Should I quit my second job?
September 1, 2013 7:08 PM Subscribe
I need some perspective on my situation and ultimately help deciding whether to quit my 2nd job. This is a job I picked up due to financial anxieties and instability with my full time company.
So I have a full time hourly paid position where I work 40 hours a week and get 17$ an hour. I have been searching for greener pastures for 2 years and despite a few interviews for sales positions that would pay more, have not gotten any offers. Currently we are very behind in the office and have been asked to work 5 - 8 hours of overtime per week. My job is tied to a distribution warehouse and my company is in the midst of merging with another company and noone knows if our facility will be shut down and the people jobless once the merger is complete sometime in Nov-Dec.
To save up money and prepare for a layoff I took on a second job in an ice cream store. This job is basically the best part time job you could imagine. It's 8$ and hour plus tips (usually 10-15 for a 5 hour shift). My problem comes because I've been working about 20 hours a week here for the past few months. I usually have 0 days off per month between the two jobs. figuring in commute times and a mandatory 1 hour unpaid lunch at the regular job, I'm reliably booked 70+ hours a week. I usually only manage 5 hours of sleep on the weekdays and 9 on weekends, my house is a mess, my diet is anything i can buy at a convenience store on the road and shove in my face, and i'm at a point where I don't have any mental energy left to do thing like exercise, hobbies, be social, cook, apply to new jobs, or develop myself.
What keeps me from quitting is that I am very terribly afraid of not being ok money-wise. I am single and have some savings, but they would only get me through 3-5 months tops with no income. I have no debt other than a mortgage which is under 700$/month. My car is old and if that were to die my house of cards would topple. I have noone to help me out financially. I have no lifeline and if my regular job is to be eliminated, having an enjoyable part time would at least give me hope of avoiding total failure.
But right now I'm exhausted and I don't know if I can keep going and be happy at this amount of time that isn't really mine to spend. I've lot touch with all of my friends because I am never available. I'm very worried though that quitting the 2nd job would be a mistake and not good for my financial stability. I'm too clouded to make a proper decision, so I turn here: Should I quit my 2nd job now?
So I have a full time hourly paid position where I work 40 hours a week and get 17$ an hour. I have been searching for greener pastures for 2 years and despite a few interviews for sales positions that would pay more, have not gotten any offers. Currently we are very behind in the office and have been asked to work 5 - 8 hours of overtime per week. My job is tied to a distribution warehouse and my company is in the midst of merging with another company and noone knows if our facility will be shut down and the people jobless once the merger is complete sometime in Nov-Dec.
To save up money and prepare for a layoff I took on a second job in an ice cream store. This job is basically the best part time job you could imagine. It's 8$ and hour plus tips (usually 10-15 for a 5 hour shift). My problem comes because I've been working about 20 hours a week here for the past few months. I usually have 0 days off per month between the two jobs. figuring in commute times and a mandatory 1 hour unpaid lunch at the regular job, I'm reliably booked 70+ hours a week. I usually only manage 5 hours of sleep on the weekdays and 9 on weekends, my house is a mess, my diet is anything i can buy at a convenience store on the road and shove in my face, and i'm at a point where I don't have any mental energy left to do thing like exercise, hobbies, be social, cook, apply to new jobs, or develop myself.
What keeps me from quitting is that I am very terribly afraid of not being ok money-wise. I am single and have some savings, but they would only get me through 3-5 months tops with no income. I have no debt other than a mortgage which is under 700$/month. My car is old and if that were to die my house of cards would topple. I have noone to help me out financially. I have no lifeline and if my regular job is to be eliminated, having an enjoyable part time would at least give me hope of avoiding total failure.
But right now I'm exhausted and I don't know if I can keep going and be happy at this amount of time that isn't really mine to spend. I've lot touch with all of my friends because I am never available. I'm very worried though that quitting the 2nd job would be a mistake and not good for my financial stability. I'm too clouded to make a proper decision, so I turn here: Should I quit my 2nd job now?
So many unknowns, I can see why your head is spinning!
Would it be possible to cut down your shifts at the second job? I imagine an ice cream place might be happy to downsize your job as summer ends (climate depending of course).
If not, I still lean towards quitting the second job. It sounds like for now you can make up the hours with overtime at your better paying main job. Concentrate on saving money but not only on that - also on taking care of yourself so that you will be in a good mental and emotional place to find a new job in a couple of months IF you even need to.
