Thinking of getting a part time job

[disneymommagic]

I Go to school full time I trying for my law degree, I have been a stay at home mother for around 7 years I waited until my kids DD13 and DS 8 where in school full time to go back for my education. I am lucky that DH makes enough money that will planning and budgeting i do not need to work, however as the kids are getting older I find I want to vacation more with them. And with the cost of life medical and such this is not a yearly option as I would like.

When I was younger my family never really vacationed I did go to disneyland with my dad once but I was so young I do not have memory's of it ,and one year my grandmother took me and my brother. I wish I had the memory of family trips and what not and want to give that to my children.

I told my friend that I was thinking of getting a part time job at Costco or even at one of the local restaurants for extra money so we can vacation more, and to help pay off the vacation we go on in December we charged this trip to our credit cards. What she said surprised me ,she told me why would I work for minim wage when I didn't have to , and how would it look to my kids friends parents if they saw me waiting tables or checking them out at my costco , they would think we were broke and most likely think less of us. I never even thought of this and I hate to admit it because it will make me sound horrid but I don't want anyone to think my family is broke when we have a life that some are not as lucky to have , I just want to go to the disney vacations and give my kids memories I wish I had.

So now that my long winded back story is done my question

Do you look down on your children's friends parents who work in lower wage jobs?

And has anyone done this applied for a job to pay for additional vacations and other extras?

Thanks

 

[Gracie09]

Honestly I wouldn't care what others think and if you were my friend I would think you had a job. That's it.
But a bit of unsolicited advice, if you want to go into law, look for a job at a law firm. Filing, answering phone etc to start. Get some experience and connections.

 

[mrsklamc]

If they think less of you for working an honest job, then their opinion is not worth taking into consideration.

 

[chobie]

If they think less of you for working an honest job, then their opinion is not worth taking into consideration.

Exactly.

 

[borgthe]

Why would you care if anyone thought you were broke?

 

[msjprincess]

I just took a look at your blog that you linked. If I was trying to save money towards vacation I would do away with all of the VIP Tours. JMHO

There's nothing wrong with working at Costco or waiting tables. But if you're only doing it for vacation money there are so many ways to save money.

 

[HookdonWDW]

My thoughts are this:

- I don't really care what others think about me working an honest job.
- If I was a SAHM and was going to school F/T, I don't know if I would take a job that I didn't need (from your post, you could still afford normal expenses and normal vacations) and take away from family time... it seems kind of counter intuitive to spend time away from family so you can go on vacation with them.
- I would add up the expenses of taking the p/t job, and see how much you are really making afterwards. Be sure to account for child care/activities/gas/clothing/meals out, taxes, etc... Often you will be making less than you think.

 

[mrsklamc]

Also- vacation memories with your family do not have to be deluxe dining, VIP tours, or even Disney, at all.

 

[clh2]

You need different friends!

I had a sis-in-law who always complained that they were broke. IMHO it was due to $2000 cello bows for her kids, plus the expenses of their activities and all the name brand clothes. My BIL is a vet. SIL couldn't possibly get a part-time job because she was worried about what people would think..

My favorite SIL (a wife of a physician) grabbed various part time jobs throughout the years, things that interested her along the way. She has been a courier for a law firm, as well as a trip facilitator for a travel company. Specifically she was paid to go one trips with mostly elderly people. This SIL didn't want to be stuck in the house while her doctor-husband was working..

Do what works best for you and your family!

 

[trip]

My thoughts are this:

- I don't really care what others think about me working an honest job.
- If I was a SAHM and was going to school F/T, I don't know if I would take a job that I didn't need (from your post, you could still afford normal expenses and normal vacations) and take away from family time... it seems kind of counter intuitive to spend time away from family so you can go on vacation with them.
- I would add up the expenses of taking the p/t job, and see how much you are really making afterwards. Be sure to account for child care/activities/gas/clothing/meals out, taxes, etc... Often you will be making less than you think.

This. Plus remember your income will be combined with your husbands and taxed at his rate.

I would think you would need your free time for law school homework.

 

[LJSquishy]

First, good for you for going back to school after that many years as a SAHM.

Second, it doesn't matter what people might think about seeing you working somewhere that offers a low wage. It isn't their business at all.

Third, no one will think less of you or think you can't afford your lifestyle. Many people work part-time jobs specifically so they can have more extras in their life (extra vacations, beauty treatments, store discounts, etc). It's so common!

My husband's former supervisor (quite wealthy) told us that his wife took a part-time job at Williams-Sonoma during the holiday season for the employee discount & extra fun money. They didn't need the money, their kids were in high school and beyond, and she was a housewife/SAHM. She loved working there for the social aspect and the store discount!

Go for it!!!

I've heard Costco is difficult to get into if you don't 'know someone', but definitely try. They pay well and they have a very low employee turnover which means they must love their jobs and/or employee benefits & pay.

 

[drinkme]

I agree what some of the previous posters mentioned about the taxes. Since your dh has a good income I'll guess you having a part time minimum wage job will go mostly to taxes. If you have to spend ANY extra money to work, ie child care, convenience meals, transportation, etc. then don't even bother.

Don't forget that the extra income may not only kick you onto the the next tax bracket but it may bump you up enough so you get no tax credit per child. You still can claim your kids, just can't get the $1200 tax credit(or whatever the amount is, we haven't gotten it in years.)

