Second job ideas?

[JDarling]

It's official. We did our taxes this past weekend and ...well, "The paycheck cometh and the tax man taketh away." We owe just over $1000.00. 2nd jobs seem inevitable for us (Vent: It really is insane. A couple making well (typo correction) above min. wage at 2 full-time jobs should be able to afford 1 vacation a year w/o going bankrupt... They really do charge you for the sunshine out here in cali. Alright - Vent Done) at least for now.

So - any suggestions? We don't have much free time left and WILL NOT scarifice having 1 day a week off together. We've learned the hard way that we need that much. It would be great if we could find something to do together. I do have the secret shopper deal through second-to-none.com, but there really isn't too much on there in my area. I've heard E-bay mentioned and that will help, but we need something with a semi steady income. (Something preferably low stress and fun - if that's possible.) Where should we look?
Thanks!

 

[ceecee]

Making minimum wage has got to be tough (if I read that right). Maybe go back to a technical school or something to retrain. As far as a second job you could do together. My sister lives in CA and they have a traveling dog washer!!! This guy actually comes to your house and washes the dog and charges $20.00 and up (depending on the services). They also will walk your dog for a fee. Maybe if you like dogs!!! I thought that sounded like a neat job.

 

[JDarling]

Ooo... we could definately do dog walking! We've got a 7 month old boxer ourselves and LOVE dogs. Would have more if we had more space. We actually both make well over Min. wage. Think more like just above two times min. wage each. It's just amazing what things cost out here. I'm a CPC (certified professional coder) and I'm currently looking at a job that would give me at least $3 more/hour, but I'd have to buy a couple bus passes. DH is working full time and going to school as well to get his GEG to become a gem appraiser. Until he gets there, which could be a by the end of the year, if he puts his nose to the books.

I've just started buying some things in bulk, so I'm going to see if that new grocery plan helps us out a tad more. We'll see!
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[fireman17]

My DW and I never do our own taxes. My brother in law is an accountant and he does them for us. I only work one job and my wife stays at home and we got back $12,000 from federal and $1,300 from the state. You may want to take a little more out of your check each week or maybe have an accountant look at your taxes you may be missing some deductions.

20 days until we're in the world
Been there, Done That, Going Back YAHOO!!!! :thewave:

Happy Dance Time

Me, DW, 7, 3, 1

 

[JDarling]

My DW and I never do our own taxes. My brother in law is an accountant and he does them for us. I only work one job and my wife stays at home and we got back $12,000 from federal and $1,300 from the state. You may want to take a little more out of your check each week or maybe have an accountant look at your taxes you may be missing some deductions.

Thanks for the suggestion, but we know why we owe this year. I did some independt contracting work last year for about $3000.00. So that's where the $1000.00 something comes from. We had to spend it on an emergency (I had a $1000.00 in savings until our car died in Feb. and we had to spend $1500.00 in repairs), so that did us in for a while.
Next year should be great though! We'll get all the deductions for our intrest in our mortgages!

 

[kandeebunny]

Look for a job you would enjoy, with benefits you could use. Perhaps a department store, where you could buy x-mas gifts and necessities with an employee discount. You said you love pets, what about working at the local pet store...again the discounts on food/toys could save you a ton. Not only do you have extra income, but a discount onstuff you need/use already.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'm a huge fan of working retail. I've worked at two different places in the past four years and have ended up at a company I LOVE (was working for a really bad shoe company). I'm only 22 but am in graduate school. They are paying me to go to school (I'm a teaching assistant and research assistant on top of taking classes) so it's essentially like a full time job (except I get homework and tests- woohoo). So I supplement my income with working 10-15 hrs a week retail. They are very flexible and work around what I can do and are usually only 5 hour shifts! I often work the 5-10pm shift on weekdays and work whenever on the weekends.

And let me tell you... everyone now gets gifts from my store for xmas and bdays

 

[golfgal]

I agree that working retail is good, if you can both get a job at the same store and work the same or close to the same hours. Many of the major department stores have commissioned departments and you can make pretty good money for the hours worked.