Does your math of having 3-5 months living expenses take unemployment benefits into account? Even if so, you're still in a decent place.
I get it. I am single too with no safety net beyond what I can create for myself, and moving from hourly temp job to hourly temp job, hoping for no breaks and sometimes having months of terror in between. It's incredibly stressful. But when all you've got is you, it's really important to take care of your health, physical, mental, and emotional.
Sometimes you have to make little leaps of faith, and to me it sounds like now would be a sensible and responsible time for one.
posted by Salamandrous at 7:21 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Would it be possible to cut down your shifts at the second job? I imagine an ice cream place might be happy to downsize your job as summer ends (climate depending of course).
If not, I still lean towards quitting the second job. It sounds like for now you can make up the hours with overtime at your better paying main job. Concentrate on saving money but not only on that - also on taking care of yourself so that you will be in a good mental and emotional place to find a new job in a couple of months IF you even need to.
Does your math of having 3-5 months living expenses take unemployment benefits into account? Even if so, you're still in a decent place.
I get it. I am single too with no safety net beyond what I can create for myself, and moving from hourly temp job to hourly temp job, hoping for no breaks and sometimes having months of terror in between. It's incredibly stressful. But when all you've got is you, it's really important to take care of your health, physical, mental, and emotional.
Sometimes you have to make little leaps of faith, and to me it sounds like now would be a sensible and responsible time for one.
posted by Salamandrous at 7:21 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am you, except my "good," $15-20/hr job has variable hours per week, and I work at a coffee shop for the same rate (about $8) part-time. I got the coffee job for extra income for savings and paying down debt, and just in case my first job folds (since as of now my savings are nonexistent).
So far I've been doing it for a much shorter time than you have, but I know what you mean-- I'm very lonely and tired and often don't want to do anything besides sleep. If I were trying to have a social life, this would be ridiculous. As it is I see my boyfriend a few hours a week.
How much in savings would you be comfortable with having? 3-5 months for me would be a LOT of savings, just due to my context. Would 6 months feel okay? Nine months? Can you work until you have a certain fixed amount of savings, and then either ask the management for reduced hours, or quit?
You shouldn't run yourself ragged out of job anxiety-- and in myself, I know this is semi-irrational anxiety. It's anxiety because I was unemployed for eight months, and lost a service industry job within that time, so I'm terribly afraid of losing my job all the time and being as broke as I was then. But if you have this ice cream job now, what's stopping you from getting a grocery store or coffee shop job if you lose your main job? If you live in a decent-sized area, you should be able to find a job like that ($8/hr) quickly, much sooner than 3-5 months. And while you're working that job at normal hours, supplementing with savings, you can keep searching for another higher paying job.
I would save up enough for 5 or 6 months as well as for a major car repair, and then quit. Personally, I handle the situation by telling myself I'm doing it on a certain timeline (using all my 2nd job income to pay down debt, and when credit card debt is gone, choosing to quit or stay). Without that timeline, I could never keep it up spiritually.
If you have no other debt, you might not be as screwed as you think if your car tanks. Could you get an auto loan and buy a used car? Could you save up a reasonable amount for car repairs?
posted by stoneandstar at 7:21 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
So far I've been doing it for a much shorter time than you have, but I know what you mean-- I'm very lonely and tired and often don't want to do anything besides sleep. If I were trying to have a social life, this would be ridiculous. As it is I see my boyfriend a few hours a week.
How much in savings would you be comfortable with having? 3-5 months for me would be a LOT of savings, just due to my context. Would 6 months feel okay? Nine months? Can you work until you have a certain fixed amount of savings, and then either ask the management for reduced hours, or quit?
You shouldn't run yourself ragged out of job anxiety-- and in myself, I know this is semi-irrational anxiety. It's anxiety because I was unemployed for eight months, and lost a service industry job within that time, so I'm terribly afraid of losing my job all the time and being as broke as I was then. But if you have this ice cream job now, what's stopping you from getting a grocery store or coffee shop job if you lose your main job? If you live in a decent-sized area, you should be able to find a job like that ($8/hr) quickly, much sooner than 3-5 months. And while you're working that job at normal hours, supplementing with savings, you can keep searching for another higher paying job.
I would save up enough for 5 or 6 months as well as for a major car repair, and then quit. Personally, I handle the situation by telling myself I'm doing it on a certain timeline (using all my 2nd job income to pay down debt, and when credit card debt is gone, choosing to quit or stay). Without that timeline, I could never keep it up spiritually.
