Dual (or Triple) Careers

[adamtheman]

I am curious about how many people here on RFD hold multiple careers or are planning on holding multiple careers at the same time, like working two full-time jobs.

I'll start. I'm currently a Paramedic and I'm also a Level C (working up to Journeyman) Welder. I work about 95 hours a week + 8-10 hours OT and am pulling in around $8,500 a month (edit. That's CLEARING $8500 a month... but I always owe at tax time, usually quite a bit)

Anyone want to give me some motivation to continue my horrible life? :D Please...

[Audiogenic]

If you are under 30, your body will hold up in the short term but in the end, it's not worth sacrificing your health long term.

[83_gemini]

Ye gods that's crazy. Why are you killing yourself? It certainly is a bad long term strategy. No one _needs_ to make 100k/year.

[jerryhung]

That's 105 hrs/week, out of 168 hrs/week
which gives you 63 hrs/week -> 9 hrs/day -> 7 hrs sleep + 2 hrs home time?

OUCH
money is good though

[shawn99]

I think generally people do what your doing for short term and in the hopes of long term financial freedom.

well what are you goals? pay off a house within a couple of years? Invest so your money grows?
Have you read this article, http://www.canadianbusiness.com/my_money/investing/article.jsp?content=20060704_150040_5240

quick tax tips,
1)Defer Taxes Using Registered Plans

Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
Registered Pension Plan (RPP)

2)Make Maximum Use of RRSPs

Maximize contribution
Contribute early in year
Borrow to contribute if necessary

3)$2000 Overcontribution

No immediate deduction
Allows you to shelter investment income
Deduct contribution prior to retirement

4)Home Buyers Plan

Primarily for first time purchases
Borrow up to $20,000 from RRSP
Repay over 15 years

[zoogle]

- work as an apprentice electrician 45-55hrs/week
- fix computers on call 5-10hrs week.
- manage and maintain my 3 houses 3-4hrs week

50 - 70 hrs a week of work and it feels like I don't have time to poo. I can't even imagine what 100hrs a week is. I did 84hrs in a week once and all I did was work, eat, washup, sleep

[neo_geo]

I used to do this, I guess its the same career although I would argue support was pretty much customer service.

50-60hrs/week SAP Consulting
10hrs/week Website design
24hr/week IT operations/support

Finished grad school now and working towards a CA at a public accounting firm. Probably working just as many hours, lol

But I was able to pay for most of grad school, rent, fix my car and I travelled around Europe and Asia. I didnt enjoy life during that period but now its somewhat ok.

Just get to where you want to be then relax otherwise you'll go nuts or get sick.

[wheel]

Suck it up. Working hard is fun :). I used to work full time doing software support as well as work full time at a bar. Throw in a couple hours a day in the gym and you've got a full lifestyle. And the first year or so that I started my own company I easily worked 16+ hours a day, 7 days a week.

personally I think it's good to work hard. As noted, eventually you've got to back off because your body won't hack it, but in your 20's without any commitments you might as well get ahead financially. Once the committments start to roll in just plain old working two jobs won't be a possible option anymore.

[adamtheman]

Thanks for the responses. As you can see I haven't had much time to check this thread, cause of course I've been working.

I actually didn't intend for this thread to turn into a thread about me... I wanted to hear about other peoples misery (which I sort of did). Thanks for making me feel a bit better those of you who are working a lot too.

[ReDmAn]

it's great if you have no social life

[xwar]

some make that money in 1/2 the time. I'd reconsider your options, maybe finding a career that will pay that money is less time :|

[MK-com]

yeah i think that's too much.
when i worked at enterprise (the car rental company), i put in about 50 hours a week in addition to a couple of correspondence courses i was taking for school (english lit -- lots and lots of reading, writing essays, etc). i thought that was killer. i had almost no social life for those 8 months.

[insanity]

I think a lot of people in the IT field do a full time job and consult on the side to supplement their income. I do that and have been doing it for 10 years now.

[jdmkidd]

I think a lot of people in the IT field do a full time job and consult on the side to supplement their income. I do that and have been doing it for 10 years now.

I agree with the above. I have a f/t web dev job but run multiple ppc sites + a business, but nuts you rack up some insane hours I thought I was busy...

[airodus]

I run my own business, but with the disparity in clients and contracts, it often feels like it's "multiple careers." My hours are roughly:

40 hours/week - IT Consulting (dozens of projects at any one time)
15 hours/week - Management Consulting
10 hours/week - Real Estate (more a hobby, but it's good money)

Plus several hours a week just to keep the business running (paperwork, hustling contracts).

I generally do 10-12 hours a day, but try to enjoy my weekends, unless there's an emergency. I find I have plenty of free time to do things.