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Why Having Two Jobs Pays Off

  April 29

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Bath, EnglandIn a sudden burst of organizing prowess, I deleted about 2,000 messages from my inbox this past weekend. These messages, I’m ashamed to say, took me all the way back to my college days. They were far overdue for a cleaning!

Amid countless messages from the hubs who was trying to explain physics to me, I also found a few gems, and I was reminded of how long I’ve been playing this game of sure-why-not-lets-have-two-jobs.

When I was in college, I worked at a scrapbook store for the awesome rate of $8 an hour. I thought this was was pretty cool, especially because I could buy a bunch of scrapbooking supplies for a discounted rate (which I later sold on Craigslist once I gave up scrapbooking.) But, it was nothing compared to the killing I made at $15 per ballet class I taught. Today, I look back and see how much prep work I had to do to actually teach that dance class, and I realize that my per-hour rate was pretty low.

I found this e-mail that I sent to one of my professors, which I thought was kind of interesting. I apparently had to make up a quiz but was too busy working to actually take it:

Hey Professor – I wanted to speak with you after the test and tell you that I had work today, and I have work tomorrow right after school and still will not have an opportunity to take the quiz until Monday. I am fully prepared for it. I just do not have many 20 minute time slots available because I have two jobs. I certainly hope that I can take it on Monday, and that it will be fine with you.

Did you like that language? I “certainly hope!” A little pushy, no?

Just when I was beating myself up for never taking a break, like ever, I also came across this e-mail, which was a part of my scholarship application to a study abroad program at Cambridge.

Studying abroad would be a pivotal and integral moment in my college career and something I have wanted to experience for a very long time. Β The only way I can attend the Cambridge program is to fund myself. Anticipating that I wanted to attend a summer program, I have been diligently saving money. I have two part time jobs in addition to going to school full time. Still, I am not sure that my savings and current paychecks will be enough to cover the whole cost of the program. I am willing to do anything to have the opportunity to go to Cambridge. Thus, I sincerely appreciate your consideration for a scholarship to the Cambridge Program and give you my assurance that I would truly benefit from it and would give every best effort to make it a memorable and meaningful experience.

This e-mail actually enabled me to go to Cambridge, and I’m forever grateful to the study abroad program at my alma mater, William and Mary, for funding one of the greatest experiences of my life. With two scholarships combined, one from the Study Abroad office and one from a William and Mary alumni, I received $5,000 to take two English classes at Cambridge during the summer after my Junior year of college.

That’s me punting down the River Cam:

Punting Down The River Cam

And rowing a boat like a boss:

Cambridge University

Its funny; today – 5 years later – I’m still running home from my 9-5 to log online and finish up my freelancing duties. I don’t have to do this, just like I didn’t exactly have work two jobs in college. In fact, there were many times when my mom encouraged me to do my schoolwork and to stop working so I wouldn’t be so stressed out.

Yet, it’s just the way I am. I like to stay busy. I like to work. I like to create opportunities to do cool things. I like to make an income for myself so I don’t have to ask for things. It’s just me.

Like I said in the title of this post, sometimes having two jobs pays off. It gives you a safety net if the first one falls through. It gives you some extra income so you can travel, buy a house, and pay off debt. Sometimes, it also shows others that you are a responsible 20 year old and worth giving the opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience.

Do you have two jobs? If so, what do you do, and how do you balance your time? Also, if you liked this post, please subscribe to read the latest!

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58 responses to “Why Having Two Jobs Pays Off

  1. Great post! I enjoy being busy all the time. I guess you could say that I have multiple jobs. I have my day job as an analyst, then I blog and write also.

  2. I have two jobs, but there are many days now that I just wish I had one. With my son being born 4 months ago, I am trying to find ways to get my wife to stay home with him. I would love to be able to provide that for her, but there are just not enough hours in the day.

    1. I can relate to not having enough hours in the day. You are doing a great job, and you have a fantastic blog! Keep rocking it out, Grayson!

  3. As always, I’m impressed by your commitment. I don’t think I’ve ever had two jobs, unless you count the fact that I work full time and raise two kids. πŸ™‚

    1. Thanks, and I DEFINITELY count the fact that you’re a mom!! I don’t have kids, and I’m sure when I do, something will have to give!

  4. I have thought about getting a second job…but I know that I really couldn’t do it. I work full-time, have a marriage, and a toddler. I also am in school full-time…and rarely have a full weekend off due to church responsiblities. I jus couldn’t…KUDOS to you!

    1. It sounds like you definitely have SEVERAL jobs. You forget, I don’t have kids (yet!) πŸ˜‰ You are doing awesome!

      1. Thanks…but I always look at other people…especially single moms. They do it all the time. You always hear those success stories of women who work 3 jobs, have 4 kids, and got their masters degree in engineering!
        It’s crazy…but I guess it’s possible

        1. Ha that is crazy. For sure, it’s possible, but we all owe it to ourselves to have a little bit of “me” time too!

  5. Great post. I run a side business doing software coding and actually make more money from my side bizz than my full time job. That’s the way to go sometimes πŸ™‚

  6. My two jobs are both sort of flexible, so when I have more time I make more, but when I need some time off I can just do it. That’s cool you got to study abroad! I really wish I would have done that.

