Katie

Ramit, you have about 20 jobs, and you seem to love all of them so it stands to reason that it’s not immediately apparent to you why most people don’t think to get a second job.

More people don’t think about getting two jobs because *sometimes* work just plain sucks. And if you’re already working 8 (or more?) hours per day at your first full time job, the thought of going to another craptastic job and giving up your video games/time with your family/will to live is too much. Not everyone lives to work.

AND not everyone hates their job. But not everyone loves it. With the economy the way it is, we can’t all be choosers. And, if you have a ton of debt and its crushing you, it very well might be time to suck it up and get a second job. If that’s the case, and you also hate that job, my recommendation is to learn some buddhist philosophy about impermanence, suffering and mindfulness because you will need to adjust your mental approach until it becomes possible to change jobs.

But I’m pretty sure that’s why most people don’t want to get a second job.

Julia

I know a lot of people are reluctant about second jobs because they do tend to cut into one’s time.

It all depends, but for a lot of people cutting back and making sacrifices financially may have benefits like having more time for your family or time to research possibilities for financial gain, even if immediate gain is available in the form of a random second job.

Of course, keep in mind I’m a teacher. We have jobs that go far beyond 40 hours a week even if we only get paid for the 40. So that may be a factor for a lot of people putting in “overtime” but not actually getting paid for it…

Nathan

As mentioned, a second job implies something rigid and inflexible that inherently involves more travel, etc. It’s not the work from the second job I oppose, or even the rate of pay, but the fact I am unwilling to schedule myself for 15+ hours away from home everyday. I might not be unwilling to work that much, but I’m certainly unwilling to have it scheduled and have people depending on me to be a specific place that amount of time with regularity.

Other side jobs, consulting, web design, what have you, can be done from home and with some degree of flexible hours. “Get a second job” has only negative connotations.

Ben

Almost everyone has time for a second job. The problem is that most people feel it is beneath them to get a second job that is not “professional”. I see this behaviour a lot among my recently college graduated friends.
“I’m having problems paying the bills on my income”
“Ok, well have you considered getting a serving position on nights and/or weekends?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that, I’m not in high school anymore!”

Excuse me? So I guess it is better struggling to make ends meet than to swallow your pride a little and have some wiggle room. Another problem that arises in this situation is when the sh*t finally hits the fan these kids have discovered how to juggle credit card debt to “prevent” the need for extra income. And you can imagine where that leads….

richerandslimmer.com

Because my first job sometimes takes 12 hours a day, and during those times, going to a second job will be impossible. Also my employer has moon lighting and non-compete clauses that makes it hard to get another job.

phillygrrl

Trying to get my third job at the moment. Sigh. Thanks for the encouragement, Ramit!

Diversity is Key

I believe in diversity.

I have a “real” job I have been at for 9+ years (great benefits – retirement, fully paid medical for myself and family, dental, advanced training, two weeks paid vacation, and great pay (30+/hr) to boot). I have worked my way up.

I am also in the Air National Guard (1 weekend / month – two weeks a year), again great benefits (retirement, medical/dental coverage at reduced prices, training, 100 tuition paid at State colleges) and decent pay (approx $10K/year). I can retire in 4 years. Again, I have worked my way up.

My wife and I also started a small business, employing 17 people. They are busy, and recently voted as the “Best of the Best” in their industry through voting in our local newspaper. The employees are paid commission, receive retirement benefits, training, paid vacation, and health insurance. We took this risk, and it is paying dividends!

Again, diversity is the key.

Is it easy? Actually, it’s not that bad. In fact, I even drive 200 miles to serve my country in the Air National Guard – every month! But, in the end, I have “fun money” and I will have another retirement for my wife and I to enjoy on top of my “real” retirement and our fully-funded IRAs!

The trick, if one flops, I have something else to fall back on.

An added bonus, I bring the best ideas to the other organizations I am involved (diversified) in! Making everyone successful!

And, yes we do have children, and we always have time for them.

Amy

Getting a second job doesn’t have to mean getting another job just like your primary one. For instance, I have a normal 40hr/wk job, but during the spring and fall I coach lacrosse. I certainly don’t consider spending a few hours a week outside playing a drain on time I’d otherwise spend on my ass at home.

Steve.

I worked multiple jobs at a time while in college and the habit did not wear off once I graduated. I was not making much money after graduation so I found a 2nd job at night doing data entry and was able to use that money for vacations and staying out of debt. I did that for about 2 years.

7 years later I was facing a layoff and so I found another similar job working a few hours at night each week. Within a year I was able to pay off my car loan and have about 6 months expenses saved up. Of course I was so prepared that when the layoff finally happened, I had found my next job and did not have to take unemployment.

Meanwhile, many of my former coworkers decided to take 6 months off and live off of their severance and most of them ended up being unemployed for over 1 year and had a hard time finding jobs.

