Now that the kids are in school or soon will be, have you considered taking on a little part time work to pay the bills, pay down debt or have a little extra for vacation, furniture or other new purchases? Part time work may be a good solution for some. Here are some considerations to make sure that you don’t wind up spending most of your pay check just on preparing to go to work or have the opportunity for work.
Benefits of the Job
When you are considering applying for part time work, take a look at the benefits that might go along with being an employee. For example, if you work in a retail environment, you will probably be entitled to a discount. Of course you don’t want to eat up your salary buying things that you wouldn’t normally buy, but if you have a fixer upper house, for example, you might want to consider working for a home improvement store. Maybe the company includes reimbursement for a health club membership. Explore your options.
Insurance and Hours
Check the cut off for work related benefits. Many employers will offer health insurance when an employee works at least 20 hours. If this is the case, you may want to think about reaching that cut off. You could possibly save money on your health care costs, be entitled to employer 401K matching, etc.
The Cost of Working
Try to reduce the costs associated with working in the first place, even part time. For example, you might want to work longer hours in fewer days to reduce the cost of gas or public transportation. Maybe you can work from home to eliminate a commuting cost altogether, along with any additional working wardrobe. Or, shop for for your wardrobe at a thrift store or consignment shop and select classic pieces that can be mixed and matched for several new looks.