 

[strasfamily]

Since you are in So. California, how close to Disneyland are you? That would be a fun second job!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

What about phone book delivery or newspaper delivery? Back home those were easy jobs to come by but now that I want one it seems a lot harder to get.

 

[Micki_Streeter]

Hi J.Darling,
I will send you an email also. I am not sure if this will interest you or not, but I know I have had alot of people join my company for tax benefits that you get for owning a home based business which is what I do and have been doing for five years now. I have had alot of success with it also, which has allowed me and my family to make the trips to disney every year for two weeks like we have been. I work from home for a consumer direct marketing company. Now do not worry.. there is no sales involved or no selling products, collecting money from people, delivering products, etc. LOL Go to my personal website that is in my signature line below.. put in your name to request more info. and it will take you to the main page with alot more info. May be for you, it may not, but it can not hurt to take a look. It is great fulltime, part time, or even in your spare time.

 

[disney 4me2]

Here are some ideas:
1- you could start up a car detailing business together. Wash, wax, clean cars. This could be quite profitable and you could post ads in grocery stores, small newspapers, ect..
2- Could either of you tutor a student? Tutors get at least $25 per hour, and you do not have to be certified in teaching, just know the subject you are tutoring in. Of course some college education is helpful. Lots of kids need help with math.Again, post ads in grocery stores, call the school, ask to talk to the guidance office and tell them you are interested, they should be able to help you.
3- You could open a shopping service for elderly or homebound people, buying and delivering groceries and charging a percentage .
4-You could sell Avon or Tupperware
5-You could waitress. I made more money when I was a waitress than I do teaching! If you get into a good restaurant, the money is very good.You can usually be flexible with hours too.

 

[JDarling]

Thanks everyone for the ideas!

We live too far away from Disneyland for it to be worth it to work there, UNFORUNATELY ('cause you know I'd LOVE to and the perks would be great!).

We'll be exploring the options more this weekend and you guys have given us a great jumping off point!

Actually... come to think of it, there is a Disney Store nearby...

 

[L107ANGEL]

I am unsure on Insurance laws where you live but in PA there are exclusions for delivery purposes. Now I am not saying all of my insured's take these jobs and call me up to say they are doing this.... Just be aware that Insurance is tricky! I have done waitressing and bartending in the past. If you get into the right place, you would be surprised on how much you can make. I also enjoyed these jobs.

 

[MrsPete]

Here's an entirely different side of the coin: Instead of looking for MORE income, why don't you focus on ways to SPEND LESS? It may or may not be do-able in your case, but for may people it's a better choice.

Consider: The more money you make, the more taxes you will pay. The less time you will have, so the more fast-food you'll eat. If you work at the mall, you'll see stuff that you "must have". It's quite possible to go into the hole financially BECAUSE OF a second job.

My suggestion: Get the book The Complete Tightwad Gazette and search for ways to close up your spending gaps. You certainly won't want to do everything in that book, but you'll find some things that'll make sense. You can save tons by raising the deductible on your insurance, buying clothing used, dumpster diving (though that one's a big extreme), making homemade gifts, skipping sodas . . . the list goes on and on. Figure out what'll work for you.

 

[JDarling]

Mrs Pete -
Great suggestion! For us... we keep trying to think of ways to do it and we've plumb run out. Recycling will be the next thing on our list though. I plan on seeing if I can start a soda can box at work. DH and I don't drink soda. We have the occasional bottle of wine (1/week or less) if it's under $3. We drive 1 car and walk whereever we can (my walking shoes that truck that mile and 1/2 to work with me every morning are definately proving that fact). We haven't bought new clothes for over a year now, though after having lost 80lbs, I am in need of them. We re-wear things several times before washing them. We've stopped buying dog treats and toys some time ago. We shut off cable. We've started selling on E-bay what junk we have (which is very little, but every little bit helps). We turn down invitations from friends left and right because we can't afford to go out with them. We haven't been out to eat in quite a while. We spend under $200/month on groceries (and that includes the dog and cat food). Our electric bill is usually less than $40 a month, due to using up candles as gifts. A friend and I joined the Disney Movie Club. She's buying this year and I promised I'd buy next year.

