Newarcher Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Well, it looks like I am headed for the dreaded second job, folks. I currently have topped out in my profession and in my company so it looks like there are no large pay raises or promotions on the horizon....at least not in the short term. It is becoming increasingly harder and harder to manage on a single income, especially given the high cost of living in Atlanta as well as the cost of gas (I drive an hour to an hour and a half each way to work, depending on traffic). I thought gas was going down when it got to $2.,85 and now it is above $3.00 a gallon again. Surprisingly, the economy churns on. I am as tight on the budget as I can possibly be....except for a couple cheap meals out a week and Satellite TV. I also refuse to cut the kid's toys and recreation (within reason) because that is important to me. Still, if I eliminated all of these items, it wouldn't make the difference. So pretty much it looks like I will be working 7 days a week to make ends meet until my wife can go back to work a year and a half from now when my daughter starts school full time. With the drive time, I already work 60+ hours a week so it will have to be Saturday and Sundays for a while. So I am looking for ideas on what to do. If I am going to have to work, I want to do something interesting. In the Spring, I will get some business cards and mow some yards....5 yards a week and I am set. But it is late in the growing season here and probably too late to get anything started. Hunting is a foregone conlusion this fall...there will probably be none or very little. Any ideas on a cool part time job? Surely someone here has some ideas that I haven't thought of. Thanks, New p.s. I sure am glad that I went to College all those years! Definitely living the high life that everyone assumed upon graduation...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Well if your close enough to the Falcons training facility you could always sell your "clean" urine to the teams QB. But seriously, it's going to have to be something your interested in. Perhaps a Gander Mountain or local sporting goods shop. When I had to get my second job when my wife went back to school, I worked at a local Pet store. Something you are interested in keeps you from feeling like you don't need to be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowhunter56 Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 2nd. jobs are tough and worse if full time, i have know fellows that had 3 jobs and slept 2 hours a day, you can't and won't last long doing that, something part time in my opinion would be best, with out killing your self. Any archery shops around, most around here hires guys to fletch arrows, and just fill in so owner can take a break, like you said perhaps parttime lawn care, any of your friends have their own business, that could help you, guess depend what's in your area and what hours you can work, try to find something in your area that you like, and expand on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I found a 2nd job at Academy Sports working in the hunting/fishing department and mainly work behind the gun counter. It is a good 2nd job. I also work 7 days a week so I can relate. I used to have a 2nd job at Hoome Depot. It was great in that I was in the best shape in a while working in the lumber/building materials department but it was too much physically and was starting to wear on me. Home Depot paid more and I was able to get a fork lift license but it was just too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I may check out Bass Pro Shops and see what they pay....then it wouldn't feel as much like work. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8ptbuckpa Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Good luck withBPS I am waiting on a phone call from them up here in PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I may check out Bass Pro Shops and see what they pay....then it wouldn't feel as much like work. New Probably not much of Minimum wage. But it could be fun work. I would check out all those hunting/fishing stores just because it would be fun. May look into UPS or FEDEX. I hear they pay well and have part-time work. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Probably not much of Minimum wage. But it could be fun work. I would check out all those hunting/fishing stores just because it would be fun. May look into UPS or FEDEX. I hear they pay well and have part-time work. Good luck. Well, that's the problem. By the time you make $8.00 an hour working twenty hours a weekend you still only will probably end up with about $300-$325 for a month's work. Almost not worth it. I have a fireman buddy that does home improvements on the side and I may see if he needs some help to get a better wage. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Good luck New. Supposed to be a gander mountain coming here soon, have seen ads for them hiring for management positions here. Something like bass pro or gander mountain would likely be a fun job, but those positions would not be part time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 What skills do you have? I'd start there and see what was available. A lot of restaurants are looking for good reliable weekend managers if you have that type of experience. BTW - Part time UPS sorters/loaders make really good money, but it's tuff to get on with them, especially if you're only available on weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 What skills do you have? I'd start there and see what was available. A lot of restaurants are looking for good reliable weekend managers if you have that type of experience. BTW - Part time UPS sorters/loaders make really good money, but it's tuff to get on with them, especially if you're only available on weekends. That's the really big kick in the pants...I am a highly skilled in IT. I make a good salary and have good benefits but the problem is that it is just almost impossible to make it on a single salary here in Atlanta or many other places for that matter. Even if I improved my skills to become a programmer or UNIX administrator, that would require more college/classes and then I would make barely more than what I make now. A victim of my own success you might say. I guess I could cut back to a ultilitarian style of living and tell the kids that we can't have an occasional vacation, toys, go see a movie now and then, or have Satellite TV. But I will not do that if I have to work 23 hours a day. I just will not deprive my kids. The real killer is my truck that I bought last year. Paying that beast off is what is killing me. I could go sell it and get a beater but I drive too far in stop and go traffic every day. I need a dependable vehicle and I need a truck because I am a homeowner. Ahh well, something will come along. I hate the thought of missing my kids but I also hate the thought of spending the rest of our savings and ending up with the same crisis a year from now with no savings. