When I was about 10 or 11 I wanted a hamster. My mother said no for the same reason. Hamsters were 3$ at the pet store! So I went and got one myself along with some things to care for it. My mom grounded me for a while then she didn't care about it, as long as I took care of it. It lived for 4 years!! It died when I was fourteen. I never got another hamster after that.

They are really easy to take care of. I would tell you to go out and buy one yourself but then I might get you into trouble, and then you would blame me for it. I don't want that to happen. I don't know how to convince your parents to allow you to own a hamster, but maybe if you show that you are really responsible and do things before you are asked to, maybe eventually they will notice and think you are responsible enough to own one. I don't know...I think it's worth a try!