Second jobs

[hhiipp]

Does anyone here work 2 jobs, a full time and then a part time to not really make ends meet, but to keep them comfortable enough to where you don't have to worry about the possibility of having problems in the not too distant future?

A little about my situation - I'm 27, married - wife works full time, 2 young kids 3 & 6 months, mortgage, and bills that just keep coming. Before my oldest was born my wife and I had no problems keeping our savings account at around 7-10k depending on what came up. Around the time she was just about to turn 1, late in 2005, I was hit by a reduction in force and took about $15k/year paycut so that is obviously when the money started to become an issue.

Since then we've continued to chug along, adjusted accordingly, and then came the birth of our second child and all the sudden expenses start to pop up again such as paying for the delivery, the expensive formula (similac alimentum premixed due to allergic reactions), and of course diapers.

Now the money is growing tighter, and the savings account is slowly dwindling down to around 4k and I'm trying to figure out a way to continue living a comfortable lifestyle, just little things like taking my wife out to dinner every now and then, without spending the entire dinner thinking about how many more of those dinners we can enjoy together before the well runs dry.

So I start to consider what frivolous things we may be able to cut from our spending and the only thing outside of cable and internet that we pay for on a monthly basis is our cell phones. I could cut back the amount being placed into my 401k account, but if I cut back any more than 1% I'd be losing out of some of the company match. And really 1% would only be around $15 a check and that would then also get taxed and end up being less. I'm not really coming up with anything here that will ease the financial pain.

The only thing that seems to make sense is trying to find a part time job where I could pick up maybe 10-12 hours a week. Something that won't put a strain on our home life, but will effectively help pay some of the bills. Any tips on things that I may not have looked at to help cut costs? Or tips on what kind of job you'd recommend for those 10-12 hours?

Again, we're not in a sink or swim situation right at this point and I'm feeling that if we can get my truck paid off (16 more payments @ $300/mo) that the problem will regress and things will be back to a more comfortable state but just looking for opinions.

[stevew]

What do you do for your first job? Bartending/waiter would probably pay decent for 10-12 hours a week, as would something like cell phone sales perhaps.

[hhiipp]

I work in an office setting, process payments remitted via mail, answer phones, etc.

[Honolulu_Blue]

A buddy of mine works two jobs like that. He is a parole officer and works part-time at a wine store to make ends meet. It's a lot of work, but he loves his job at the wine store so it makes it easier.

[finkenst]

Have you considered doing something like officiating high school or younger sports events... way back in the day (1988-1992) i would get around $15-20/game which lasted about an hour...

just a thought.

[Draft Dodger]

what is a savings account?

[hhiipp]

Originally Posted by finkenst

Have you considered doing something like officiating high school or younger sports events... way back in the day (1988-1992) i would get around $15-20/game which lasted about an hour...

just a thought.

No, that hadn't crossed my mind. I did some umpiring in the mid 90s at $20 a game, games started at 6 and with 2 games per night would run until after 10 each night also the city pays the umpires in my town and for whatever reason they force you to pay into the citys retirement program? So I'm thinking this wouldn't be a great source of income. I do know one of the heads of the league and may be able to see if any of that has changed since I was involved.

Thanks for your input, something I definately wouldn't have thought of myself.

[korme]

I officiated games for one year and at first it is very nerve racking, but once you get comfortable it is fun, easy, and the pay is great -- all things considered.

[Hammer755]

A second job would almost certainly cut into the time you get to spend with your kids. For me, keeping comfortable financially wouldn't be worth seeing my family less. I work a straight 8-5er (more like 7-6 with commuting) and I only get a few hours with my children each night, so I can't imagine picking up a night job.

If you were struggling to make ends meet, it would be another matter entirely. But doing so just so you can have some extra spending money doesn't seem worth it to me.

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

I officiated games for one year and at first it is very nerve racking, but once you get comfortable it is fun, easy, and the pay is great -- all things considered.

i couldn't have said it better myself. Once the game gets started it's very relaxing.

i personally officiated basketball for 6 years or so.
5 years 4-8th grade
2 years college intramurals
2 years high school reserve/JV

boys, girls, whichever.

Volleyball for one year, flag football for two years,
one softball game (YIKES) - between 5' and 9' on the arc and landed behind the plate = strike. hit the plate = ball.. so take your swings.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Hammer755

A second job would almost certainly cut into the time you get to spend with your kids. For me, keeping comfortable financially wouldn't be worth seeing my family less. I work a straight 8-5er (more like 7-6 with commuting) and I only get a few hours with my children each night, so I can't imagine picking up a night job.