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 What skills do you have? I'd start there and see what was available. A lot of restaurants are looking for good reliable weekend managers if you have that type of experience. BTW - Part time UPS sorters/loaders make really good money, but it's tuff to get on with them, especially if you're only available on weekends. That's the really big kick in the pants...I am a highly skilled in IT. I make a good salary and have good benefits but the problem is that it is just almost impossible to make it on a single salary here in Atlanta or many other places for that matter. Even if I improved my skills to become a programmer or UNIX administrator, that would require more college/classes and then I would make barely more than what I make now. A victim of my own success you might say. I guess I could cut back to a ultilitarian style of living and tell the kids that we can't have an occasional vacation, toys, go see a movie now and then, or have Satellite TV. But I will not do that if I have to work 23 hours a day. I just will not deprive my kids. The real killer is my truck that I bought last year. Paying that beast off is what is killing me. I could go sell it and get a beater but I drive too far in stop and go traffic every day. I need a dependable vehicle and I need a truck because I am a homeowner. Ahh well, something will come along. I hate the thought of missing my kids but I also hate the thought of spending the rest of our savings and ending up with the same crisis a year from now with no savings. What I really am going to hate is sending that payment in for taxes to support welfare cases. Like the one in front of me at the grocery store that paid only $60 something dollars for two buggies full of groceries (I think she only paid for the beer and tobacco products) after she handed them the food stamps. Then she walked out and put her WIC groceries in a new (used dealer tag) Lincoln navigator. I wanted to reach into her car and take about three bags out and tell her I wanted my money back! But that's another story for another time. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildside Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I guess I could cut back to a ultilitarian style of living and tell the kids that we can't have an occasional vacation, toys, go see a movie now and then, or have Satellite TV. But I will not do that if I have to work 23 hours a day. I just will not deprive my kids. What about teaching an occasional evening course in your field at a local community college? My husband took a course several years ago and ended up getting his teacher a position in his company! Connections can sometimes open up when you least expect them to. Whatever you end up doing, it was good to read that you will not deprive your kids - of yourself, that is. Remember that time with you - even if it's eating dinner together or playing a board game - is priceless. But something tells me that you already know that. I wish you the best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 how about a freelance computer guy. go into folks homes and teach them how to use their computer. most folks would be HAPPY to give you 25 bucks an hour, and the demand is very high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Harsh reality i had the harsh reality of losing my job. what i found is where i worked i was underpaid. by the plant closing it forced me to look for work and what i found was a lot better paying job and a lot better benefits. i was always kind of scared to leave where i was comfortable but now that i look back at it, i wonder why i didnt leave my old company a long time ago. if your really good at what you do, then your going to be in top demand. if your not the best at your job, then find a way to become the best. at age 47 i secured a really good job that pays well. but im not satisfied, im going to take some classes and maybe get my journeymans electrical license or work towards getting certified to work on air conditioning. that way i could do some on the side work and maybe start a small buisness. plus since im a Industrial Maintenance Tech adding either of these to my resume will only enhance it. as for second jobs it has to be something you enjoy. othewise you will hate it and the longer hours you have to work. this could put tension on your home life. just go slow, look at all your options and make sure you always have a little time just for yourself to enjoy even if its only a few hours. good luck to you Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 I may check out Bass Pro Shops and see what they pay....then it wouldn't feel as much like work. New Great idea! You could also check with a FedEx or UPS distribution center. They usually pay fairly well and have some good benefits as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 My brother is an IT guy and he does consulting of some kind to make extra money. Not sure how much me makes, but it's better than minimum wage. Look for a different company or move to a lower cost area. My buddy lives in Acworth GA, just northwest of Atlanta. His house was a reasonable cost. I'm sure it's not a mansion and he's not living the high life, but it's a decent place in a safe area. You don't like your neighbors anyway, right? Sell your truck and get something more efficient. For the gas savings alone in a month, you could rent a truck for a day if you really need one. I own a home and don't own a truck. Had to pay a guy $50 to haul some brush etc out a couple months ago....that's less than 1 tank of gas for a truck. You could work every free hour for minimum type wages at a 2nd job. Isn't this worse than not taking a vacation? I couldn't afford to take vacations when my kids were little and they seem to be happy today, despite that. Suck it up until your wife can start working. Sorry, if you're at the top of your profession and are having a hard time making it, you don't have many good options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaveGP Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 hey new, look at business jobs in healthcare, call center type jobs usually have part time/night/weekend shifts and pay over minimum wage, we have people who work 4 hours at night and people who work saturday and sunday... just a thoght for part time with maybe 10 or more an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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