The Case For Not Getting A Second Job

Are you looking to make more money?  Do you need to get yourself out of debt to avoid debt consolidation and debt relief help?  Are you thinking about getting a second job?  Before you make the move to become a dual-employee, make sure to think about your goals.  Are you getting a second job for a short term gain.  Are you adding extra income at the expense of other life necessities?  Before you choose a second job, keep these 3 things in mind.  I call these 3 points "My Case For Not Getting A Second Job".

1.  A second job takes away from your life.

Life isn't all about work.  I understand getting additional income if you are in serious financial peril.  other than that, I suggest you really evaluate what is important in your life before getting another job.  Think about this:  there are 168 hours in a week, you spend 40 of them working, 56 of them sleeping, and at least 7 of them eating.  This gives you 65 hours per week to shower, run errands, do household chores, entertain yourself and spend time with friends and family.  65 hours per week isn't a whole lot of time, and that amount gets smaller if you take on a second job.  Remember the value of time before you decide on getting a second job.  If you want more income just so you can afford the finer things in life, it might not be worth it. 

2.  A second job can make you worse at your main career.

I am of the school of thought that it could be more valuable to work on the skill set of your current job before getting a new job.  I think that reading, practicing and improving is worth more than some disconnected part time job.  Instead of picking up that job as a bartender or a server for nights and weekends, use that time to make yourself a more valuable employee at your current job.  The more valuable you make yourself, the higher your chances of a promotion or raise.  If you get a promotion or raise, you won't need a second job.  You will be making more money without sacrificing valuable personal time.

3.  A second job makes for difficult transitions.

The first thing a smart person will tell you about a second job is "don't get used to getting income from 2 jobs".  You see, when you start getting 2 incomes, you start getting used to getting 2 incomes.  This can lead to poor spending habits and being wasteful with money.  You think because you have more money, you can spend more money.  In the end, you end up going back to one job and one income but your spending habits stay the same.  This can lead to serious financial problems.