I do have one friend who did the same and took a 2nd job. Well, he transferred to another job in the same company so that he did not have to be laid off. He is still working both jobs 5 years later and enjoys it and has invested his money into rentals. Another 5 years and he will probably be set for life.

The Personal Finance Playbook

My career takes up most of my time. If I have a second job, it’s blogging (though I could make a lot more money spending the time doing something else). I’m a government attorney, and we’re not allowed to freelance/moonlight because of conflicts.

One second job some people might be interested in on a freelance basis that’s coming up is tax preparation. Of course, it’s more competitive than it used to be because the job market isn’t strong. I have more than one friend that has done this from time to time.

Cyn94601

The summer I was sixteen I had three jobs. One during the day at a title insurance company, one at a restaurant week nights and at a kids amusement park on the weekends. I loved it! I felt so useful and alive. I’ve never again had three jobs, but certainly had two very often. I’m a director at a software company and often do freelance projects. It’s often a way to pay for extras and to stay connected in the event that my job disappears.

I will say that I often lived by the concept of money shortages mean you need to make more money. It wasn’t until recently that I focused on actually spending less. May sound silly, but creating money was my way. I do see how I can keep more by focusing also on how I spend it.

andy

I have just picked up my third job; I am 31, I have an energy conservation company which performs energy audits and install energy efficient upgrades. I work for a builder as a project manager negotiating contracts, supervising field employees building new energy effieicent homes. And I just started a third job on weekends I was a nurse in my previous life and just started again to save money to invest in multifamilies.

Robin

I think a lot of people don’t get a second job because the types of jobs that are typically “second” jobs have odd hour requirements. I’ve worked several jobs at once before (I worked 4 once for 4 months or so, it was awful) and it always turns out terribly because the schedule isn’t regular. Jobs like waiting tables or retail schedule you hours and you’re expected to work them, and the hours aren’t always the same. I was once even threated to lose one of my jobs because I was trying to juggle several and when they tried to mess with my schedule at one, it conflicted with my schedule at another. I was spending incredible amounts of time just trying to make sure that I could even make it to each job, and that they didn’t conflict. I would never want to do that again.

Jenn

I think it depends on what you mean by “job” or “consulting gig.” Working two corporate jobs? I don’t think so.

Modeling or acting on the side? Awesome. Freelance writing in your spare time? Great. Teaching a class? Wonderful. Running your own odd jobs business or Etsy store? Fun. Being a personal trainer? Exciting. Running a poker den? Hmmm . . .

Two corporate jobs? You may as well start selling blood.

Rob

I think it’s a social stigma. People don’t want to take a second job because it could be looked down on in their circle of friends. I think this could especially be true for recent grads who are all starting out on a somewhat level income, but who compete for braggings rights (I make $xx,xxx per year now!).

Of course, few people ever got ahead (and rich) by caving into social pressure and doing what everyone else was doing.

Pev

I’d say, instead of getting two jobs – just don’t work at all!!! Focus on building up your skills and talent and the money will soon follow. But I guess I’m not one to speak since I’m not in that type of situation. Here is an article I read about debt that is something to enjoy 4 Gutsy Ways To Get Out of Debt I think we all need a little laughter, even if our situations aren’t very great.

pat

I don’t have a job. I’ve been off work for 7 months, hangin with my son, spending time doing things I want to do. I’ll probably have to find another job eventually, but I’ve got a few more months/years to find something that I’ll like (I hope). But, it’s not like I’m a bum. I paid my dues with 30 years of corporate life. Some was good, some sucked. Never did a good job of “playing the game”, but always made myself valuable enough to not get laid off in 30 years. I have no desire to get back into that kind of rat race, but something part time at something I enjoy would be fine. Don’t know what that is yet. My advice – keep expenses low, work hard, don’t miss any of your family obligations for work, save money, don’t overthink things, be organized, and try to enjoy life while you’re young.

Altestjem

Interesting and communicative, but would be suffering with something more on this topic?

Cheska

I have been working 2 jobs since September 2008. Initially, my motivation wasn’t really money.. A few months before starting working part-time in retail, I had applied for an entry-level merchandising position and the feedback that I got was that I had no retail experience.. So I thought.. hmm.. Why not get a part-time job to get retail experience? I’ve been juggling my 40 hrs/week day job at a non-profit and a part-time job at the mall since then.. My paycheck at the part-time job is direct deposited to my retirement account.. Retail is a little hard at times but I’ve made friends there who make work fun…

@Kat: Sorry to hear about your holiday job hunt. Where I work though, we do have professionals (some have day jobs and some were laid off at their day jobs). I think it just depends where you apply. I think if you target stores that aimed at the working folks like Nordstrom or Bloomingdale’s, they’d be much open to hiring professional women than Abercrombie. Good luck!