Instead, use that extra time to work on your studies and build relationships with professors and counselors. If you’re below a certain GPA threshold i.e. 3.5, do whatever you can to raise the GPA beyond and then take your time doing whatever you want.

Seriously, the “C” you got in economics may ironically hurt your chances to get a certain job and make X amount of money in your lifetime.

Is there an allowance of your income where you don’t get taxed? If so, how much is it?

I ask because in England £6035 is tax-free. Anything you earn above that is taxed at 20% or 40%.

Often when my friends take on a second job it doesn’t affect their tax status which is beneficial but still it is a matter of how better the time can be used.

I think it also depends about the type of work you do. If it’s something that will help you build skills that you can apply to your future career then I think it will always be beneficial.

I personally take on a job to show my ability to manage my time and still achieve. Also my job for my final year of university is going to be as a Transition Mentor (helping first years settle in at my uni). This is helpful to develop people skills, manage time and leadership skills but most importantly is the social aspect. I hope to make some good contacts next year and increase my social network.

At first I needed the money to save for a condo down payment. Now, the money is going towards retirement savings that were missed while I was building up the down payment.

A second job doesn’t force you to work 16 hour days. I work an extra 8 hours a week. I have no problem with someone working a couple extra hours a week in order to spend a little more money. You mention missing out on time spent having fun, but I can argue that with a little extra money to spend, you can have even more fun. There are pluses and minuses.

A few key points that are missing. What you make in your second job is extremely important. If you are compensated well enough, a second job is very worthwhile even if you don’t need the money for a specific immediate purpose. Also, the power of compound interest is greatly enhanced by investing early in your working career. Working a second job to be able to invest can lead to financial security at a much earlier age and even greater free time later in life.

What do you all think?

Great discussion topic.

If you’re going to have a second job, you might as well make it your own business, and make it something where you can leverage your time. For example, be a manager of others in your own enterprise, or create a product of your own. Neither of these return fixed dollars per hour worked.

It’s bad enough working to make money for someone else in your regular job. It seems to make sense that your second “job” would be working for yourself.

Clair

Will he listen to anyone? Nope. Will he probably be okay? Yep. But you should keep trying just in case.