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Tuesday, March 06, 2007 3:15 PM

2 Better Than 1?

By Jeanine

After revealing one of my biggest fears last week in the blog and getting such positive feedback, I am on a blogging high. I feel like I can ask or tell you Nesties anything! So, this week I have a question – and it’s fairly revealing, so no snarkiness, please:)

As you may or may not know, living in NYC is expensive – okay, more than expensive, it’s INSANE! Rent for a tiny 1-bedroom apartment is easily more than $1200/month and you still have to have lights and electricity and eat on top of that! Let me just tell you, it adds up quickly. For me, this financial pinch is exacerbated even more by the fact that I like to shop – quite a bit. I always pay my bills first and usually set aside enough money to eat, but sometimes I do skimp on food because I want something new.

Anyways, I was talking to my dad (aka my financial advisor) about my situation and he suggested that I get a second job. Hmmm, really?? At first, I was like absolutely not – there’s no way. I just couldn’t imagine spending my two free days working. But now that I’ve moved into a bigger (read: more expensive) apartment and money is even tighter, I’m thinking I may not have a choice. So I wanted to see if any of you or your DHs are working (or have worked) a second job. Any advice? My fear is that I will never be completely rested or relaxed because I will always be running from one job to another. AND that I won’t have time to do anything fun because I’ll always be working. Has this been your experience with two jobs? The prospect of not being so strapped for cash is very exciting, but working nonstop is not. What do you think?

TIA!

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Comments

re: 2 Better Than 1?

I held down two jobs about a year ago and it was not fun. The main reason was that at both jobs I had to answer phones, so often I would forget where I was at and use the wrong greeting on the phone. I did it at home too. Yeah, you'll spend a lot of time working, you won't be able to see your fiance/husband too much either. My fiance (boyfriend at that time) didn't like me having two jobs because we don't live together (not until we're married), so making time to see each other was difficult. But don't get me wrong, some people can do the two jobs thing. have you considered doing work from your home? Maybe just stuffing envelopes to earn some extra cash. Think of what you do when you're not working, the time you spend at home. If it's mostly watching tv or bumming around, why not make a little cash while you do it too? Those are my thoughts. Hope I helped.

Posted by FortySeven    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 10:56 AM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

I am currently AT my second job, which I love. I only work about 25 hours a week (at the 2nd job) and it's so easy it's almost like not working. the people I work with are so fun, it's like hanging out with my friends and getting paid. I get one day off a week, sometimes I can get off early or go in late on my work days.

It's not really ideal, but the financial security is well worth it. AND i made two SUPER good friends and that's worth more than the paycheck i get.

Posted by Justmarried2007    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:14 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

Personally, I would rather adjust my expenses or standard of living rather than adjusting the amount of work I do. What's the point of having a bigger, nicer place when you can't spend any time enjoying it? But that's just me. I guess it could be different if you actually preferred working over spending time at home, leisure activities, etc.

Posted by mr+ms    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:16 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

When I was going to school full time, I also worked 2 jobs, one of which was full time. So for me, working just one job right now is driving me crazy, and I have been trying to get involved in other activities so I am not wasting time. Recently my FI decided to get married and we have a plan to buy a house in 2 years (we live in Southern California where it is also beyond affordable living), so we sat down and worket out our finances. In order to have the wedding we want and the house we want, we need extra income even in light of the recent promotion and raise I received. So I am going to get a second job. I know how you feel, it is a little daunting when you think about spending that much time away from home, doing something you have to do rather than the things you want to do. Really only you can decide if this is the right choice for you. It might help to set a goal for yourself, even if its to be able to afford that gorgeous $200 dress you have been eyeing for the past month. I find it is easier to think about getting another job because I know it will bring me closer to a house, that's my goal. If you think you can do it, that kind of thinking might help push you, and it can be really fun when you find just how much financial freedom even an extra 500 bucks brings you.

