Sunday, June 26, 2011

Turning Down Extra Money

The other day I was offered a chance to earn an extra $500 per month for next school year. I'm leaing towards turning it down.

I was offered an auxiliary class, meaning I would only get my conference period half the time, and the other half I would teach a class during what would normally be my conference. The days I don't have a conference I would earn my hourly rate for the 90 minutes of teaching I'd do. Because the school is a block schedule, that means I'd have a 90 minute conference period two days a week and a 45 minute conference every other week. I did the math, and accounting for taxes I think I'd make approximately $500 more per month (on months without long breaks, like Christmas, etc.).

While the money is good, I think I'm going to pass. In part because I will be doing yearbook at the high school level for the first time (which is a lot of work), and because while the money would be great, I don't think it's worth the insanity of not having a conference period every day. 

I think this is marking a transition in my PF journey. If I still had my credit cards or my car to pay off, I would have taken it for sure. But, now that I don't have either of those hanging over me, I don't feel like I have to do this. I could, and it's still on the table...they don't need an answer until the end of next month, but I don't have to do it anymore. I have the freedom to say "no thanks." Which is a pretty amazing feeling, no matter what decision I make.

Would you take the extra class? Have you reached a point where paying off debt has given you more freedom?

5 comments:

  1. If I didn't have my debt, I would still take the extra class to add the funds to my savings. Being that I have debt, I would not turn down the opportunity.

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  2. I'm with you on leaning towards turning this down, Jess =) There are two things I've said I will NOT do unless I absolutely have to: teach summer school and teach on my prep. Generally I LOVE being at work, and I'd like to keep it that way. I think a prep period and summer break help keep me sane, help me love kids better when I'm with them, and help me TRY to have a life outside of grading. Unless it were absolutely financially necessary, I'm not willing to give up any of that for more money.
    P.S. I LOVE how you constantly think so intentionally about how you earn/spend money - it inspires me to think about it more, too =)

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  3. I like how Charissa put it, that the breaks help her love her kids better when she's with them. Don't sell your serenity!

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  4. I am with you. Now that my debt load is lighter I have become more selective of the opportunities to make extra money.

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  5. :) I love reading about how freeing it is to not be weighed down.

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