If you were struggling to make ends meet, it would be another matter entirely. But doing so just so you can have some extra spending money doesn't seem worth it to me.

don't know about anybody else but yeah, what he said for me. We don't make much extra although we do put some aside for retirement. Would I like to have more? maybe, but it's not worth it to me...

FM

[airulf]

I work a fulltime job (37 hrs/week in my country) from 6am-2pm. Then more or less twice a week I have a part time job in the Danish counterpart to Walmart from 4pm-9.30pm.

It is not really to make ends meet, although the extra dough is nice. I actually started doing it, to train myself to deal with costumers, something I don't do in my full time job (warehouse/forklift driver).

I am single living in my own appartment. I am kind of saving up so I am able to fix up my place a little. Next up is a new bathroom.

Oh by the way, I also officiate football games, like finkenst suggested you could do, but that is more a hobby of mine, not really a way of income.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by hhiipp

So I start to consider what frivolous things we may be able to cut from our spending and the only thing outside of cable and internet that we pay for on a monthly basis is our cell phones.

No insurance? Power? Water? Credit Cards? Just basic cable? No subscriptions like WoW or Netflix? You don't smoke do you?

What about looking for a package deal on cable/internet?

Looking for cheaper insurances and/or raising the deductible?

Can you carpool or bus to save on gas?

Do you get a tax refund? Might be better to increase your deductions so you get that money per month.

Groceries (other than formula) do you get top brand stuff or off brand? Any Costco's/Sams Club by you? I found alot of things cheaper there in bulk...


As for a 2nd job, if I needed one, I'd try to find one more in line with your interests then it won't seem too much like a second job. (Example, I'd look myself into a hobby store, gamestop, video store type job....)

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

This is going to sound like a CRAZY suggestion considering you're trying to bring in more money, not less....but have you considered either you of your wife staying home with the kids full time?

With two kids I'm assuming they're both in day care, which I know costs a fortune. Not to mention the costs associated with working - gas, lunches, dry cleaning etc. You may find it actually costs money for one of you to work.

Just trying to give you a different perspective.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

have you considered either you of your wife staying home with the kids full time?
With two kids I'm assuming they're both in day care, which I know costs a fortune. Not to mention the costs associated with working - gas, lunches, dry cleaning etc. You may find it actually costs [less] money for one of you to work.

This is the same faulty logic my wife feeds me to justify her staying at home.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

This is the same faulty logic my wife feeds me to justify her staying at home.

Faulty logic? I'm assuming you're referring to your wife's and not mine...

[Lorena]

Oh man, I feel your pain HH, it's a tough, tough situation to be in no doubt especially with 2 kids still in diapers plus formula for the little one.

Have you guys considered applying for WIC for the formula? You have to qualify but saving that money every month over the course of a year adds up big time.

Also like Farrah mentioned, having 2 kids in daycare is ridiculous and I know it runs at least $800.00 in our area and I'm sure it's a lot more for a toodler plus infant.

Plan meals and eat out less, pay cash instead of using a card (it keeps you on check so you don't go over). If you don't already, ain't no shame in clipping coupons.

How much are you spending on entertainment? Maybe cut back a little.

Sometimes you need to get rid of stuff you want but shoot, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for the sake of family.

Oh yeah, are you or your wife impulse shoppers? I had to ask myself, "Do I NEED it or WANT it?" It makes a huge difference.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

This is going to sound like a CRAZY suggestion considering you're trying to bring in more money, not less....but have you considered either you of your wife staying home with the kids full time?

With two kids I'm assuming they're both in day care, which I know costs a fortune. Not to mention the costs associated with working - gas, lunches, dry cleaning etc. You may find it actually costs money for one of you to work.

Just trying to give you a different perspective.

Or, depending on what kind of work you do, one of you can work from home.

[Barkeep49]

I work many jobs and the part time jobs do allow me to live "comfortably" going out for dinner when I want, getting a new video game when the mood hits me, etc. Obviously my lifestyle's a little different as a single person than a married person.

But I couldn't imagine doing all this extra work if I had kids. And that's despite the fact that I REALLY like the part time work that I do. It's interesting, pays well, and I feel like I'm making a positive contribution to society with them (I work as a children's librarian and coach part time).

