Anyone here work a second job?

My friend, I have a lot of projects, but right now their on hold. My wife works a full time job pulling about 30 hours a week. I work full time security, part time sales at a surplus store, and have my own radio show. Right now, we're making things meet. Later, this will be for the profits. Getting rich slowly. If anyone wants to sponsor a talk radio show, hit me up. That means you, Suddards.

I agree with expanding on the "electrician" side. That should offer you the most amount of money for the least amount of effort. Are you licensed? If not - invest in getting one. I knew a guy who was a 3rd generation maintenance electrician at a local chemical plant. He finally broke out on his own and was much happier for it, and was still doing contract work for his former employer. He started out by doing side jobs while still working full-time.

This does make sense, but is a slippery slope to walk.

We do have to sign conflict of interest forms, and if word gets out I'm doing side work that will put me on managements radar, which I don't want. Mainly because many before me have taken equipment and materials home that belong to the U. Duh!

Another angle here to consider is we are union employees. Again, if word gets out I'm running side work that could have very negative consequences as well.

Besides, I already know how to be an electrician. Something different would be fun!

JohnRW1621 wrote: With a skill like Electrician, I would think there are other second job options that might be more lucrative than $10 per hour. Could you be a back-up man for an electrical contractor? You know, a guy to call when the workload exceeds the standard employee load.

I wonder how I could score such a gig. I will research this...

NOHOME wrote: Here is a tip I learned about... Been playing with MGs for 40 years. Working on other peoples MGs pays $30/hour. Cash. Not that I would ever do such a thing, but just saying. Paid to play is better than pay to play any day.

Once I get going I'm pretty good.

I'm not sure how not having days off would affect me though.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Whats your energy level like? If you are one of those no-sleep people, it may work out fine. I suffer from this: If I work enough extra to have lots of money to put my skills to work, I don't have the time to do use them, because I'm sleeping.

I do have a journeyman's license. I'm eligible to go for my master's as of this month.

Ian F wrote: I agree with expanding on the "electrician" side. That should offer you the most amount of money for the least amount of effort. Are you licensed? If not - invest in getting one. I knew a guy who was a 3rd generation maintenance electrician at a local chemical plant. He finally broke out on his own and was much happier for it, and was still doing contract work for his former employer. He started out by doing side jobs while still working full-time.

Good advice.

I wondered how they would treat their employees.

And I didn't think of the climate!

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I guess it depends on the company, but I worked for Discount Tire for a couple months. Long story into why I quit, but just be careful with if they try to up your hours. If you deny it, they may want to terminate you. Like I said, depends on the company and the management. Just like Mmadness said, some places are really fast paced, Saturdays especially. If you can deal with the climate, you'll be fine. Discount always had the doors open. Luckily you could wear shorts in the summer and they provided gloves in the winter. There were great benefits too, so hopefully that can work to your advantage.

Hey Sper!

I'm glad your show is going strong!

Your situation sounds very much like mine...

N Sperlo wrote: My friend, I have a lot of projects, but right now their on hold. My wife works a full time job pulling about 30 hours a week. I work full time security, part time sales at a surplus store, and have my own radio show. Right now, we're making things meet. Later, this will be for the profits. Getting rich slowly. If anyone wants to sponsor a talk radio show, hit me up. That means you, Suddards.

I would like to get a second job but I can barely stay in the top 20 here as it is.

In reply to paranoid_android74:

I appreciate the support.

I know enough union electricians (ibew) that have multiple side jobs, that I wouldnt personally rule that out.

Might be worth finding someone to just keep you off books to keep thenpaper trail short. (Ps: while still reporting that income to the irs of course)

You are right, there are those that do it successfully.

Around here though the only time it's deemed acceptable is when you've been on the book for a long time and you need they money. It's complicated and I don't know the whole process. See I'm an exception because I'm an IBEW member, but I don't work out of the hall.

