More Work = More Play?

"Master Cylinder" (mastercylinder28)
03/11/2016 at 07:42 • Filed to: None

So my old boss contacted me recently to see if I am interested in working for him on a part-time basis to help him deal with a bunch of extra work he got recently. I already have a regular 9-to-5 (well, 7:30-to-5, but the point is I already have a full-time gig), so this would be after hours, working from home. I have done it before and, while the extra cash was great, coming home from work just to go back to work was decidedly not great.

The catch is that he has offered quite a bit more than what he was paying last time. As in, forty bucks an hour for 10-15 hours of work per week. That would give me a pretty solid chunk of extra money to save (haha, just kidding, I’d blow it all on car parts and motorcycles), but it would really increase my stress levels at a time when I’m already dealing with a fairly heaping helping of shit.

My first reaction is to turn it down, but it may be worth it in the long run to build up those extra resources. I have a sizeable student loan payment, my wife and I are thinking of buying a new house in a year or two, and it would be really nice to actually be able to save some money.

Or, that kind of extra dosh would easily cover the payments on a new Focus RS (plus the pounding my insurance would give me for buying it).

DISCUSSION (24)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 07:46

I found it to be a pain in the ass. I still do a good amount of side work, but for an old boss seemed to be worse. I cant wait to be able to stop.

bob and john > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 07:46

ud be surprised. that extra work means youh ave less time to play.

but that IS an extra 400-600$ a week. might be worth it.

Master Cylinder > bob and john
03/11/2016 at 07:49

Yeah, I’ve done it before and it was OK for a little while but after about 8 months of working 50-60 hours a week I was pretty tired of it. I’m pretty lazy by nature and I really value my free time.

That said, I also really value sweet, sweet cars and bikes. Which, sadly, tend to require a decent chunk of money.

Master Cylinder > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/11/2016 at 07:51

This would be the fourth time I’ve gone back to work for him, haha. He’s a nice guy and we get along well, so fortunately that’s not part of the consideration. I just dunno if I want to take that extra stress on yet again.

bob and john > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 07:53

dude, so do I. if i could, i’ve be working pretty fucking flat out at that pay rate (think something like 75 hours a week) just to buy bikes (and maybe a car)

that said, id probably only do it for a couple of months then take some time off to actually enjoy said machines.

jariten1781 > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 07:54

I always do extra work when it's available. I do actually invest it though. Right now I've got my planned assets ready for a target retirement date at 52 and any time I pick up extra dough I can move it left. Goal is to get it down to 45...

KatzManDu > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 07:55

If you have the discipline for it, maybe. Otherwise you can burn yourself out easily and be in worse shape than you think.

Arrivederci > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 08:37

I’d love an extra $400-600 per week. Think I’d take it until I couldn’t deal with it any longer and then tell him to fuck off. At least by then you might make it a month and have an extra $1600-2400 in your savings.

Dru > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 08:51

Do it. As long as you can stand it anyway. My grandpa always said you have to make the money when you can, because there might come a time when you can't.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 08:56

How long is this extra work for? If it’s for a month then hell yeah. You can stomach extra hours for a month without much of an impact.

If it's a longer term thing, can you cut down your hours at the other job so you end up with more for the same amount? Bit risky though...

Sweet Trav > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 08:57

I would ask the question, do you ever take your work home from your 9-5? Is there travel involved in your day job? How long of a duration of a part time job is it?

Those are all questions I would ask.

Master Cylinder > Sweet Trav
03/11/2016 at 09:06

I don’t usually have to take work home and travel is fairly infrequent. I think this would just be a short-term deal but I will be asking to find out.

Sweet Trav > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 09:09

If you can bust your ass for 3-4 months and walk away with some cheddar, you should do it.

Master Cylinder > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/11/2016 at 09:09

I’m assuming it’s short term to help him cover an overflow of work, but I would have to confirm that first I guess.

I’m thinking I could probably stomach it for 3-4 months before it gets to be too draining.

Probably would be worth it for an extra 5-7 grand over that period.

Master Cylinder > Dru
03/11/2016 at 09:11

That’s a good point. My current job is about as secure as you can ask for, but you never know. And opportunities for extra money through overtime never come along here. Even bonuses are pretty rare.

Adding a couple grand to my emergency fund would probably be a smart idea.

Master Cylinder > jariten1781
03/11/2016 at 09:13

That would be the smart thing to do. I am currently targeting retirement at 60. It would be outstanding to bring that forward a few years.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 09:17

That is a healthy sum of cash...

If I was in that situation I’d be sorely sorely tempted to go for it, but would probably decline. That’s only because I’m the worlds busiest man with projects though! I could really do with that amount of money!

You could say 'I'll ask him. If it's more than 4 months I'll decline, if it's less then I'll go for it and buy myself something nice' :)

Ash78, voting early and often > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 09:19

I just got a sweet gig working from home (after 15 years in the workforce and a reasonable amount of subject-matter expertise) and my previous employer is already hinting that they might need me on a consulting basis. Nothing formal, but I'm sort of weighing the same thing — but my hours from 5-9pm are mainly for family stuff, so any "contract" work would have to be done between other tasks or late at night. Sometimes the tradeoffs just aren't worth it, though...ask yourself how you spend your evening hours now. And question whether your wife would feel totally ignored. But it's hard to argue with economics — just make sure she's on board!

Funktheduck > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 09:19

Do it. It’s already been mentioned but you should always take up extra money when you can. But, don’t spend it. Open up a separate savings account and dump all the money you earn into it. If you have to, have your wife open up the account in her name if you know you’ll spend it and she won’t. Then, if an emergency pops up, you’ll be good.

Other options for extra money: house down payment, retirement fund, emergency fund (as mentioned), warranty fund (save yourself money by not buying extended warranties), vacation fund, future child fund, and I'm out of ideas for the moment.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 09:29

Sounds like it’s a short term need to cover some extra workload. Short term struggles for long term gains sounds positive to me.

JustJim > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 10:13

Depends on your priorities. If you are young and single, do it and save that extra money. If you are say 35 or older and have a family will the “extra” money be worth time loss with loved ones? If you are over 40 and single I say do it and put the money into retirement fund.

BeaterGT > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 10:20

I would definitely do it; that’s a lot of extra money to earn. Just don’t burn yourself out!

E92M3 > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 10:21

Fourty bucks an hour? That’s good for a PT job.

Dru > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 11:05

Totally agree. If I could find a way to bolster my own emergency funds right now I totally would.