Your money or your life. Looking for input on job decision.

[prolesunited]

I work a full-time job and a part-time job, both of which I find quite rewarding. I recently got promoted at my full-time job and saw a nice salary increase, but also have additional responsibilities that make for a longer than 40-hour work week.

The part-time job occupies my Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so needless to say, it has cut into my dating and social life. This job pays quite well and I cleared $12k on it last year. What I do, which I can't really go into, also has an impact.

I just had my four-year anniversary on the part-time job, so I've been doing this grind with only one day off a week for awhile now and it's getting old. I have stability and security at my full-time job.

On the one hand, I have the money to do the things I want (paid off all debts except mortgage and paid off my car loan) but on the other hand, I don't have the time to do them.

If I quit the part-time job, I'll have less fun money, but I'll have more time. Conversely, I'm starting to feel a little burned out.

Then again, what if I quit and find that all I end up doing is sitting home weekend nights? What if I discover there is NO social/dating life that has been eluding me because of my job? If I'm just going to sit home, I would rather go make a buck.

I'm sooooo confused! What words of wisdom do you have to offer in making my decision.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Try it both ways for a while and see if you can manage

Do you HAVE to decide now?

[prolesunited]

7. Can't really try it both ways

If I give notice at my part-time job, they'll have to fill the slot.

No rush to make a decision. It was just something I thought about when I say the blurb about my four-year anniversary in the employee newsletter. Sounded like a "commitment" :scared:

I probably will wait until spring or summer. Who wants to go do anything when it's 5 degrees outside.

[radwriter0555]

2. Work the PT gig for a little while longer, PUT the money away, to use

during your new found free time in a couple months.

TIME is far more precious than money, but a nest egg and rainy day money are real real nice to have.

[prolesunited]

8. I do have money put away

as well, not a ton, but more than enough. I live a pretty simple life anyway.

[demnan]

3. Do what you want to do

not what you think is expected of you. You'll be alright.

[prolesunited]

18. The problem is

I'm not sure WHAT I want to do? That's why I'm asking the question. :-)

[notadmblnd]

28. I've been wrestling with myself over almost the very same thing

I don't work two jobs but I'm fully employed. My husband died a few months ago and I'm so busy now (taking care of all the things he used to take care of) that I've no time for anything.

I've been thinking about telling my boss that the next time there are cuts to let me go. If I was let go I would receive 20 weeks severence, unemployment and then I could apply for SS survivors benefits. I have health insurance through his employer until age 65.

I would loose the equivelent of one paycheck, but we could get by if I'm careful with money. I have no debt except the house and some money put away.

There'ld be a 7 year gap between the time my son looses his benefits and when I can retire but I'm thinking I could take money out of the bank and pay the house off then.

I don't know what I'd do if I didn't work, maybe become more involved in local politics?

So should I step out of the workforce and leet someone who needs work have it? Or would I just be adding to the burden of our already over extended government?

[GOPisEvil]

4. Can you cut back on the part-time job?

Maybe every other weekend? :shrug:

All work and no play leads to burnout. You have to make some time for yourself.

[prolesunited]

15. I don't know if they would go for that

but it could work for me, especially if I offered to pick up the slack at holiday and vacation times. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. Thanks for the idea. :-)

[radwriter0555]

5. BTW, PLAN your WORK around your VACATIONS, do not plan your

vacations around your work, or you will never take the time to enjoy yourself.

[NicoleM]

6. Quit the part-time job

and go do fun stuff with your time off. Doesn't have to be anything that costs a lot of money. Join a book club or a hiking club if you need something to do with other people. Take classes. Enjoy life.

[prolesunited]

19. Those actually would be the activities

I would enjoy doing. I'm pretty low maintenance. Thanks for your input. :hi:

[pmbryant]

9. Life over money

If you are not in major debt, and are doing fine money-wise without the extra job, plus are starting to feel burned out, this becomes an easy decision (at least if it were me :-) ). Ditch the extra job.

Free time is one of the most important things in life, in my opinion, and there is so much more rewarding and productive stuff I would love to do with more free time than I can do trapped in an office doing what the boss tells me to. So even if the social/dating life doesn't pan out immediately, the other options are tremendous.

But that is just my own priorities, based upon my own situation. It sounds like you find the extra job more rewarding than I find my own job. Depending upon the magnitude of this effect, it could be enough to sway my vote the other way. So I need more information... ;-)

--Peter

EDIT: Some grammar mistakes. :spank:

[prolesunited]

10. Actually, seeing as you KNOW what my part-time job is

I'm sure you understand why I would feel torn.

