Full-Time Teacher, Weekend Cook: Part-Time Jobs To Pay Bills

One teacher in Missouri has a full agenda. On weekdays, Joel Chaky is a middle and high school social studies teacher. But on weekends and evenings, he works at a restaurant as a cook.

His work schedule was outlined in a recent Associated Press article by reporter David Lieb:

"To make ends meet for a family of seven, Chaky cannot afford to focus solely on teaching -- not when he's earning Missouri's minimum teacher salary of $23,000 annually."

The poor pay scale of teachers -- in Missouri and throughout the country -- is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. My parents are retired educators; my brother has taught in the metro DC area and I have taught journalism classes to high school students.

During my childhood, for example, my father worked several part-time jobs, while working as a teacher. He worked in a grocery store, a ship dock, a nightclub, a mall boutique and at a high-end restaurant, while teaching during the day. In fact, on one occasion, some of his friends showed up at the restaurant where he worked and were actually assigned to his table. Awkward! Nevertheless, my dad served them with a smile.

In my upcoming book, The Frugal Duchess of South Beach, I've written stories about my parents and their after-hours employment efforts. In a past post, I've outlined how my father juggled his work schedule: How to Make a Part-Time Job Work: Tips from My Dad.

The bottom line report: Teachers deserve higher pay.

Frankly, it's hard work. I loved my students and they were great. But I was so exhausted after teaching just two classes a day for one semester. I don't know how full-time teachers pull it off.

Teaching demands the following skills:

1. Planning. Kids have a nose for unprepared teachers. They just know when you are making up the lesson as you go along. You may not be able to connect the dots, but they sure can!

2. Entertainer: You have to be able to present the material in an engaging fashion. You have to make the lesson jump from the page and into their hearts. It helps if you are a great story teller, a comedian, a visual artist or a singer.

3. Disciplinarian: You have to maintain control of the classroom. They have to respect you, the rules and each other.

4. Educator: Oh! You also have to teach and inform.

Related stories:

• What Teaching Taught Me about Money: A Financial Lesson Plan
• Part-Time Jobs
• How to Make a Part-Time Job Work: Tips From College Students
• Putting Extra Paychecks to Work

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Previous Posts
Four Millionaire Moms Tell Their Secrets
Weekly Reading: My Favorite Links
My Teenage Son Paid Me 16 Cents To Clean His Room
Kiplinger’s: Tips for Retiring Rich: A Guest Post
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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere! , which will be published in the Spring of 2008 by DPL Press.

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What to Do After Losing a Job or Before the Pink Slip Arrives

How we deal with a job loss could mean the difference between a short-term setback and a financial meltdown. I found these helpful tips from Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. Some of the suggestions also apply if: 1) you already have a job; 2) are self-employed or 3) suspect that a pink sheet will soon be landing on your desk.

I especially like the first tip. I believe in diversified income sources. I've seen too many employees (ages 20-something to 50-something) who have been let go without much warning.

• "Look for potential sources of additional income. If you have more than one wage earner in your household, look for opportunities to earn additional money through overtime. To help sustain your finances while you look for your next job, consider taking on part time or seasonal employment—it can provide both extra money and flexibility to go on job interviews.



• "Contact local temporary agencies," suggests Christina Harrison, a certified credit counselor with CCCS. "They will match your skills with temporary employment available in your area. Some temporary assignments may also lead to full-time employment opportunities." Other industries that can provide quick employment include retail and food service, where training times are relatively short and schedules are somewhat flexible.



• Review your budget. Take a realistic look at your monthly expenses and identify areas that can be reduced or eliminated. Entertainment costs are easiest to eliminate—skip lunches and dinners out and rent movies instead of going to the theater.



• Review your cable and cell phone plans to see if the cost can be reduced. Consider foregoing them altogether—there may be a fee to cancel a contract, but it will likely be much less expensive than having monthly fees, late fees, and interest building up over time.



• Prioritize expenses. After adjusting your budget, if you still can’t cover your monthly bills, pay the most important bills first. Your mortgage or rent payment should be the top priority, followed by car payments, insurance premiums and food. Notify your creditors right away if you are unable to make the minimum payments due on credit cards or other revolving credit. You may be able to get your interest rate reduced or your payment plan modified.
  Even if you can’t make a full payment, Harrison suggests paying something toward the debt. "Deferring or skipping payments increases the debt, extends the life of the debt, and will likely result in quickly mounting fees."
  



• Try and avoid incurring any new debt. Resist the temptation to take cash advances on credit cards or to do business with small loan retailers, many who charge astronomical interest rates on the money they lend. While a home equity loan may help create a temporary cash flow, it has long term implications and is not recommended. If possible, avoid tapping into retirement accounts or your 401K, as the significant penalties and tax implications may far outweigh the temporary financial benefit.



