It’s been a busy month this May. Besides working with my regular freelance work, I’ve been working on a temporary job. It’s a nice two week assignment (plus part time hours training earlier this month). The work is good and the office has a wonderful and friendly staff. It makes much easier.

I’ve worked other temporary jobs as needed, the most recent being several stints with the 2010 Census operations. This opportunity worked well as it as on an as needed basis. I’m happy I took it because we get to work on a few goals.

Goals for the Extra Paychecks

It’s nice to have 3 extra paychecks this month. We’re keeping on track with our monthly cash flow, so we can kind of spend this money as we please. Two goals we have for the extra money are:

I’m keeping simple with my two goals. I have a responsible side that wants to put some more money into our emergency fund for some peace of mind. My other side wants some cash just to have around for our trip so we can have a debt free vacation.

Finding Temporary or Part Time Work

Are you trying to pay down some debt, build some savings, or reach a financial goal? Does your current income make it hard to reach your goals? You may want to do some temporary/season work on the side or even have a part time job for a certain period of time.

  • Pizza Delivery: This is a popular choice with the Dave Ramsey crowd; mainly because of the flexible hours and the ability to some money with tips.
  • Hotel Reservations: This can be a low stress job depending on where you work.
  • Waiter/Waitress: This is another flexible job with tips available for pay.
  • UPS: Around the holidays, UPS hires a lot of temporary employees to help out with their increased workload.

You also need to ask around to see if some jobs pay as well as you think. I’ve heard that delivery drivers don’t make much moneyfrom tips, as some people are tipping low (if at all).

My only big warning is to count all the costs of the work, not just the pay. Will it affect your school schedule? Will it affect your performance at your main job? If you have a family, how will you juggle your responsibilities?

It may be hard to picture yourself working even more hours, so maybe having a specific goal or time frame for the extra income can help it become more manageable.

Your Thoughts on Extra Income

Have you taken another job to reach a financial goal? What was the hardest part of having two jobs? Was it worth it?

Laura Martinez

Laura Martinez