The second job thread

[GordonBlue]

No matter if it's for extra spending money or out of financial need, I'd love to hear what you all do for your second/ part-time jobs.

would like to hear what you do, where you work. Especially of those like myself who are not in the trades, and don't have those skills to fall back on.

Thought it would be a good way to throw out ideas and share experiences.

For me, I work mon-fri days and am likely going to get a part time job out of need as taxes and bills go up, but my pay doesn't.

For example, Superstore is often looking for graveyard shift workers, and I wondered if that might be an ok gig a couple of nights a week.

[transplant99]

On a few different occasions in my life i delivered pizza for extra money. I know it sounds like nothing but the truth is if i worked 3 nights a week (20 hrs or so) including at least 2 of thurs/fri/sat, I could easily put 400 bucks cash in my pocket when it was all said and done.

No idea if the advent of skip the dishes and services like them have impacted this business, but maybe they are an option as well?

You want something decent on gas to use of course, and there can be some rather frustrating customers but overall its about as easy money as you can earn.

[DuffMan]

I try to hustle golf games. It's not really paying off

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I try to hustle golf games. It's not really paying off

Username checks out.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Username checks out.

haha, never thought of that, but true.

[albertGQ]

I was serving weekends for over 10 years until I quit recently. Supported my wife while she went to school and we had three boys during that span. Sucks that it took a lot of time away from my first two boys when they were young but it afforded us a new bigger house for the five of us that we recently bought and my wife graduated University last May with no student debt.

Now I cherish my weekends so much more.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I was serving weekends for over 10 years until I quit recently. Supported my wife while she went to school and we had three boys during that span. Sucks that it took a lot of time away from my first two boys when they were young but it afforded us a new bigger house for the five of us that we recently bought and my wife graduated University last May with no student debt.

Now I cherish my weekends so much more.

when I was younger I had a second job as a bartender. sweet tax free cash.
I'm a little to old old to be doing that now, though.
I'm in my 40's, so probably limits my options a bit. especially as I wasn't smart enough to take up a trade when younger.

[Iggy_12]

I ref hockey couple times a week, great way to stay in shape and actually really good money. I genuinely enjoy doing it so that helps too, cash is the bonus

[Ozy_Flame]

A few times I did some odd-jobs in my 20's, making extra cash after my first real job. For a bit of time I reffed floor hockey leagues, then I used to support and monitor focus groups for a research company, then I worked for an oilfield servicing company monitoring wells. This was during the boom though, when you could show up at any place of employment and they'd give you a job just for being alive and sober.

[rotten42]

In the summer I've picked up cash going around and sealing driveways. Easy cash for the work.

[GoinAllTheWay]

What kind of impact does this have on your taxes? I remember doing this in my 20's and seems like I would always owe quite a bit at tax time which put quite a dent into how beneficial it was.

[Northendzone]

I would caution that working overnight is harder on your system than you think and how would you deal with working all day Wednesday, going home at 4/5 pm - then showing up at Superstore that night at 11.55 pm and working until 7 am and then having to go home, shower, and then go back to your regular job on Thursday for a full shift.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

What kind of impact does this have on your taxes? I remember doing this in my 20's and seems like I would always owe quite a bit at tax time which put quite a dent into how beneficial it was.

Common misconception. I know guys who used to calculate their overtime because they thought if they went over x amount ALL their money was then taxed at that %. Which is obviously incorrect. I mean you will pay more tax on your additional money, but its only 4.5 or 5.5% (can't remember the new alberta taxes that are staggered so just assuming its flat still).

[calf]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Common misconception. I know guys who used to calculate their overtime because they thought if they went over x amount ALL their money was then taxed at that %. Which is obviously incorrect. I mean you will pay more tax on your additional money, but its only 4.5 or 5.5% (can't remember the new alberta taxes that are staggered so just assuming its flat still).

