Which would you do if you had the choice?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
January 10, 2011 1:17pm CST
I've spent the past couple weeks applying for jobs. I mostly applied for part-time evening jobs. If I get one, my FIL will watch the kids for free, and I will work a few evenings a week for a little bit of extra money.
However last week I decided it wouldn't hurt to start applying for secretarial jobs, since I'm going for an Associates degree in that field. On Wednesday I will interview a potential babysitter in case I land a job working 9-5.
Today I got a phone call for an interview! It's at a nearby gas station, so part-time evening hours, probably earning minimum wage. If I get the job I will take it, because a job is a job, and I can continue my search after taking the job.
But now I'm starting to wonder what I should do if I'm offered a daytime position as a secretary making like $3 an hour above minimum wage.
I know I can't do both.. as the evening job starts around 5pm and the day job would end at 5pm.. too much of an overlap no matter what I do there (and chances are the day job is a 20 minute drive).
Should I keep the part-time evening job where I do not have to pay any child care?
Or do I take the day job, working 40 hours a week, but paying a babysitter for 40 hours a week of child care for 2 kids (1 full day and 1 half day when there is school).
Sadly I think I'd earn more money with the part time evening job.
3 people like this
15 responses
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Ah choices choices. I don't envy you lol. I would say go with the gas station job. Could you imagine working a full time job running kids to daycare, picking kids up and daycare and then coming home to deal with five kids, doing homework, cooking supper, etc? I would think it would be exhausting. At least with a part time job you are making some money and getting to keep it, instead of paying it to daycare and gas and lunches etc.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
I am slightly worried about how I'd get my school work done with working a full time job. It's not like I can dedicate 1 day to doing my school work. They expect you to log in everyday to take part in discussions and do course work, plus home work, weekly assignments, reading assignments, quizzes, tests. They estimate it equals out to about 10 hours a week.. which I could easily do 2 hours a day right now. But if I were working till 5pm everynight, coming home to cook dinner and get the kids ready for bed.. when would I have enough time to do 2 hours of school work a day? The class week ends on Saturday and starts on Monday, so it's not like I can cram it all in on Sunday which is my free day.
Though before I make any final decisions I need to actually have a job! An interview does not guarantee I have a job!
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Well, like you said, it would be cheaper to not have to pay the childcare because even though it is a part time job..if you took the full time job you would be paying out half your pay on childcare so it would basically be working all that time for nothing so it is just easier to take the part-time one..and get free childcare.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Alot of woman find it easier to do the part-time jobs till the chilren are all in school then that makes it easier to take the full time jobs. But if you have someone willing to watch them free that helps alot.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
I have a friend who stays home. She's currently pregnant so she won't be getting any sort of job anytime soon. The next time I talk to her I plan on bringing up the idea of her babysitting for me. It would help us both out.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Yes, at least for now. I can re-assess the situation anytime I choose. If I feel in a few months I'd rather work a day job.. then I'll find one. Or perhaps since I have the option, I'll wait until a really good day job comes along!
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Since the priority right now is getting a little bit of income coming in, the part time evening will do more for you. Child care is quite expensive. The other thing is, you are being a mom and wife, and going to school. Forty hours a week at a job on top of that would probably be too much and would cause you burn out. When summer comes you would have even more kids in daycare. Your cost analysis is correct, you actually will make more working minimum and letting your father in law watch the kids. The other thing, when children go to child care they are exposed to more illness and get sick more often. I am sure you have experienced the raging virus that sweeps through the whole family starting with one child.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
If I got the day job, I would have my FIL watch the older 3 kids after school and when there was no school. The oldest is 13 and the twins are 8. I don't trust them home alone.. but they'd be fine in FIL's care. FIL is too old to watch the younger 2 for more than a few hours.. so I couldn't have him watch them all day.
The daycare provider I plan to interview doesn't currently watch any other children aside from her one child.
But money and time are certainly a factor. If I finish school before getting a full time job, by then my youngest will be school age, so I wouldn't need as much child care.. and my oldest would be 15. I might be able to trust him enough to watch the kids for a couple hours after school at that point.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
11 Jan 11
Sadly, working the part time evening job would probably mean more money, but I see what you mean about the work experience of taking a secretarial job. I guess it would depend on what you need more right now, the money or the work experience. Whichever the case I hope you get one of them. Jobs are hard to find anymore.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 11
They sure are.. I was beginning to think I wasn't going to get any kind of job. I was so excited when I got the call for the interview!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jan 11
Find me a sugar daddy. 
Well OK seriously. That is a tough one, and that is the same sort of situation that keeps women from getting off of welfare. The wages minus the child care costs are just not worth it.
But it's not just the money, of course, there's also the issue of getting experiences in your chosen field. Will you be able to handle the hours and go to school too though?
