We all have to pay the bills, and ideally we would like a bit left over each month to fund a social life, gifts, luxuries etc.
Some people’s solution to this issue is to take on a second job in addition to their regular full-time job. Many people who work in pubs and bars in the evening have, for example, put in a ‘full’ day in some other line of work first. The Office for National Statistics estimates that more than one million Britons have more than one job.
However, before you go down this route, think carefully about whether it’s the right course of action.
Firstly, you need to check your contract of employment. Your contract might say either that you are prohibited from having additional employment, or that you need the company’s permission to do this.
Working two jobs can be very stressful and can affect your health and your relationships with family and friends. It can lead to sleep problems, especially if you get in late from your evening job and then get up early the next day for your main job.
You also need to consider what hours you are expected to work in your main job. Most people have official contracted working hours, but many people report that they rarely leave work at the time specified in their contract. You certainly won’t earn any brownie points with your boss and your colleagues if you leave on the dot of 5pm to go to your second job, while everyone else is still hard at it.
It may also be the case that while you may earn a fair bit more from working a second job, you find that you are working such long hours in total that there is no time to spend your earnings.
Finally, consider that having a second job may cost you a lot more in transport and/or childcare costs.
Far better than working a second job is working paid overtime via your main job, so maybe ask your boss if this is an option.
Another option might be to work freelance for your second job. Whilst there may be an issue of who your clients will be, and where your work will come from, if you are able to do this it can allow you to choose your own working hours. Contrast this with the idea of having to be at the pub all the way from 7pm to 11.30pm to staff the bar and clear up afterwards.
Also, if you feel you don’t earn enough from your main job, why not see if you can obtain a better paid job, with the assistance of your KennedyPearce consultant?
If, however, you do end up working two jobs, make sure HM Revenue & Customs are aware of this, so they can make sure you pay the right amount of tax.