If you have no other debt, you might not be as screwed as you think if your car tanks. Could you get an auto loan and buy a used car? Could you save up a reasonable amount for car repairs?
posted by stoneandstar at 7:21 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've walked away from jobs when I think it is a cost to mental health and because of similar money anxieties,and I've walked away from jobs without another job lined up but always made it work and quickly found another job. But I don't know the job market in your area, for you, etc. and I would be hesitant in saying walk away.
But what about other alternatives, such as:
-Calling the ice cream employer and saying "I may have more availability, would it be possible to work X hours more per week?"
-Tell your current employer that yes you can do 40 hours a week,but due to outside obligations, you can no longer do anything beyond 40 hours. Full stop.
Those are the really viable options that I can think of that would not involve more risk.
IF you want to memail and talk through what walking away without a job lined up can be like and how to find temporary jobs, etc., do feel free to memail me.I've done it at least a few times.I would do it again if I felt that it was unhealthy.
posted by Wolfster at 7:23 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
But what about other alternatives, such as:
-Calling the ice cream employer and saying "I may have more availability, would it be possible to work X hours more per week?"
-Tell your current employer that yes you can do 40 hours a week,but due to outside obligations, you can no longer do anything beyond 40 hours. Full stop.
Those are the really viable options that I can think of that would not involve more risk.
IF you want to memail and talk through what walking away without a job lined up can be like and how to find temporary jobs, etc., do feel free to memail me.I've done it at least a few times.I would do it again if I felt that it was unhealthy.
posted by Wolfster at 7:23 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree with TPS. If you leave the part-time job on good terms, they would likely be happy to have you back again.
Being healthy will mean you are more capable of handling whatever changes the merger brings - whether that's a layoff or a job transition.
Being exhausted means that you are more likely to get sick, more likely to make mistakes, more likely to have an accident.
Quit the second job, get some overtime with the primary job, sock away as much as you can, use your time at home to make healthy food and save $$ and reconnect with your friends. if you do lose your job, you'll need your friends.
Good luck!
posted by bunderful at 7:38 PM on September 1, 2013
Being healthy will mean you are more capable of handling whatever changes the merger brings - whether that's a layoff or a job transition.
Being exhausted means that you are more likely to get sick, more likely to make mistakes, more likely to have an accident.
Quit the second job, get some overtime with the primary job, sock away as much as you can, use your time at home to make healthy food and save $$ and reconnect with your friends. if you do lose your job, you'll need your friends.
Good luck!
posted by bunderful at 7:38 PM on September 1, 2013
Aside from the obvious benefits of all the ice cream you could want (and tips), if the second job leaves you no time to jobhunt, you are stuck where you are.
I highly recommend looking at the resume guide from Blue Sky Resumes - I found it helped me focus on the problems I solved for my employers rather than just a list of what I was responsible for. Most jobseekers don't show how they can add value to prospective employers' work - if you can do that, you're head and shoulders above other candidates. Now, when reviewing potential hires, I honestly get a little annoyed that most candidates don't use the resume to their best advantage, as a tool to get interviews. Perhaps it can help you get more interviews, making your search more effective.
Making time for yourself will pay off, whether in a better resume, or better rest - take a break from the second job, and good luck!
posted by deliriouscool at 7:41 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
I highly recommend looking at the resume guide from Blue Sky Resumes - I found it helped me focus on the problems I solved for my employers rather than just a list of what I was responsible for. Most jobseekers don't show how they can add value to prospective employers' work - if you can do that, you're head and shoulders above other candidates. Now, when reviewing potential hires, I honestly get a little annoyed that most candidates don't use the resume to their best advantage, as a tool to get interviews. Perhaps it can help you get more interviews, making your search more effective.
Making time for yourself will pay off, whether in a better resume, or better rest - take a break from the second job, and good luck!
posted by deliriouscool at 7:41 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
I worked seven days a week for a couple of months once, and utterly dread ever finding myself in that position again. It's hard on anybody, but particularly on someone who also has to manage all their domestic chores without assistance.
I also think that 3-5 months of savings sounds like a pretty reasonable cushion in theory - and I'm someone who's fairly anxious about money. I'm working on having a 6-month cushion at the moment, which my rational brain knows is very likely more than I'll ever need, but security and rationality part ways sometimes.
