The cost of a second job

[annibe11e]

I just finished a seasonal part time job. I didn't end up with as much extra money as I'd hoped.

For one thing, I never had time to cook (except the weekends, but I was exhausted and didn't) so I bought some quick meals which cost more than the food I usually buy and prepare. I had an hour a day between my day job and my night job. It was just enough time to get home, change, grab food, and get to the other job. I also got in the habit of grabbing an espresso between jobs. I live above a coffee shop, so that's a constant temptation that I justified because I was exhausted. Sometimes I was running late and didn't eat at all, which led to an after work binge at Taco Bell on more than one occasion.

In addition to extra food costs, I also know that when this income is added to my regular income, I will not have had enough taken out as income tax. That's not really a cost of my second job as that has to be paid whether I do it through payroll deduction or sending a check with my tax return. It's just something to think about in the future.

There was also the extra gas to get across town. All in all, I came out ahead, but with better planning, I could have come out better.

I'm considering taking another second job at a ski hill and this time I want to plan. What other costs might one incur while working an extra job?

[NetSkyBlue]

Additional gas used while driving to the second location, additional laundry expenses if you have to wear a different outfit. For my 2nd job, I had to wear a uniform shirt which got dirty due to the work, and had to be washed between working. I had two of them, but still ended up doing more laundry than I otherwise would have, to make sure I had clean work clothes.

Speaking of gas - I just watched a MythBusters that proved we use more gas when driving stressed, so if an additional job stresses you out, you might be using even more gas on your regular commute.

I did "plan" my dinners the same way as my lunches, get something pre-packed ahead of time, so it would be ready when I got home. Usually leftovers from the couple of nights a week when I was off and did have time to cook, just individually portioned into so many more meals.

[hamchan]

I've had many of the same issues. Plus when you commute by bus you get used to the fact that it takes at least an hour to get almost anywhere that you couldn't have just walked to in the first place. So that takes a lot of hours out of my day.

I have come to rely heavily on sandwiches, whole pieces of fruit, trail mix and yogurt. Things I can easily grab and throw into a bag in a bleary sleep haze, and can also eat on the bus or while walking if need be.

[bjl584]

I work a part time job. The only real costs are the little bit of extra gas that I use, some wear and some tear on my vehicle. I brown bag my lunch, and I'd have to eat anyway even if I wasn't working, so I can't really count food costs. The only other factor is my time. I could, in theory, be doing something else with that 15 to 20 hours a week I'm working.

[Wino]

Have you tried preparing your food for both jobs before the first job? That way, nothing to make when rushed, and still cheaper. I use a crock pot to make quantities while I'm at work, and I freeze a lot of it. When I don't want to cook, I raid the freezer.

[JulieAlbright]

Been there, done that.

I recommend you get in the habit of keeping a supply of food with you. Granola bars, nuts, dried fruit etc. I think I might have stolen this phrase from MrMoneyMustache but eat from your backpack, not restaurants. People get into the habit of thinking that "meals" have to be cooked to be healthy, but you really can do well with things that can fit in your backpack and be carried around. Raw carrots and boxes of raisins are great. I also carried tea bags and even measured out small servings of instant coffee. I had access to a microwave so making what was at least a coffee-like substance was enough to get me past the Starbucks without buying.

The cost for me was mostly physical. Exhaustion. No time to do much. Keeping up with laundry and keeping the bathroom above health risk standards was about the limit of my energy.

But the extra money was great.