So is what you ask doable? Yes. Would I encourage someone in your position to do it? I don't think I could in good faith.

EDIT: I would also say that officiating is a great part time gig for someone in your situation. Flexible hours, and at least around here, better pay than what you describe (most basketball officials, for instance, earn about 40 a game which takes about an hour and a quarter, or so).

[Karlifornia]

Well, when money got tight for me, I had to make some really painful cutbacks...like cancelling my bangbus membership. I don't recommend this to you at all though....

[Nugget699]

I work a shift roster, so its night on imposible for me to get a part-time job.

My missus and I met last year when she was over here as a Foreign Exchange student from Finland. She decided to come back out here to go to Uni and be with me.

I'm paying for her learning and shes living with me in a rented apartment. I never used to work nights but see myself doing it more and more often now just so I can hit the AUD$70K mark.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Depending if you have a place near you, I know several people who have worked PT for UPS/FedEx a made nice $$$ as an extra job.

The downside for one of them was, while it was only part-time, they were working an extra 25 hours a week, M-F, like 5-10 or so. So while he was making nice $$$, he was beat, and in the end, they didn't really "enjoy" the extra money, since weekends were for catching up on sleep.

And with two little ones, you are probably doing enough of that already

[stevew]

Neither of you can move to second shift, or get a second shift job in the same field? You'd be able to save a lot of daycare expenses that way.

[CleBrownsfan]

I work on Sundays at a micro brew & make around $160 (not inluding my $5.50/hr wage) working about 9-10 hours. I'm also a high school umpire - we make $55 a game and I probably ump 20-25 games a year. Not bad part-time jobs that pay well and not work ton of hours...

[JeeberD]

What, do you do tours of the brewery and you make that cash in tips or something?

Edit: Or do you mean a brew-pub and you bartend/wait tables?

[CleBrownsfan]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

What, do you do tours of the brewery and you make that cash in tips or something?

Edit: Or do you mean a brew-pub and you bartend/wait tables?

tend bar...

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by finkenst

Have you considered doing something like officiating high school or younger sports events... way back in the day (1988-1992) i would get around $15-20/game which lasted about an hour...

just a thought.

I do this during the football season. For varsity games i get $80 a game and for Freshman and JV i get $45. Including varsity I get about 3 or 4 games a week. Either this year or next I am going to start doing college games.

Basketball is good to get into. You can officiate a bunch of grade school games and get $40-$45 a game and it is only an hour's work.

[johnnyshaka]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

This is going to sound like a CRAZY suggestion considering you're trying to bring in more money, not less....but have you considered either you of your wife staying home with the kids full time?

With two kids I'm assuming they're both in day care, which I know costs a fortune. Not to mention the costs associated with working - gas, lunches, dry cleaning etc. You may find it actually costs money for one of you to work.

Just trying to give you a different perspective.

This is what my wife and I have decided to do. Before our first child was born we sat down and went through all the numbers and figured that, financially, we would be just about on the same page if she were to go back part-time and working about what equates to 1 day a week instead of full-time.

[bob]

Here's an online calculator that helps you decide if it is "worth" it to have both parents work or not:

http://www.parents.com/app/stayathomecalculator/

[hhiipp]

Sorry I'm kind of limited on the times when I can catch up on the site, so I'll try to answer all the questions asked.

Mustang - Not sure what you're asking about the insurance we do have car, life, health, and home insurance. Cable we just have the package that includes all the digital channels, no HD or DVR service. Credit card we pay in full each month as it comes in I refuse to pay finance charges. No monthly gaming or movie deals. And neither of us is a smoker.

I work for one of the cable companys in my area so actually get a small discount and bundling wouldn't help my price.

Did raise the deductable on our home/car insurance this year, which saved about $200/yr.

Carpooling may be an option for me with a neighbor but would be out of the question for my wife, but my job is only about 10 minutes away so the savings wouldn't outweigh the possible inconviences of not having a vehicle right after work if for some reason my wife needs me to pick up the kids.

I have contemplated changing my tax claims but haven't gone thru with this yet, I do always get a refund.

Groceries over the last year or so we've started to buy almost exclusively the offbrand things for most of our purchases. And do buy in bulk at Sams Club what we can.

Farrah - My inlaws actually keep the kids during the day, we are going to start sending our daughter to a daycare/preschool 2 days a week before long at $24/day but the money my wife makes still outweighs the advantages of her staying home with the kids.