What would I do? Not a clue other than list all the pros and cons, and see if that makes it a bit clearer.
Well OK seriously. That is a tough one, and that is the same sort of situation that keeps women from getting off of welfare. The wages minus the child care costs are just not worth it.
But it's not just the money, of course, there's also the issue of getting experiences in your chosen field. Will you be able to handle the hours and go to school too though?
What would I do? Not a clue other than list all the pros and cons, and see if that makes it a bit clearer.@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jan 11
My original goal was to just have long term employment to show on my resume when I begin to look for a full time job, and right now our main focus is getting more income.. so it seems the evening job would make more sense. The experience would be good, but I think having a degree and showing some long term employment is just as important as having experience.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
10 Jan 11
u WILL HAVE TO WEIGH THE PROS & CONS. I know child care is very expensive here.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
It's expensive here too. This lady I'm speaking to on Wednesday wants to charge me $30-$35 per day for 1 child all day and 1 child half day.. and that's her cheaper rate! Originally she wanted to charge $8 an hour, but I knew I would not get a job paying more than $11 an hour, so I'd end up losing money there. She renegociated the lower rate.. but that's still a lot of money to shell out for child care.
The first step is seeing if I have a choice to make. I have an interview.. that doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to get the job!
1 person likes this
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 11
wow, kats..
you are really getting busy..
i work fulltime.. and yes, i am 'paid' to work from 8 to 5.30.. often times (like daily)... i only get to leave the office at around 6.30-7.00.. so.. i'd never think of working a part-time job after that... thinking of the chores i have at home, plus my kidz waiting at home - tires me completely..
a lot of things have to be considered of course - the total pay i'm getting, how much time i'd really be outside the house, how to jugle kids/home/work.. plus the fact that you've said you've started going back to school...
dunno.. but if it was me.. i'd do part-time + study.. and if the timing is right,
do 2-part-times.. plus.. with part-time jobs.. it's probably 'easier' to quit and change jobs.. but once i get my degree... rethink the whole situation again...
Good Luck + God Bless !
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 11
My goal is to have long term employment to show on future resumes, regardless of what type of employment that is. My resume currently shows that I haven't had a job in over 3 years, and the last job I had was only for 3 months! That does not look good to employers. I want a good resume when I do go out searching for a good job.. and even if it says I was employed at a gas station, that's better than no employment at all. But whatever job I get will be long term!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jan 11
When I told hubby of the interview, it seemed he was leaning towards me taking the evening position. I think the main reason I want the day job is to have the experience to make it easier to find a better job when I graduate. Though initially my plan was just to have employment, not only to help financially, but because any type of employment looks better on a resume than no employment!
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
11 Jan 11
katsmeow1213,
I'd have to say that the part-time evening job sounds more practical and most of all suitable for you. On one hand, you will be able to have time to study for your Associate degree while I don't think a full time day job will allow you to do that.
I think it is about doing one thing at a time and coming out better at the end of the day here. Besides, your day job doesn't seem to pay well enough to give up your opportunities and etc..
I am sure that upon completion of your degree, the day job will be paying better with the needed qualification.
Take care and hope you would be able to make up your mind.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 11
If nothing else, once I complete my degree my youngest son will be entering school so that's less hours I'd need a babysitter for.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
11 Jan 11
of course the part time job makes a whole lot more sense. im not sure you can trust babysitters a lot these days anyway, plus, the money you make extra would be eaten up with babysitter pays and gas prices. 
so you are right. start slow and build. 
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
11 Jan 11
Like you said, a job is a job. So if turns out that the night time job would be more profitable, I'd say go for that at the gas station.
I know that at the back of your mind the, secretarial job would still be there. So unless your situation changes, I think you should stick to what is 'doable' right now.
Of course, if the day job turns out to be even more than what you expected, and could bridge the gap between the two choices, then...
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 11
Either way I don't currently have a job.. I just have an interview, finally, after weeks of job searching! I think the evening job would be more profitable, and I could still get a secretarial job whenever I wanted.
@kondaus (8)
• India
11 Jan 11
My suggestion for you is to work 40 hours a week,you will have job satisfaction in working and also you can have some money in your pocket for your future purpose.
@titchy1231 (732)
•
11 Jan 11
i agree. as much as the day job would pay alot more, it wouldnt be any point if you are paying that wage for childcare.
@zenkey23 (416)
• Philippines
11 Jan 11
honestly its a hard thing to decide but if your priority is the INCOME you can get. YOu should dont let the opportunity pass away. But if you think that you cannot do it just maintain your jobs now or look for another job.
I know its hard but if you found one its a jackpot!
Goodluck to you and hope you will have a happy life ^_^ Do not stressed yourself! always take rest :) HAppy myLotting ^_^