Paul_VR6 wrote: I know enough union electricians (ibew) that have multiple side jobs, that I wouldnt personally rule that out. Might be worth finding someone to just keep you off books to keep thenpaper trail short. (Ps: while still reporting that income to the irs of course)

Almost my entire time enlisted, I had a seond job. Usually for the same reasons you losted. Cars is expensive and I like them.

But, here are a few of the hidden expenses you don't see coming. You are going to spend more money eating. You will expend mor energy, and if the hours start to infere with your sleep patterns, your body responds with a desire for more calories. So you end up grabbing a burger from that drive through window or a taco from this one. Not so much as you blow all of you money, but enough that you notice. Plus more coffe/Red Bull/ whatever you use for caffiene.

Taxes. You might unintenionally move yourself into a higher bracket. That means you are paying a higher percentage of your main income in taxes, and that has to be supplemented with the additional income from your part time gig, which kinda defeats the purpose. You of course won't figure this out until March when you see what you owe, or how little your are getting back.

Again, I did this for the better part of 7 years, and I really got sick of it. I never had any time, which is almost as bad as not having enough money. I felt like I was always on the go. It grinds on you after a time. Grabted I was also usually taking classes as well.

Its worse if you actually have a work ethic, becuase you stand out and get scheduled more, and as was mentioned, if you push back, you might stop being scheduled. Lost a few jobs becuase they didn't understand the concept of part time.

You and the missus working 2 jobs will cut into your together time and that will have an affect on your relationship. So if you go that route, you need to make it a piont to go visit her when she is working, if only to stop by, make sure she has had a chance for dinner (it she doesn't wait tables at a resturaunt) or literally just spend her break together.

I am old now, and can't get behind the idea. But when I was younger and didn't have a 2nd job I felt like I was wasting time. My wife had three jobs when we met and had a real hard time wrapping her mind around not needing to work 80 hours a week.

It can be done, and done well. Just recognize the pitfalls and you can aviod most of them.

Good luck

^ well said (and the enlisted curse) Much the same for most of my enlisted career. At times I don't think I could motivate myself to take on a 2nd job these days, then I remember I'm starting a business in my "spare time" so I guess I do have a 2nd job, but it's easier to take the day off if I'm exhausted.

No, never considered it. I'd rather have less money then no time.

I'm now considering going back for my Master's, which will essentially be a part-time job. But I'm not sure if I want the commitment.

Thank you for that input Mental. Those are all very important points, most of which I hadn't considered.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all...

Mental wrote: Almost my entire time enlisted, I had a seond job. Usually for the same reasons you losted. Cars is expensive and I like them. But, here are a few of the hidden expenses you don't see coming. You are going to spend more money eating. You will expend mor energy, and if the hours start to infere with your sleep patterns, your body responds with a desire for more calories. So you end up grabbing a burger from that drive through window or a taco from this one. Not so much as you blow all of you money, but enough that you notice. Plus more coffe/Red Bull/ whatever you use for caffiene. Taxes. You might unintenionally move yourself into a higher bracket. That means you are paying a higher percentage of your main income in taxes, and that has to be supplemented with the additional income from your part time gig, which kinda defeats the purpose. You of course won't figure this out until March when you see what you owe, or how little your are getting back. Again, I did this for the better part of 7 years, and I really got sick of it. I never had any time, which is almost as bad as not having enough money. I felt like I was always on the go. It grinds on you after a time. Grabted I was also usually taking classes as well. Its worse if you actually have a work ethic, becuase you stand out and get scheduled more, and as was mentioned, if you push back, you might stop being scheduled. Lost a few jobs becuase they didn't understand the concept of part time. You and the missus working 2 jobs will cut into your together time and that will have an affect on your relationship. So if you go that route, you need to make it a piont to go visit her when she is working, if only to stop by, make sure she has had a chance for dinner (it she doesn't wait tables at a resturaunt) or literally just spend her break together. I am old now, and can't get behind the idea. But when I was younger and didn't have a 2nd job I felt like I was wasting time. My wife had three jobs when we met and had a real hard time wrapping her mind around not needing to work 80 hours a week. It can be done, and done well. Just recognize the pitfalls and you can aviod most of them. Good luck