Dodgerchick - My mom actually works for WIC and while I'd love to take advantage of the services, we don't qualify. We do the coupon thing a little, but as stated to Mustang we try to buy offbrand products as much as possible, without sacrificing taste . We have no real entertainment costs, going out to eat maybe 2x a month, don't go to movies, don't rent movies (yeah we're really exciting). As far as impulse shopping for the most part not really, but if I could keep my wife out of Walmart we'd definately have more money.

Karl - Unfortunately I already cancelled that one, but I'm not giving up my rectal rooter account.

stevew - Daycare expenses fortunately for us aren't killing us, so the shift move wouldn't effect us in a financial way.

Thanks for all your input, I enjoy having different perspectives and cost cutting ideas.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by hhiipp

...but if I could keep my wife out of Walmart we'd definately have more money.

Don't I know that is true. I about have a heart attack after every trip my wife makes to that place.....

[RomaGoth]

I completely understand where you are coming from. We have 3 children, and the youngest is 6 months old now. The oldest is 6, and the middle one is 2 1/2. Diapers and wipes are killing our bank account, and that is before the youngest is even on formula yet. She is eating baby food but hates a bottle, so.....

My wife stays home and runs a daycare, but she is looking to go back to work next fall. Some of the kids she is caring for are having new brothers/sisters, and the mothers are staying home, thus less $$ for her this summer/fall. Daycare is so damn expensive though, so I will probably stay home and work part time to get classroom experience this fall while my wife works as a new teacher. She has her degree, while I am 2 semesters from mine and I need the experience but cannot get it while I am working at my current job.

I recommend you do not cut back on your 401k. You will end up regretting it in 20 years or so due to inflation and all that good stuff. I am putting 5% of my income in 3 different retirement accounts, so essentially I am deducting 15% of my pre-tax income into retirement funds. You should seriously claim more exemptions on your W-2 as one way to save money. It might not be much, but you should still notice the difference. I only claim 2, but I may change it soon.

One final thought: when your youngest is older and out of diapers and off formula, you will see a lot more money in your account again. So just remember that some of the financial crunch is just temporary. The only thing after that is clothing. My son puts holes in the knees of his pants the same day we buy them for him. But it is still cheaper than diapers.

[Balldog]

I'd seriously consider the reffing jobs, you can make some really good money. I know you said you didn't care for the city pay, etc. If you can get into High School and Junior High officiating you can make a lot more.

My father-in-law and I have been talking about officiating volleyball, its easy (by far the easiest) and good money.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Balldog

My father-in-law and I have been talking about officiating volleyball, its easy (by far the easiest) and good money.

Do you have to have special training for reffing recreational sports? I have been coaching my son's teams the last few years, but am curious what is required to ref the games....

[Coffee Warlord]

Ya know, you guys kind of made me start looking into getting an official's license.

Just looked it up, it's ridiculously easy to get certifed in Illinois.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Ya know, you guys kind of made me start looking into getting an official's license.

Just looked it up, it's ridiculously easy to get certifed in Illinois.

Yeah I'd seen that even before this discussion. But to then really get certified appears to be harder in that you need on the job training. Not sure how you go about doing that.

[Dr. Sak]

In Pennsylvania you just have to pass a test. 100 true and false questions in which you need to get at least 75 correct to get a license. I took it for football. Then you have to attended some mandatory local chapter meetings where you learn mechanics and sharpen your knowledge on skills.

But to get to the varsity level is a bit harder. You have to cut your teeth so to speaking doing grade school, JV, and freshman games. Then hope that someone acknowledges it by giving you a few shots to join a crew for Varsity games.

I got extremely lucky. I got my license in 2005, did a total of 8 JV and Freshman games. Got asked to join a crew in 2006 doing Quad A football games (highest classification in PA) and hopefully in the next year or two I will be doing college ball.

It all depends on how much effort you want to put in it. Some guys just do it for fun and just want to officiate the younger kids...others take it real serious and have high hopes. Either way it is a lot of fun. Much better than dealing with parents who dont know the rules instead you just deal with coaches who don't know the rules. Which as a number, is much less.

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Do you have to have special training for reffing recreational sports? I have been coaching my son's teams the last few years, but am curious what is required to ref the games....

In Ohio, for baseball, all you have to do is go to 4 coaches/umps meetings. They are usually one night a week for 6 weeks, you just go to any 4 and boom you can ump. The meetings usually cover rules of emphasis and safety items.

Its quite sad actually.

