The Checklist

Keep this in your mind before you start your drive for extra cash.

• Check your main employer's policies before you even consider looking for a second job. Check your current employer's policies about holding outside employment.
• Do it in short doses. Moonlighting in spurts to reach some short-term objectives usually works better than working multiple jobs for long stretches of time.
• Take second jobs with less stress. If your first job is on the nerve-wracking side, find a second one that is more laid-back.
• Find jobs that are geographically close. Your time will be limited, so don't add another long commute to your daily slog.
• Ease up on the throttle. Since your working multiple jobs, it's probably time to ease up on those extracurricular activities. What those activities are depends on the kind of lifestyle you lead. However, this is not an excuse to be a boring stiff. Just cut away some time devoted to hobbies. Don't ditch them together.
• Budget time for significant others. Find a way to schedule some time with your family and friends or those relationships will suffer. Oh, and if you're married or in a relationship, make sure to it by the chief before going through it.
• Know when it's time to quit. When you finally reach your financing goal or when you are beginning to mentally and physically break down, you must reduce your load. However, that does not mean quitting your second job if you can still manage it.