Posted by Lvneveryminuteofit    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:45 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

When I was going to school full time, I also worked 2 jobs, one of which was full time. So for me, working just one job right now is driving me crazy, and I have been trying to get involved in other activities so I am not wasting time. Recently my FI decided to get married and we have a plan to buy a house in 2 years (we live in Southern California where it is also beyond affordable living), so we sat down and worket out our finances. In order to have the wedding we want and the house we want, we need extra income even in light of the recent promotion and raise I received. So I am going to get a second job. I know how you feel, it is a little daunting when you think about spending that much time away from home, doing something you have to do rather than the things you want to do. Really only you can decide if this is the right choice for you. It might help to set a goal for yourself, even if its to be able to afford that gorgeous $200 dress you have been eyeing for the past month. I find it is easier to think about getting another job because I know it will bring me closer to a house, that's my goal. If you think you can do it, that kind of thinking might help push you, and it can be really fun when you find just how much financial freedom even an extra 500 bucks brings you.

Posted by Lvneveryminuteofit    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:46 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

I agree with the pp, I would rather make myself a stricter budget than work a second job.  Not only because I live for my days off, but also because it'd help save up money to put towards, say, closing costs on a home purchase that would get me out of the rent rat race.

Posted by ditribal    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:47 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

I worked two jobs for my first few years out of college because one of them was for a retail store (that I worked for while I was still in college) and I didn't want to leave!  To tell you the truth, I miss it.  I loved the clothes and the discount was fantastic and allowed me to be able to buy the things I wanted with money I made from there.  If you love to shop, and it is mainly clothes, then my suggestion would be to work for the store you like to shop at!  I only worked 10-15 hours a week once I started at my other job full time, and because I really liked the people I worked with it was actually a lot of fun.  Some of my very good friends still are girls I met at that job!

Posted by HappyBride2005    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:53 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

I have worked two jobs for as long has i can remember. Only because rent here is like one of my paychecks. Then i moved in with my fiance and kept the 2nd job so that i could pay off his debt from his divorce. I didn't want his debt to keep us from being happy. Plus it won't be forever, right? Also if you don't want a second job, you can always ask for a raise.

Posted by ArmyBride2007    Tuesday, March 06, 2007 3:48 PM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

It all depends.  Do you NEED to have the new clothes at the expense of working all the time? Or are you okay eating PB&J (or in my case, Prgreso Soup) every day for lunch?  With a 4K/month mortgage we are quite strapped. I have my own business, as well as afull-time job (for the steady income).  I realized that when we first moved in to our home I was spending way too much on overpriced furniture at this specific store, so I started working there.  For 1)the piddly extra income and for 2) and more importantly, the DISCOUNT! WOO-HOO!!!  Yeah, so there was a point where it just wasn't worth it anymore and I am so VERY happy only working 40 hour weeks (something I never did in my old job-- try 60-80 hr/wk).  But I would never take back working that other job. I made enough money through my business to pay for a good chunk of the wedding and got enough of a discount to fully furnish (although it's NEVER finished!) the house.  And getting a discount on wedding gifts didn't hurt either.

I'd say, if you are okay with your schedule now, pick up something easy like helping at a florist in the evening or something.  You might get home late a few nights, but you still have your weekends off.  Just make sure you have at least one day to just relax and get things done or you'll go insane.  Trust me. :)

Good luck!! :)

Posted by katie102006    Wednesday, March 07, 2007 5:55 AM


re: 2 Better Than 1?

I live about 20 miles away from NYC in Jersey (Morris County) and the cost of living is no cheaper on this side, so I fel your pain. I recently took on a second job to allow us to save some money and it's worked out surprisingly well. My primary job is 8:30 to 5, my second job is way looser in schedule. It's a freelance writing gig, so I can pretty much set my own schedule. Basically I have a week to write a 4-page B2B newsletter from home. I ALWAYS wait until the last minute to get started, so weekends can be hectic, but - if I were better at time management - I would get it all done in the evenings and have my weekends free.

I'm pretty comfortable with the added work. The money is great - but all of mine is going into savings. I have to wait until next year to gets some gratification out of it. We're going to have about $30,000 to put down on a house when all is said and done.

If you're going to the trouble, stress and hassle of getting a second job, and all you're geting out of it is a pair of boots or a cool handbag, I'd say just find a way to better manage your current finances. But, if you're working toward a big ticket item, like a wedding, houe or baby fund, then a second job can be worth it. Otherwise, I imagine you'll just get burned out by it.

Posted by Leescaddie    Wednesday, March 07, 2007 11:28 AM


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