Anyhow, after those meetings usually coaches will hand out schedules and ask for umps to sign up. I'd assume it works the same for other sports. The thing that sucks about baseball is you have to buy the equipment but you can make great money. $40/night and $80/DH on weekends. Umping baseball can be pretty difficult though, I think its the toughest.

[Carman Bulldog]

I haven't read all the posts, and this is an off-shoot of officiating, but do you have any skills to where you could be an instructor for any sort of organization.

For instance, in Canada we have St. Johns Ambulance, which delivers CPR and First Aid courses. You need to take a few days of training (on top of what people normally take to get certification for those courses) and then you can instruct them. Things like this would likely be the odd weekend day and they usually pay a decent honorarium.

Another option is being a facilitator for coaching/officiating clinics through your state sport organization. Again, being in Canada might be different, but there is usually an opportunity to instruct coaching/officiating courses on the weekend and receive a decent honorarium there.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by bsak16

I got extremely lucky. I got my license in 2005, did a total of 8 JV and Freshman games. Got asked to join a crew in 2006 doing Quad A football games (highest classification in PA) and hopefully in the next year or two I will be doing college ball.

Hey, does that mean I might see you doing Seton Hill games? Could I slip you a couple of bucks to sway some calls toward the Griffins' favor? Hook a brother up, man.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Hey, does that mean I might see you doing Seton Hill games? Could I slip you a couple of bucks to sway some calls toward the Griffins' favor? Hook a brother up, man.

Last spring I was the Line Judge for their Spring game.

I assume I'd start out in Division 2 or 3 so there is a good possibility I could do a Seton Hill game.

[GoldenEagle]

Youth baseball has exploded. Depending on your location, if you can umpire a USSAA tournament, you can big money on the weekends. I can make anywhere from $300-$400 every weekend. Sure, you have to give up your weekend but during the week you are at home with your family and are usually done by 8 or 9 on Sat. night and 5 to 6 on Sunday night.

[14ers]

Stearing this thread back to the original topic: I am very surprised that this internet community has not mentioned a single home based business idea.


From watching all those info-mercials at 2AM, I thought everyone was making thousands by running a partime business out of their homes nowdays. No one here making money on ebay?

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by 14ers

Stearing this thread back to the original topic: I am very surprised that this internet community has not mentioned a single home based business idea.


From watching all those info-mercials at 2AM, I thought everyone was making thousands by running a partime business out of their homes nowdays. No one here making money on ebay?

No. We're all selling Erik Estrada's (from CHiPs) swampland in Arkansas!

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by hhiipp

late in 2005, I was hit by a reduction in force and took about $15k/year paycut so that is obviously when the money started to become an issue.

This may be a stupid question but since you didn't say anything about it and no one has asked yet, I'll just go ahead and throw it out there.

Have you and are you looking for a better paying full-time job? If the place I worked for made a significant cut into what I was making, I would probably have been out of there. If one place paid $X/year for what you do, I'd imagine there are other places that would pay you the same, unless the place you work for happened to be the one and only place that paid $15k/year over what everyone pays for the same job.

[Schmidty]

I've only read the first post, but although I don't technically work 2 jobs, I kind of do. I work a full-time night job so that I can watch my daughter during the day while my wife works. It's hard as hell physically, but it saves $500 a month in daycare, and I have time at work to do homework.

So yeah, I kind of think I do work two jobs.

[14ers]

Come on, isn't anyone out there making money at home by stuffing envelopes?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by 14ers

Come on, isn't anyone out there making money at home by stuffing envelopes?

i used to make money stuffing white bitches, but after i got married, my wife put a stop to that shit

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by finkenst

Have you considered doing something like officiating high school or younger sports events... way back in the day (1988-1992) i would get around $15-20/game which lasted about an hour...

just a thought.

I'm a certified high school football official. If you have flexibility you can make some money.

JV games pay about $50. Varsity games pay about $80.

The real money is made for me on Sundays during the season. 9AM-3PM pays $240 in cash.

None of the money is taxed as long as you don't earn too much from any one place.

At least here the non-basketball boards are crying for help. Baseball and Football boards are dying for people.

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Last spring I was the Line Judge for their Spring game.

I assume I'd start out in Division 2 or 3 so there is a good possibility I could do a Seton Hill game.

Line Judge is easily my favorite position. If I never do another game as a Linesman I will be thrilled. My varsity schedule this year was split between LJ and U. I don't love it in the middle, but I hate the chains.