    1. Yeah it was a good experience, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help.

  7. Wow, 2,000 emails! Sadly, I think I probably have close to that as well. I don’t know that I have two jobs…but running our business and keeping up with the blog definitely means I have the hours of two jobs. It’s very rewarding though and enjoy it for the most part. Now, I just need to find that magical 26 hour day. πŸ˜‰

    1. Haha I know, right? The blog is definitely a job! As you know, it’s a lot of work but so worth it! πŸ˜€

  8. If you have to work two jobs, then you have to work two jobs. Sometimes it happens. I sometimes have to take on mutlipel jobs or sources of income, and I always prefer not to, but sometimes there’s no choice. I don’t feel like I have to stay busy like you though, I’m happy just sitting around if I can!

    1. Ha I wish I didn’t feel this way. It’s just the crazy way I am. =D

  9. When we were refurbishing the duplex and our house it sure felt like we had multiple jobs! For now though we’re trying to slow the pace a little and enjoy some of the evenings we have together.

  10. I’m impressed with your energy! I definitely wouldn’t say I have two jobs yet, but running my blog is starting to feel like it. I love it but it really takes time! I definitely agree with you about providing a safety net. I also think that doing something on your own teaches you a lot of skills that you don’t learn as an employee.

    1. Thanks, I’m sure the energy won’t last forever, so I’m hustling now!

  11. I would say that I am the exact same way. I mainly referee soccer and teach guitar lessons. I don’t have to, but I like the extra income to pay off debt and bills. It may not be huge sums of money, but when it covers the cable, phone, and utility bills, I feel like it is worth it. Besides, otherwise, I would just be watching TV.

    1. Totally agree! I haven’t had a TV in my house in several years. I just watch the occasional show on my computer. πŸ™‚

  12. I taught dance in college, too! I netted $18/hour after floor fees. I had up to 3 jobs in college. Now, since I homeschool, I can pretty much add only one job on top of the “mommy work” at a time.

    1. That’s so cool that you taught dance as well! I can totally imagine that your mommy work takes up the majority of your time!

  13. YES! Love strolls down memory lane – you should go through all your notes you passed around in middle school too if you still have them and see what they say πŸ™‚ I still have a box somewhere and it’s hilarious going back to see what all the stuff that was “important” back in the day, haha… and even more so the love letter (woo!)

    1. Hahaha I DO have a lot of notes and letters actually! I definitely need to check them out when I go home. πŸ™‚

  14. I love these little strolls through old emails. There is absolutely nothing wrong ever with having too much ambition. If anything, you found a great outlet to channel that energy in, and I’m sure you’re finding ways to make it keep on increasing in payout as you go. Some people should be so lucky!

    1. I know, right? They are so much fun! Thanks for the kind words!

      1. Yeah, looking through old emails is ridiculously entertaining! I also did this with some old blog posts the other week while doing some admin – it was interesting looking at the commments and seeing who has stopped blogging/commenting since, and comparing that with new readers today.

  15. I’ve had multiple hustles my whole life – I got my first cafe job at about 16 and also worked in a call centre for a few months at the same time to earn money for my first electric guitar and amp. Since then I’ve juggled various regular part time jobs with freelance work, casual events work, casual editing/tutoring/mystery shopping and right now balance FT work with freelancing. it can be tiring but it’s worth it!

  16. I think that your ambitions have been paying off quite nicely. I’ve got one job, plus my site currently and couldn’t imagine doing much more. than that. I can’t believe how awesome some people are with their ambition and time management.

    1. Thanks. That’s so nice, Justin! I think what helps is that my husband is in med school, so he’s working harder than I am. If he was home after work at 5 with nothing to do, I’d find it very difficult to spend so much time working.

  17. I always cringe when I look at old emails I wrote. They are just from a couple of years ago, but they feel like they are from a whole different person with different life goals and ambition. I wonder what my emails will sound like in 3 years…

    1. Totally feel ya, and I’m not even a mom yet! I’m sure that’s when it gets really intense!

  18. “I like to stay busy. I like to work. I like to create opportunities to do cool things. I like to make an income for myself so I don’t have to ask for things. It’s just me.” I’m the same way. I like to do productive things with my time, work towards increasing my income and learn new things.

  19. I recently found myself with 3 jobs working 7 days a week. I didn’t mean for this to happen, but I’m just not willing to give up any of them right now. Actually none of them pay extremely well but they keep me afloat and I like the future potential it affords me. I have a few more months to go until I can pare down to only 2 jobs and I can’t wait. But I’m most looking forward to surviving this scene and then knowing that I’ll have done it!

  20. I have two jobs. I have for most of my career worked two usually during the holiday season. Right now I am paying off some debt from my second. I work from home on the second one M-Th from 7pm to 11pm. It is for the big name luxury department store based in Dallas. I get paid and get a really nice discount plus you qualify for benefits as a part timer so I am funding a retirement plan through the second job as well. I certainly believe in multiple sources of income.

    1. Wow you definitely sound like a hard worker! I’m impressed!

    2. That’s what I’m trying to do now, get a second job. It seems little but the money made from it adds up, and a good way to spend time instead of watching tv.

      @Txla what do you do for them? What company do you work for?

  21. Oh I wish I could have studied abroad! But the situation did not work out that way πŸ™
    I loved scholarships, I’m actually a pro at writing scholarship essays. When I added up all my scholarships, I received nearly $100,000 in scholarships. It paid for my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and part of my MBA. My company paid for the last part of my MBA. And I’m already planning on going back to another university for a different type of Master’s. I’m probably going to start in the Fall 2013 or Spring 2014. And my company will pay for it all πŸ™‚

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