For my family the amount is a $40000 a year income to have a second income.
Anything under that amount and it isn't worth if for me to work. You can find a lot of good financial calculators on the internet. Punch in your numbers and see if it's worth it to go back to work. You will be amazed at what you'll learn.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I went back to work in February, after I saw a runDisney event I wanted to do. I didn't want to keep asking my DH to pay for these trips, so I got a job to pay my own way. I was a SAHM for 17 years. Now, I work part time as a cake decorator at DQ. I equate it to the boy who wants a bike, so he gets a paper route. My kids are 23 and 16. I think it's a good lesson for them to see Mom wants to pay for things on her own. I was more worried what my parents and sisters would think. They have been supportive, surprisingly. Most of the money I earn goes into a separate savings account. On occasion, a small portion goes toward food, manicures (not as often as they were, due to work schedules), DD's spirit wear, and admissions to high school sporting events.

 

[wiigirl]

I agree what some of the previous posters mentioned about the taxes. Since your dh has a good income I'll guess you having a part time minimum wage job will go mostly to taxes. If you have to spend ANY extra money to work, ie child care, convenience meals, transportation, etc. then don't even bother.

Don't forget that the extra income may not only kick you onto the the next tax bracket but it may bump you up enough so you get no tax credit per child. You still can claim your kids, just can't get the $1200 tax credit(or whatever the amount is, we haven't gotten it in years.)

For my family the amount is a $40000 a year income to have a second income.
Anything under that amount and it isn't worth if for me to work. You can find a lot of good financial calculators on the internet. Punch in your numbers and see if it's worth it to go back to work. You will be amazed at what you'll learn.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I Go to school full time I trying for my law degree, I have been a stay at home mother for around 7 years I waited until my kids DD13 and DS 8 where in school full time to go back for my education. I am lucky that DH makes enough money that will planning and budgeting i do not need to work, however as the kids are getting older I find I want to vacation more with them. And with the cost of life medical and such this is not a yearly option as I would like.

When I was younger my family never really vacationed I did go to disneyland with my dad once but I was so young I do not have memory's of it ,and one year my grandmother took me and my brother. I wish I had the memory of family trips and what not and want to give that to my children.

I told my friend that I was thinking of getting a part time job at Costco or even at one of the local restaurants for extra money so we can vacation more, and to help pay off the vacation we go on in December we charged this trip to our credit cards. What she said surprised me ,she told me why would I work for minim wage when I didn't have to , and how would it look to my kids friends parents if they saw me waiting tables or checking them out at my costco , they would think we were broke and most likely think less of us. I never even thought of this and I hate to admit it because it will make me sound horrid but I don't want anyone to think my family is broke when we have a life that some are not as lucky to have , I just want to go to the disney vacations and give my kids memories I wish I had.

So now that my long winded back story is done my question

Do you look down on your children's friends parents who work in lower wage jobs?

And has anyone done this applied for a job to pay for additional vacations and other extras?

Thanks

This person is a friend??

Step one, find friends who are not quite as snobbish and think less of folks who work.

Step two, get job and save money

Step Three THEN go to Disney. (Paying off the card never works!)

Step Four, don't take tax advice from the DIS I am not sure where some of these folks learned to do math but... I have done taxes and I am not following the logic of "all of it will go to taxes"

I used to have several friends who worked at Talbots just for the discount. Yep, everything they made went back to Talbots, but.. it was fine with them. Do what makes you happy, not your snobbish friend

 

[momplus3]

I have 2 jobs - I have an office job during the day (9am-5:30pm) and I also deliver newspapers at 3am.

I know that there are people who look at me differently because I deliver papers or because I have 2 jobs.

I do not care what people think of my situation. I do what I do in order to take care of my family. It is none of anyone else's business what I do.

By the way, delivering papers are a great source of extra income and would not interfere with family or school hours.

 

[Sadie22]

You don't say what year of law school you are in. Did you just start? You would do well to be more involved in school activities if you have free time between classwork and family time. Make contacts, volunteer for professors, belong to campus organizations and so on. In your second and third year you may be able to get law clerk positions with law firms. The first year is probably too early for that, but it's worth asking your advisors what they think. If you do not already have your notary public commission, that's something you should get now. A job at Costco or similar is not going to advance your legal career. Applying for a receptionist position at a law firm probably will work against you.

 

[dawnhaze]

I'd ignore your friend, that person sounds like a moron.

My main concern in your position would be that a full time law degree program AND a low wage job would be a lot of stress and a huge demand on your time, which would keep you away from your family more. And if you don't really "need" the extra money, concentrating on school might be better for your educational career.

Others have also brought up the cost of working vs what you'd be making, too. At least your kids are old enough that child care probably won't be a huge problem, that can really suck.

 

[katclicks]

We live in a pretty upper middle class area (we significantly bring down avg income thanks to living in a small townhouse in a decent area). I work retail part time at a well known family clothing store minutes from school and see many parents and teachers shopping, no one treats me poorly. I would caution retail though, hours can be hard, especially this time of year. Costco pays very well, but expect to be working at times you will probably rather be home with family. Most retailers extend their hours now. I am crossing my fingers I don't have to work thanksgiving.

 

[Jeslynb]

Of course not - nothing to look down upon!

That being said, you might want to consider working PT in a law office. Might be very helpful while getting your degree.