I really have to thank my lucky stars that we have TONS of food in the house. After a good grocery order, suddenly 2 different families have decided to feed us! LOL We went to a barbecue where all we brought was the entertainment (aka - Clydas, our dog), and tonight my parents "bought too much lasagna" and want my DH and I to come over and help them eat it. We did all our cooking last night so we have quick food to heat up and grab for lunch rather than give in to the snack machine temptations. Whenever we have a party with a friend or 2 over, it's usually because we have a free pizza coupon or something.

I think dumpster diving may just about be the only thing we HAVEN'T done. I am leaning more and more towards a couple hours at the local Disney Store (if they are hiring) so that I could get some perks for our trip maybe.

 

[Micki_Streeter]

MrsPete, what you said is true, the more money people make, the more they spend. But in times now of days, so many people who scrimp and save and watch their money, still have a tough time getting by That is just due to the economy these days. I had no choice but to look for a second income five years ago.... I could not pull the strings any tighter

 

[JDarling]

Keep your fingers crossed for me! I went to a great interview yesterday. Isn't a good sign when they ask you "When can you start?" And the like? It wouldn't be for a second job, but it's a hiring paying day job. They are offering over time as well. Yeah! So I might not need that second job anyway (though I still might apply at the Disney Store just for more play money and maybe some CM benefits - if they get any now-a-days).
I'd have to figure out how to get there, since the nearest bus stop looked about 2 miles away yesterday, but - as a friend of mine said, "First you gotta get the gold - Then find a way to get it home." I can invest in a bike. If I can walk 1 mile to work now, what's another mile?
I really hope I get it! (It's a casual environment too, so I wouldn't even have to buy new clothes for it!)

 

[Zoesmama03]

Thanks for the suggestion, but we know why we owe this year. I did some independt contracting work last year for about $3000.00. So that's where the $1000.00 something comes from. We had to spend it on an emergency (I had a $1000.00 in savings until our car died in Feb. and we had to spend $1500.00 in repairs), so that did us in for a while.
Next year should be great though! We'll get all the deductions for our intrest in our mortgages!

Did you use all your deductions because I made just over $4000 last year watching kids in my home and we still got back a good chunk. DH also doesn't claim dependants so he checks are alittle smaller but he pays a lot over what our taxes become. Then again we also make barely over min. wage and we got to claim one child and we got the earned income credit or whatever it is.

Anyway there is a lot of deductions for self employment I hope you used them. Cell phones, supplies needed, car use what ever things you may have bought or used for this work. I got to claim my phone, electricity and a certain sq footage of my "home"(just an apartment) and so on. We did owe a little self employment tax but I was only doing this 6 months or so out of that year and was working and paying taxes out of my check before that so I had paid in enough taxes to cover it.

I'd change your W4 though to claim less deductions to put a little bit more in taxes or you can simiply do normal deductions and add $5-10 a month to cover the taxes. Or if you have troubles saving yourself(which would gain a little interest) you could make it more and have a good refund for vacations but its best if you can work out a savings yourself because although little you can get that little bit of interest instead of none. Alot of people believe its better to owe a "small"(not $1000) amount than get a huge refund. But dh and I have not been good at saving yet trying to change that.

You could do newspapers but then again your going to have self employment tax. And it leaves you with little sleep time. McDonalds is always hiring. I dunno. Do an overnight daycare $15-20 a night and pretty much the kids will be sleeping unless you get one that is using daycare full time and works graveyard in which case that person may want kids up so they sleep in day like them. But some people just do drop ins especially on weekends when parents want to go out. I guess it depends on how you are with kids.

I think some others have better ideas.

 

[Micki_Streeter]

Keep your fingers crossed for me! I went to a great interview yesterday. Isn't a good sign when they ask you "When can you start?" And the like? It wouldn't be for a second job, but it's a hiring paying day job. They are offering over time as well.

WOOO HOOO!! Congrats