:hi:

[pmbryant]

11. Yes

I can definitely understand. :-)

--Peter

[rbnyc]

12. OMG! You're me!

I'm in almost the same situation. My plan is to trade in both jobs for one higher paying job with another organization, but since I was promoted so recently, I want to wait at least a year to do this.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[Westegg]

13. I'm THINKING it over...

[prolesunited]

14. Let me know when you have an answer

Need any more info to help you render a decision?

[Westegg]

20. Sorry! I was making a joke...

....You're probably too young to remember the great Jack Benny, however I am not (alas). Anyway, Jack's movie and television persona was that of a tightwad who couldn't bear to part with money, so in one famous Benny sketch, he was accosted by a mugger with a gun who demanded, in cliche fashion, "Your money or your life!" To which Jack famously responded "I'm THINKING it over..."

But seriously, folks...I'll put it this way. You haven't described how much job security you have in either position, but obviously, this is an important consideration. You sound financially okay, so that's good. I'll say that I have been in your exact position before, and I chose the part-time job. Why? Because I had an ouside project---in my case, writing a book---that I could not finish with the full-time job. So I took the part-timer because it would give me the freedom to follow my writing dream. Maybe you have a project like this yourself. If not, then perhaps you should stick with the full-time gig. In order to realize our dreams, we often have to take a BIG risk. I have done so and, while I'm still in the midst of my book-writing, I am VERY glad I took the chance. Young people---and I'm not THAT old, still in my 30s---should take risks as often as possible because as far as I can tell, it just gets harder and harder to do so as you get older.

That's my 2-cents' worth, and I hope it helps.

[flama]

23. I'm old enough to remember Jack Benny saying that

And I repeat it whenever the question arises.

You're working on a book? Do tell. What are you writing? I'm working on several books, but none of them will make a real difference in the grand scheme of things. (I'll get serious about selling the first one once the second one is finished. One target market wants a new book every six months and it takes me four years just to write one.)

Young people should take risks as often as possible? Where were you when I was young(er) and had a chance to make beaucoup bucks but was afraid I might fall on my face and starve poor rbnyc?

[BiggJawn]

16. NO ONE has ever laid on their Deathbed saying...

"Oh, GAWD! I wish I had spent MORE time at the OFFICE!!!!"

Can't watch Lance take #6 on the Champs if you have to be at work, can you?

[Redneck Socialist]

17. Time is more valuable than money

Just my $0.02.

[SOteric]

21. I actually made this decision at one point in my life, - or one like it.

I left a glamourous, high-paying job where I got to travel all over the world, for a low-paying but ultimately fulfilling job.

I wouldn't go back and undo my choices for anything in the world. Like all people everywhere, I occasionally get frustrated or angry with my job and my coworkers and 'the way things are.' But I derive so much satisfaction from my work that it doesn't last more than an evening.

How I made it work was that I added two other fulfilling, low-paying part-timeish jobs. Now I have enough to support myself and my cats and afford the occasional modest indulgence. Can't beat it.

[prolesunited]

22. Well, neither of my jobs are glamorous

but they certainly are fulfilling and have an impact. The trouble is that my part-time job allows me to make a difference and that's why it's been such a struggle. It's not just about money.

You seem like you work more hours than I do, though. How do you do it? Don't you feel like you need more time for yourself?

[brokensymmetry]

24. Choose the time.

There is so much more to life then just the daily grind. It isn't just dating...with your demanding schedule, you don't have much time for any socializing. There are friends to be made out there!

And, there are books to be read, music to be heard...delicious meals to be eaten...a million things and more, and they all beckon.

If you're lucky, the day will come when you're old and gray, and you'll look back on your life. Which would you rather remember - the part time job's activities, or those wonderful, perfect days that await?

[alwynsw]

25. Quit the part-time job and spend more time in the shower.

[prolesunited]

27. Figures you would say that.

All alone, though, this time?

:hi:

[Ramsey]

26. My philosophy

Life is short and should be lived to the fullest at every possible moment.

If I could possibly swing it, I'd work less, accept a little less income and have more time for enjoyment.

Granted, work is enjoyable and fulfilling, but there is more to life. You can travel, take up other interests, etc. You may not have a vast array of other activities now due to being too busy.But you'll get more as you have more time for them.

[Liberal Christian]

29. Try this

Draw a big circle. Divide it into eight equal-sized wedges like a pie. Label them as follows:

Physical environment
Career
Money
Health
Friends & Family
Significant Other
Personal Growth
Fun & Recreation

Make the center of the wheel 0 and the outer edge 10. Mark your level of satisfaction with each area of your life by drawing a straight line across each wedge, making a new outer edge.

If this were a real wheel, how bumpy would your life be?
What might you do to bring the wheel into balance?