One thing to try to be sure you're realistic about is the likelihood that you would find yourself in a no-income situation. Even leaving aside unemployment benefits, if the job market where you live is strong enough that you can fairly realistically expect to get service, temp, or other part-time work quickly if you were to be laid off, I think you can give yourself permission to quit or at least cut back on shifts at your second job. It sounds like things are likely going to be stressful for awhile, and if you exhaust yourself completely, it's going to be even harder cope if you are laid off.
It sounds like you're extremely responsible and self-reliant, and those are good strengths to have. Check that they're not over-focusing you in one direction. Your financial health is important, but so are your physical and emotional health, and all three are valuable components of your resilience. Take care of yourself, and best wishes to you!
posted by EvaDestruction at 8:06 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also think that 3-5 months of savings sounds like a pretty reasonable cushion in theory - and I'm someone who's fairly anxious about money. I'm working on having a 6-month cushion at the moment, which my rational brain knows is very likely more than I'll ever need, but security and rationality part ways sometimes.
One thing to try to be sure you're realistic about is the likelihood that you would find yourself in a no-income situation. Even leaving aside unemployment benefits, if the job market where you live is strong enough that you can fairly realistically expect to get service, temp, or other part-time work quickly if you were to be laid off, I think you can give yourself permission to quit or at least cut back on shifts at your second job. It sounds like things are likely going to be stressful for awhile, and if you exhaust yourself completely, it's going to be even harder cope if you are laid off.
It sounds like you're extremely responsible and self-reliant, and those are good strengths to have. Check that they're not over-focusing you in one direction. Your financial health is important, but so are your physical and emotional health, and all three are valuable components of your resilience. Take care of yourself, and best wishes to you!
posted by EvaDestruction at 8:06 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've done the two-job thing, and ultimately, my tiredness reduced my friendliness and increased the amount of mistakes I made. I'd find a way to scale back to a level you can do really WELL, especially if it might give you a better chance of surviving a round of layoffs.
posted by salvia at 8:09 PM on September 1, 2013
posted by salvia at 8:09 PM on September 1, 2013
Do you get paid overtime at your full time gig? If so, then why not enjoy the same pay, while working half the hours or less?
Your situation reads as tiring and stressful. 0 days off per month? How the hell are you going to have hobbies or maintain friendships with a schedule like that?
posted by oceanjesse at 8:21 PM on September 1, 2013
Your situation reads as tiring and stressful. 0 days off per month? How the hell are you going to have hobbies or maintain friendships with a schedule like that?
posted by oceanjesse at 8:21 PM on September 1, 2013
You mention owning a home. Would it be possible to rent out a room for a less exhausting second income stream. Do your due diligence when picking a tenant, of course.
posted by ethidda at 11:30 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ethidda at 11:30 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hooboy, do I know where you're coming from: I'm normally holding down both a full-time plus a 20-hour-per-week part-time job; but at various times in the past I've held two full-time jobs or one full-time plus two part-times or (my fave!) one full-time, one part-time plus night school. One thing that really helps is something you're already doing: your two jobs are totally unrelated to each other --- two very-similar jobs would drain you even more.
Okay, what do to about the exhaustion: if your FT job was stable, I'd jump on the bandwagon saying to quit the PT job; unfortunately FT is totally NOT stable. So:
*Ask FT boss if you can work four ten-hour days instead of five 8-hours days. Don't frame it as "I'm exhausted", try selling it as more efficient and energy-saving: four commutes a week for you to spend gas on, four lunch hours instead of five for him to pay for. (Ten hours a day at one job really aren't any worse than eight.)
*If FT Boss doesn't go for that, still try to get the required overtime spread over your current days (instead of making you come in a sixth day of the week).
*Ask PT boss if you could cut back --- NOT quit! --- for a couple months; maybe to 15 hours a week. Alternatively, since it's the end of summer and all, maybe you could take a month (unpaid) off.
posted by easily confused at 3:56 AM on September 2, 2013
Okay, what do to about the exhaustion: if your FT job was stable, I'd jump on the bandwagon saying to quit the PT job; unfortunately FT is totally NOT stable. So:
*Ask FT boss if you can work four ten-hour days instead of five 8-hours days. Don't frame it as "I'm exhausted", try selling it as more efficient and energy-saving: four commutes a week for you to spend gas on, four lunch hours instead of five for him to pay for. (Ten hours a day at one job really aren't any worse than eight.)
*If FT Boss doesn't go for that, still try to get the required overtime spread over your current days (instead of making you come in a sixth day of the week).
