Give Yourself a Raise

You need more money.

You already have a "day job." A good one. Maybe you're an office worker. Maybe you're a doctor. Maybe you're a teacher. Or a nurse. Or a mechanic. But the thing is you already have a job.

And you need more money.

Here are some options:

• Ask for a raise. Sure to be a crowd pleaser. Even though the Australian economy is better off than many other economies, companies are experiencing slowdowns and are working hard to keep employees on staff. Layoffs are being avoided in many cases because employee wages are holding firm or going down.
• Work more hours. If you get paid more for working more, you can simply add more time in the office, get more done, and take home more money. Easy, right? But layoffs are also being avoided because employers are cutting back hours to match the lower demand.
• Switch companies. A great way to increase your salary is to change employers. However, unemployment is on the rise, and people are competitively applying for the same jobs. So it's a employers' market. This means less money, not more. In some industries, it could work, but in most cases it will take a lot of door knocking to move companies and your chances of a big increase are slim.
• Go back to school. Many people might take advantage of this economic downturn to retool, retrain, and reinvigorate their careers. Of course, this doesn't make you any extra money.... And that was the point.
• Get a second job. If you've longed to start a business or try another career, and you need extra money, now may be the perfect time to add a layer to your day job. Keep your day job. Enjoy it. And add something else to satisfy yourself, to earn extra money, and to experience a world away from your day job.

My recommendation is that you should get the second job... add a layer... expand your horizons. I don't just mean work for someone else, there are heaps of options here.

In today's economic climate when the other options just aren't options, and even in good economic times, there is a distinct and meaningful satisfaction available to you for doing something different. You'll be surprised how much more you can fit into a day. You'll be happy to have something different to do than your day job. You'll be able to try your dream job without eliminating your core income stream. You'll meet new people. You'll expand your horizons.

How much extra money do you need? This is a key question. If you can figure it out, you should be able to determine the right second job for you. If you were to make an extra $500 per week, would that make a difference? Would it be worth it? $500 per week is $2000 per month and $24,000 per year. That's a pretty good raise.

So give yourself a raise and expand your horizons at the same time.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com