Is There Room in Your Life for a Second (or Third) Job?

With the economy and the job market the way it is, many of us are feeling the economic pinch. For those who have jobs, many have not seen a raise in years or health insurance expenses have increased while salaries have not. Others may have had their hours cut or are looking at possible lay-offs. In a job environment such as this, many of us start to think about taking on additional work and try to figure out if there is room in our already-crammed lives for a second or possibly, third job?

Juggling jobs is not easy'"ask anyone who has tried to do it. While the increased income can be a great addition to the family coffers, the stress of working multiple jobs over a long period of time can be taxing. Trying to negotiate dueling schedules and work expectations can be tough. There are those who believe that if one is going to work more than one job, they should not be equally challenging and have the same mental and physical requirements. For example, if a person has one job that requires a great deal of mental focus and thought, trying to do a second job that requires the same can be overwhelming. If the second job is one that requires little mental focus, it might be a better fit.

Consider how the scheduling would work if you are considering a second or third job. It is important to make time for other things besides work: family, exercise, rest, etc. If one of your jobs is a part-time one, then be sure to consider how the second job will affect current scheduling. What can be moved around and omitted and what will need to be added to accommodate another job? For example, will you need to commute more or have other expenses (increased child care) that another job will require?

In addition to evaluating the "more money," it is important to also evaluate the time schedule and the overall income and expense budget that will be affected by trying to fit another job into your existing life.