• Seek help. Utilize community resources to help bridge the gap. Emergency assistance for your utility bill may be available, and local food banks can help provide basic necessities. Contact your local United Way or your local 211 Information and Referral Service (dial 211) for information on emergency services available in your community.

• Look into unemployment benefits. If you are unemployed through no fault of your own, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor website has helpful information about qualifying and requesting unemployment benefits.



• Plan for the unexpected. Even if you haven’t lost a job, it is a good idea to create a savings plan now that will help financially prepare you for any potential life-altering event. Make saving part of your budget, and set aside a portion of your income in a savings account until you have at least 3-6 months living expenses.



• Work now to reduce and eliminate your debt and strive to maintain a budget that doesn’t involve spending more than you make. While it may not take away the pain that comes from losing a job, it can certainly provide peace of mind during a very stressful time."

Previous Posts Today:

5 Reasons Why I Have a Crush on My Parents' Retirement Magazines

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
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How to Make a Part-Time Job Work: Tips From College Students

What's the best strategy for working part time while taking either grad school or under grad classes? I asked that question to several students. My husband -- who attended full-time classes and worked part-time shortly after our second child was born -- also provided some tips. In earlier posts, I've provided tips from my Dad, who often worked several jobs during my childhood.

FLEXIBILITY

"I picked a job where they were flexible about working around my schedule," said my husband Avi, who worked at a latte cafe while attending full-time classes for an interior design degree program.

As an undergraduate, Lisa Ibanez, of Hialeah, worked up to 20 hours a week for two years in the infant room at a preschool affiliated with the University of Miami.

“I changed diapers. I gave bottles. I prepared food,” recalls Ibanez, who is now a grad student at UM.

She enjoyed working with children and appreciated the flexibility of her on-campus assignment, which enabled her to easily shift between classes and work. As a graduate student, she now works on campus as a research assistant and enjoys the same level of flexibility that she encountered during her undergraduate years. Campus-based employers are also lenient during mid-term and final exam periods and make accommodations during academic crunch periods.

“All of the people knew that we were students first and employees second,” says Ibanez.


RISE EARLY

Alex Jean-Jacques, a work-study student from Hollywood, Florida: As a senior at Broward Community College, Jean-Jacques works six to eight hours a day in the school’s financial aid office in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

On a typical Tuesday, for example, he wakes up at 4:30 am to lift weights and prepare for an 8:00 am class on campus. By 10, he reports to the Financial Aid office, where he works until 4:30 pm. After a three-hour evening class, Jean-Jacques studies until midnight. It’s a long day, but the perks of campus employment extend far beyond the paycheck.

“I’m able to learn more and gain more experience, especially while working in an office,” says Jean-Jacques, who hopes to be an architect.

HAVE FUN & MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COMMUTE

"I also picked a job where I had fun," my husband Avi said. "I'm real social. Working in a coffee shop wasn't a tremendous hardship to me."

He also picked a part-time job that was near his school and he really used his commuting time to study. He took the bus (cheap transportation) and used the bus ride to read for class.

THE ABC'S OF WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS

For many students work-study programs bridge the fiscal gap between professional aspirations and the five-figure annual costs of higher education. Most colleges and universities offer a diverse mix of work-study programs, which provide student workers with a paycheck, work experience and flexible schedules. The various programs involve federal, state and private funds.

Under the Federal Work Study program, the U.S. government provides colleges and universities with the funds to cover up to 75 percent of the cost of work-study salaries. Individual schools finance the remaining balance of the student payroll. Students can apply for the Federal Work Study program by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Work-study grants are awarded based on need, but students are urged to apply early for the federal program because of limited funds.

PAY AS YOU GO: THE ANTI-DEBT PLAN

Work-study programs are an earn-as-you-go opportunity to help students pay for their college education,” said Marcia Conliffe, Associate VP of Student Success & Enrollment Management Services at BCC. “By earning money to cover their educational expenses, students are not forced to borrow as much in student loans that will need to be repaid after graduation.”

TAPPING INTO MENTORS

Many of the students, I chatted with worked second jobs that provided mentors and resume experience for their post-school careers.

Catalina Castillo, a second -year student and a psychology major, works three hours each day in the media relations department where she tracks, files and distributes newspaper articles about Miami-Dade College and its affiliated programs. The job pays $6.40 an hour and Castillo says that the office experience provides excellent training for her future career as a psychologist.

Miami-Dade College also participates in Florida Work Experience Program, a state program that reimburses private companies that hire MDC students. Using state funds, Miami-Dade College reimburses employers 70 percent of the cost of student salaries, according to Luis Betancourt, MDC’s director of Work Programs. On behalf of the school, Betancourt actively recruits local companies to participate in the work-study program, including law firms and other professional services companies.

“The companies cut costs and save money, and the students get a foot in the door,” Betancourt says. “You have students working alongside people who might possibly become mentors.”

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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