending any. I'd love to hear them. And you suggest walking? Walking, you say? If I ever had to walk to work I'd have to leave an hour and a half early and hope that I wont get jumped on the way there. Walking is not a good solution for job hunting unless you live close by to several job prospects.

Shovel a neighbors driveway. Mow a neighbors lawn. Housework or babysitting for neighbors and friends families. There's 4. Need more examples?

He could have used a bike, offered to do chores or small favours in exchange for money/a ride, ebayed something.... He didn't HAVE to steal from his sister. Either he lives near town in which case he can walk, or he lives a while away in which case when his parents/friends inevitably need to go into town for work/shopping etc. he can get a lift into town, walk around then get a lift back, sure it's exhausting, but deal with it. (If he can steal from his 10 year old sister he probably lives pretty close, most likely still at home). My younger sister steals from me, and she lies about it, this has really, really hurt our relationship, because I don't trust her around my money, my cards, my clothing (she has a horrible tendency to borrow things and forget to give them back, or ruin them), my DVDs, they inevitably end up scratched. She feels like I'm selfish and favour my other sisters because I never share with her, or lend her money (she still owes me £150 she owed up to, and since then she's bought Reading tickets among other things). My older sister often borrows money if she's short when we're out, but I always get it back soon, she just forgets to go to the ATM before she needs the money. My younger sister stole my money when we were younger, sometimes she still does. It's something that has always been a huge thing between us. After she hit 9 she got a bit better, but when she became a teenager she started to borrow, but only when she 'needed' it, and because she kept doing it, her perception of 'needing' it has gotten more and more flexible. I've always been fantastic with money, she hasn't, so she's always seen me having more money than she does, even though assuming we both did our chores before I started uni we had the exact same amount coming in. Especially now that as a student I have a grant, she doesn't take into account the fact that this term, of my £1,200 grant I have spent £300 on a new laptop (my old one was 5 years old and the motherboard died) £240 on a bus pass, saving rather a lot, £230 on getting gas/electric/tv etc. set up and supplied, £100 on only ESSENTIAL textbooks all secondhand, which left me £22 per week for food/toiletries/presents/entertainment/clothing/other (kitchen roll etc). Things here aren't as cheap in the USA. My parents are paying my rent which is slightly lower than the expected parental contribution, but things come up and things will be less tight next term, because my travel card is for the year and I won't need another laptop. I've had to dip into my savings from last year for Christmas and birthdays. But what she sees is that I get lots of money she doesn't..... I guess it's okay if it really is just this once and you put the money back, but it's easy for this to become a habit.

Xalandra,even if you have to spend money to get a job,that does not condone stealing that money from others. I can think of some jobs that don't require spending money,such as babysitting. He could even try to work for his parents,assuming he lives with them. With the money he gets,maybe he could use the bus to get there,if he really doesn't want to walk. OP could go to the library and use the internet to research about jobs near his home,organizations that help poor people etc. He could even apply online if he is that desperate. OP did not have to steal from his sister. Nobody has to steal from someone else. OP wanted to steal from his sister.

Also,leaving half an hour early is not that bad. If you are afraid something will happen to you on the way,ask someone you know to walk with you.