Comments on: 10 Ways Working Can Cost You

By: COTC - Carnival of the Capitalists for August 6, 2007

COTC - Carnival of the Capitalists for August 6, 2007 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:25:14 +0000

[...] L. Fontinelle presents 10 Ways Working Can Cost You posted at Saving Advice Blog. Amy says that “taking a full-time job instead of a part-time [...]

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:33:46 +0000

You make some good points. A friend of mine did have a higher-paying job in a location where people were expected to dress up and eat out all the time and otherwise keep up with the Joneses, and she saved much less than when she got paid less at a more casual, less shallow place.

But I’m afraid it costs me nothing extra to work than if I didn’t work. I bring my lunch. Any work travel is paid for by the company. I pay nothing to commute to my job (I have a free bus pass). My clothes cost the same as if I were staying at home (I do still wear clothes at home) because our office is casual. And there are eight hours a day where what I am doing (working) is absolutely free. Sure, I spend a little more on snacks and office gifts than I would if I didn’t work, but then I’d be spending more on my actual friends instead.

Note: there are matinee movies on weekends.

By: princessperky

princessperky — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:43:57 +0000

i find the expenses of lunch with coworkers hard to get around for my husband, and the whole happy hour, he is expected to go spend time with them, ‘networking’ I can’t imagine how on earth we would manage any time if I also had those obligations (though for times he has ignored them when needed, he seems to get more raises when he doesn’t ignore them though)

By: Teri

Teri — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:18:37 +0000

Yeah, but it is true. I already knew this to a large extent as we have hardly ever seen the point of my spouse and I to both work full-time.

However, when I went on maternity leave our expenses dropped even further. Oh sure I expected not to spend much on gas and stuff like that, and we already ate in for all meals beforehand, but I was just amazed at how our general expenses went down. A lot of it isn’t even the stuff you mentioned. & living such a low-stress lifestyle is just priceless for your health.

My spouse’s income really shot us ahead financially but it wasn’t necessary and I find he can bring as much home working on his hobbies as he did working full-time, with A LOT less effort. Not just taxes and daycare but everything we paid for convenience and more sick days from stress, etc., etc.

I think it is a tougher prospect when single and childless, but it can make sense for some.

By: Kikee

Kikee — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:48:00 +0000

WTHeck?!!!? Everyone I personall know, (and NO, I don’t personally know everyone on the planet.) @@ works full-time and NONE of them are salaried. And while it does say this applies to MOST, I think it more accurately applies to SOME.

By: SW

SW — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:14:36 +0000

While I understand what you’re getting at here you’re also forgetting to factor in how experience in a lower netting corporate job can help improve your future earning potential much faster than the hourly job example you give. Whenever you want to advance your financial standing more you will realize you can’t get too far on the hourly job, you will look toward getting a higher salary.

Unless you then get into a salaried restaurant position, your experience will be for naught and you’ll be right where you were before. So unless you can save enough to make up for the difference in salary in your next job you’re better off with the experience (assuming you can still be cash flow positive).