*sigh* this may take a while

DancingInTheRain

Lots to think about on the Saturday job issue. One option might be to see if you can use up any annual leave or see there's any flexibility to amend this role to a zero hours contract while you see how the land lies with the locum job? May not be an option at all of course but could help you buy a little time while you come to a firm decision on what's best for you?
Hope you enjoy your 10 days off, you certainly deserve them x

enthusiasticsaver

ohshithowdidthathappen wrote: »

(This a long ramble, so well done if you persevere to the end!!)

I've mentioned in previous posts that I want to streamline and will be giving up childminding (one of my side jobs) at Christmas. I need to make a decision very soon on what to do about my Saturday retail job (my other side job!) as there's now a very viable alternative. I'll put the details down here and I'm very open to objective suggestions and advice as I've been going round in circles as there are pros/cons to both options

1) retail job is 8 hours every Saturday and I earn £270 a month after tax/pension.... I like it there and we save an awful lot in discount and perks.
2) I've been offered a Saturday morning radiography role, it's locum, but would be indefinite as so short staffed. It would be Saturday mornings and for 5 hour shifts, I'd earn £520 a month.

Money - obviously role 2 earns more, but some of the difference is covered by discount/perks of role 1
Hours - role 2 saves me 3 hours a week and as it's locum I can take any Saturday off I like vs only 5 Saturdays a year in role 1
Enjoyment - I much prefer role 1, but is that worth sacrificing 3 hours a week of family time?
Diversity - I'm starting a role in a different area of radiography to where I have been working (the area of role 2). I'm conscious if I don't like it, role 1 gives me an alternative employer. But in reality, I know I couldn't make ends meet only working for employer 1... however many hours I did, I'd never earn enough to cover my current salary, childcare would wipe out any weekday earnings

Which option you go for depends on how much you hate your main career as there is a substantial difference in pay and probably career development and pension entitlements. I am not sure a discount on a few supermarket shops would be enough to compensate for the extra money and hours you would need to work to even earn half what you would get as a radiographer. I understand the NHS is going through a tough time and no doubt it is not easy working in it but retail is awful pay and long hours. I think I would stick with your main role for now and re evaluate when your children are older and you do not need to pay childcare.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thank you for all your thoughts.... I probably didn't make it clear in my post, but I'm very much going to continue with radiography on the 3 weekdays that I'll be working. My dilemma is purely Saturdays; the locum radiography is with my current dept that I'll be leaving to move to my new dept, they've offered me locum shifts on Saturday mornings.
The retail job is with a supermarket who also own department stores, so discount is on everything; home, clothing, toys, gadgets etc. They also own hotels, so we get very cheap holidays.... it's such a lovely company. I wish I had a skill set that I could get a well paid job within the organisation, but unfortunately I don't unless I wanted to work full time, which I don't.
I know I'd earn more doing Saturday mornings in the hospital. It is tricky, heart vs head... I need to decide by end of August as dept will advertise externally then.

mark55man

sorry if I've missed something, but could you literally do both - a little of negotiation on shifts and a mad drive across town and bobs your pay cheque.

Plus everyone in your family will learn to tread carefully on Sat evening when you get back in after 10-12 hours at work

Drawingaline

Sounds like you work for the same company as my husband, although he is full time at head office. The discount is amazing I must admit

If you like the job then I would stick with it for now. Even for a little bit more, Saturdays in your main job may be harder and you may then start to feel more and more resentful. I would save your energy for you weekdays there.

However only you can decide what balance you want and need.

Drawingaline

Lol, just seen marks reply. Yes, any chance of renegotiating hours with the sat job if the main one is just mornings? And then making the kids help out more at home?

in_need_of_direction

I’d say go with the one you enjoy. I find that I’m less inclined to waste money if I’m in a better frame of mind and the current Saturday job appears to give a lot more enjoyment than the locum post would

ohdearhowdidthathappen

mark88man wrote: »

sorry if I've missed something, but could you literally do both - a little of negotiation on shifts and a mad drive across town and bobs your pay cheque.

Plus everyone in your family will learn to tread carefully on Sat evening when you get back in after 10-12 hours at work

A nice idea in theory, but I'd be rocking in a corner. I'd have to do 8-1 and then move my retail shift to 1.30-10.30 (45 mins unpaid break) :eek::D

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Drawingaline wrote: »

Sounds like you work for the same company as my husband, although he is full time at head office. The discount is amazing I must admit

If you like the job then I would stick with it for now. Even for a little bit more, Saturdays in your main job may be harder and you may then start to feel more and more resentful. I would save your energy for you weekdays there.

However only you can decide what balance you want and need.

Haha, small world. You understand the discount dilemma then, although I'm not convinced we don't spend more because of it.... everything seems such good value :rotfl:
I'm getting to the point that I do feel a little resentful working Saturdays in general, especially now my youngest will be starting school. I think if we could be more controlled with our spending, I wouldn't need to work them at all

ohdearhowdidthathappen

On hols now, so posting will be erratic.... weather a bit poo, but we've settled in and had a bit of an explore.
Evening meals are included in the cost of the break, so that's a massive saving, but we've got a few big days out planned; theme park, zoo etc so I'm expecting a dent in the bank account, although we'll be mindful.
We're self catering our breakfasts and lunches... I find if we're organised with our meals, it helps massively. Eldest daughter is sulking that 'all' her friends have had foreign holidays... I've learned to ignore it (mostly) but her attitude stinks and is a massive irritant