Comments on Single Guy Money: When a Second Job is Not a Good Idea

Mmmyep, I ran into the same issue with my second g...

2008-05-06T16:03:00.000-04:00

Mmmyep, I ran into the same issue with my second gig. I tried setting myself a budget of no more than 10% of my paycheck, and that didn't work. I tried only buying things out of the damaged/returned section, and that really didn't work (king sized down comforter regularly 219, marked down to 29, then add 15% discount... and it's more than I made during my shift. AND I have a twin bed! The comforter is twice the size of my bed!)

Yeah, after a few months my spending leveled out, because I'd bought everything I wanted and frankly I was getting sick of spotting items I sold on TV shows and in movies (Top Chef bedrooms are top to bottom furnished with IKEA stuff, just so you know). However, that was money that was G-O-N-E.

I think you are dead right when you bit your tongue like that. I had to learn from my own mistakes when I was w2rking, and I did and I moved on. Your buddy's going to have to figure out what works best for him.

Maybe there's no need to worry. I'm an avid crafte...

2008-04-29T22:58:00.000-04:00

Maybe there's no need to worry. I'm an avid crafter who likes to make just about anything I can with my hands - knitting, crochet, embroidery, painting, drawing, beading, jewelry, cake decorating, etc, etc.

I got a part time job for a few months at Michael's craft stores. I think that the entire time I worked there I might have spent $50 there. Being around the stuff all day and getting to use it to when doing demonstrations or creating samples was enough. I was satisfied, and I didn't feel like I needed to do more when I left work for the day

My husband wanted the best buy second job, too. H...

2008-04-28T17:19:00.000-04:00

My husband wanted the best buy second job, too. However, about a zillion other guys in our area had that idea as well, and so best buy is not anywhere close to needing people. I was glad, because I want to work, and he watches the baby while I work weekends.

In the past I have considered getting a second job...

2008-04-27T14:25:00.000-04:00

In the past I have considered getting a second job, but I could never justify the diminishing returns of working for close to minimum wage at night and on weekends when I may GOOD money at my day job, all at the expense of having less time with the things that REALLY mean the most to me: wife, daughter, other family, and friends.

I am in a similar situation - I work at Lowe's. O...

2008-04-24T13:06:00.000-04:00

I am in a similar situation - I work at Lowe's. One big difference is that I have to buy appliances for my house, as well as window treatments, paint, carpeting and all the stuff that I'd normally purchase anyway. I haven't gone wild with the purchases, but once I have enough built up in my employee stock, I'll sell it and buy something for myself that's really nice, like a TV or something. Half the reason I work there is to get the discount. The other half is that I am helping people (who sometimes have no clue) about what to purchase - it's a very rewarding feeling. Getting a paycheck is just icing on the cake, as I make about as much in an hour with my regular job as I do in a two-week period with Lowe's.

Hmmm. I'd have to get a job at Yankee Stadium. The...

2008-04-22T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hmmm. I'd have to get a job at Yankee Stadium. The Commute will kill me though as I live in Upstate Ny.

He should start working at the library. I succumb ...

2008-04-21T23:46:00.000-04:00

He should start working at the library. I succumb to the same temptation, but the books and videos are free, plus no late fees for staff. So if I slip up, still no biggie.

It could work to his advantage, when I worked for ...

2008-04-21T16:52:00.000-04:00

It could work to his advantage, when I worked for a cook store the staff would put all the cool new gadgets on hold. We could leave them there for months if we wanted (as opposed to customers one week), by then we'd get something new and better in, replace the item on the hold shelf and let the cycle repeat.
I hardly ever bought anything, just kept it aside for ages!

Actually, I think your friend is really lucky. He ...

2008-04-21T16:32:00.000-04:00

Actually, I think your friend is really lucky. He is one of those few people who found their dream job! :) And after he's done buying all the "stuff" he wants from the store, he'll be even happier. Besides, if he really is as much of an outdoorsman as you say he is, he'll be a great salesman. In other words, the financial setback associated with this job is but temporary, and it'll improve his financial, physical and psychological well-being in the long run. :D

There's just one thing I don't get - why would you want to work for Best Buy, of all places? I'm not passing any judgment here, but that place is pure evil and there are tons of horror stories about their customer service and store policies...

I agree it will be tempting and hard for your frie...

2008-04-21T13:44:00.000-04:00

I agree it will be tempting and hard for your friend not to buy anything and everything. Especially if he is getting a store discount and something may be on sale. Maybe you just need to guide him on over to several blogs or books or whatever his style is to educate him that he should save for something he REALLY wants and not just buy anything and everything. Also to remind him why he got the second job. It's all apart of growing up. The good news is he took the initiative and got the second job.

This is a catch 22... the same traits that would m...

2008-04-21T11:47:00.000-04:00

This is a catch 22... the same traits that would make him a good employee (liking the products and outdoors stuff) are probably going to hurt him financially. Hopefully he can control himself and only buy what he wants within the paychecks and only for a little while.

Better this than him just going out and buying the stuff without the extra job income.

It must be extremely tempting working with the thi...

2008-04-21T08:17:00.000-04:00

It must be extremely tempting working with the things you like the best and with a staff discount it is likely that anyone in a similar situation would go a bit mad with spending especially in the first few months. Imagine seeing customers all buying the things that you really want - I think you would buy them up just to make sure that they didn't sell out before you got any.