*Ask PT boss if you could cut back --- NOT quit! --- for a couple months; maybe to 15 hours a week. Alternatively, since it's the end of summer and all, maybe you could take a month (unpaid) off.
posted by easily confused at 3:56 AM on September 2, 2013
If your full-time job were to go away, you would be eligible for unemployment. Does that make you feel better? Also, the wages from your part-time job will count against that dough. So quit it NOW. Because if you quit it after you are laid off, it may mess with your unemployment.
Put all of your energy into lining up a new gig. Also, that overtime should be socked away.
Get healthy, sleep and get into fighting shape.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:09 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
Put all of your energy into lining up a new gig. Also, that overtime should be socked away.
Get healthy, sleep and get into fighting shape.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:09 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
One thing to try to be sure you're realistic about is the likelihood that you would find yourself in a no-income situation.
I think EvaDestruction makes an excellent point. What is the job market like in your area? Is your education and skill-set at least average/competitive for your field and your location? How easy would it be for you to sell your house and move if you had to?
If you live in an area where you had a good chance of finding another job, or picking up temp work or another stopgap if you need to, then by all means quit that second job (on good terms!) and concentrate on your full-time work. You DO have savings, which is more than many people (you'd be surprised at the number of people who have less than a month of expenses saved up). And Ruthless Bunny points out, correctly, that you would likely be eligible for unemployment if worst comes to worst. That would provide at least some safety net.
Your health and sanity are important. You don't want to work yourself into the ground, to the point where you get into a car accident or have a health crisis and HAVE to quit work. Medical expenses and having to go on disability are a surefire route to poverty for many. Being unable to work is a deeply sucky situation to be in, and you don't want to push yourself there.
If I were in your position, the only way I'd keep the second job was if I had a good chance of having no income at all for months or longer. If jobs are especially hard to come by where you live, and/or your skill-set/education is below average for your market (and thus you are competing against better-educated/skilled people for good jobs), THEN keep the second job and maybe cut back the hours on that job so that you can take care of your physical and mental health.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:45 AM on September 2, 2013
I think EvaDestruction makes an excellent point. What is the job market like in your area? Is your education and skill-set at least average/competitive for your field and your location? How easy would it be for you to sell your house and move if you had to?
If you live in an area where you had a good chance of finding another job, or picking up temp work or another stopgap if you need to, then by all means quit that second job (on good terms!) and concentrate on your full-time work. You DO have savings, which is more than many people (you'd be surprised at the number of people who have less than a month of expenses saved up). And Ruthless Bunny points out, correctly, that you would likely be eligible for unemployment if worst comes to worst. That would provide at least some safety net.
Your health and sanity are important. You don't want to work yourself into the ground, to the point where you get into a car accident or have a health crisis and HAVE to quit work. Medical expenses and having to go on disability are a surefire route to poverty for many. Being unable to work is a deeply sucky situation to be in, and you don't want to push yourself there.
If I were in your position, the only way I'd keep the second job was if I had a good chance of having no income at all for months or longer. If jobs are especially hard to come by where you live, and/or your skill-set/education is below average for your market (and thus you are competing against better-educated/skilled people for good jobs), THEN keep the second job and maybe cut back the hours on that job so that you can take care of your physical and mental health.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:45 AM on September 2, 2013
Any chance you could take in a roommate to supplement your income instead of working yourself into the ground?
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:24 AM on September 2, 2013
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:24 AM on September 2, 2013
I think it might be worth considering putting an end date on your 2nd job in your mind, like, okay, if I'm still employed as of January 15th, the 2nd job goes. Sometimes having a firm date in your mind can create some light at the end of the tunnel.
I also think you should take a 2-week vacation from the 2nd job, and get some sleep. It's hard to figure tough things out when you're sleep-deprived.
Get yourself some good multivitamins, and get some sunshine on your face at lunchtime in order to keep yourself healthy.
After you are well rested, you should sit yourself down and seriously consider the roommate option.
posted by vignettist at 1:16 PM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also think you should take a 2-week vacation from the 2nd job, and get some sleep. It's hard to figure tough things out when you're sleep-deprived.
Get yourself some good multivitamins, and get some sunshine on your face at lunchtime in order to keep yourself healthy.
After you are well rested, you should sit yourself down and seriously consider the roommate option.
posted by vignettist at 1:16 PM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:17 PM on September 1, 2013 [5 favorites]