I think it's more that if you don't set up your tax deduction right at the second job, and if you're not paid a lot, they may not take enough, or any off at the source, meaning when you add it all up you have to pay a significant chunk. It's not more than you would have paid, but it's a bit of a shock when you see that large amount owing on your tax return.

The key is to communicate with the 2nd employer that you have another job and to take tax off, since the first set of credits/deductions are given to you by your first employer.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

What kind of impact does this have on your taxes? I remember doing this in my 20's and seems like I would always owe quite a bit at tax time which put quite a dent into how beneficial it was.

Originally Posted by calf

I think it's more that if you don't set up your tax deduction right at the second job, and if you're not paid a lot, they may not take enough, or any off at the source, meaning when you add it all up you have to pay a significant chunk. It's not more than you would have paid, but it's a bit of a shock when you see that large amount owing on your tax return.

The key is to communicate with the 2nd employer that you have another job and to take tax off, since the first set of credits/deductions are given to you by your first employer.

This is correct. So the initial assertion is true because each employer is accounting for your basic personal tax credit and as such its being counted twice (or however many jobs you have) despite only being applicable once.

So the second employer is taking little to no taxes off (because you're presumably earning most of your money at your primary employer and as far as they know you're in the lowest bracket) and when its tacked on top of your primary income you're short on your tax withholdings.

The more jobs you do this with the worse it gets unless you stay on top of it and make allowances.

On the main topic though, I worked 2-3 jobs to get through University, I'm not doing that again.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I would caution that working overnight is harder on your system than you think and how would you deal with working all day Wednesday, going home at 4/5 pm - then showing up at Superstore that night at 11.55 pm and working until 7 am and then having to go home, shower, and then go back to your regular job on Thursday for a full shift.

Also good advice, I worked at Greyhound while going through University and the night shift was just killer.

[Puppet Guy]

I worked part-time a the YMCA for about eight months between last year and this spring. I actually liked it more than my regular job, but the extra hours on top of the parenting gig just about killed me.

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I would caution that working overnight is harder on your system than you think and how would you deal with working all day Wednesday, going home at 4/5 pm - then showing up at Superstore that night at 11.55 pm and working until 7 am and then having to go home, shower, and then go back to your regular job on Thursday for a full shift.

I concur with this. In one of the last years I worked retail, I had one overnight shift a week and it was just killer. Off at 12:30pm Wednesday, go home, try to get a least an hour or two of sleep at 9 or so, then go back at 11pm. The shift was hard enough on about two hours of sleep, but also pretty much made Thursday a complete wash. Usually had trouble sleeping when I got home -- generally would sleep 7am - 11am, but felt so lethargic the rest of the day. I can't imagine doing that and then following up with another shift directly after.

[lazypucker]

For a second job, I have tried to be a Skip the Dishes driver.

To be honest, the money is not that great given the hassle you have to go through. It is a good system, but as a driver you will be driving to restaurants to pick up exactly 1 order and then drive to deliver that 1 order. The back and forth will take you probably 30-45 minutes per order.

So on average you will be delivering maybe 1.5 orders per hour. The company will give you a set delivery charge (based on distance - usually between $4 to $7 per delivery) plus tips. The problem is that they don't have a minimum order amount, a lot of times people will just order a burrito or a personal size pizza for like $10. How much extra tips would you expect they will give you on a $10 purchase (while they have to add like $5 for delivery)? Maybe an extra $1.50 max?

Also a lot of times you won't be receiving back-to-back jobs while on shift, which means you make one delivery, and then you sit and wait for like 20-30 minutes and hope the next one will show up. So at the end of all these, you will be lucky to get $15 an hour on average. Plus you supply your own gas and car maintenance. It is practically worse than a minimum wage job....

[Galakanokis]

Use to do part time down at the rink for canucks games, special events etc. Did a few football games and soccer games as well. Quit last year since my wife got a new job in film and the hours are brutal so I am for the most part responsible for the kids. I worked in broadcast but stadiums might not be a bad place to look for work. I have a retired buddy that works as an usher for games and concerts and he loves it.