I was talking with my husband recently about my plans/dreams for extra income. I babbled on and on for a few minutes about plans I have for my blog and how I really want to start ramping up my extra income. Several minutes in, my husband interrupted…”Um, why are you so worried about making extra money?”
Hm. Good question. It got me really thinking about why I want to try and make a little money outside of my regular job. Unlike most of the PF community, I don’t have a lot of debt and am not trying to pay off my mortgage ASAP. But I still feel the drive to grow my blog and try to make a little side income.
To save up for a “New (to Me) Car”
If you follow my blog, you may have heard me talk about this several times already. But I’d really like to have a good chunk of money saved up before I try and replace my trusty Corolla. And since my new job came with a cut in pay, it’s a little harder for me to save up for things than it was before.
To pay off my car ASAP once I do buy it.
Once I do finally buy my new car, I want to pay it off pronto! I definitely don’t want to have two car payments and a mortgage all at the same time. It’s not that we can’t handle it, I just don’t want that much of our income going towards loan payments for too long.
Kids.
I don’t have any yet, but we’ll have more unexpected expenses than ever once we throw kids into the mix! I want to be able to handle whatever life throws at us! Especially financially. Having children can be stressful enough without having to worry about where the money for the omg-safest-carseat-ever is going to come from.
Travel!
Now that I have a job where time off really means time off and there’s no time of year that’s “off limits,” I want to go see my friends! I see my family mostly on holidays and they come for visits as well, but I haven’t seen some of my friends in years. It makes me so sad and I just wish I had enough income to really build a travel fund to go visit my girlfriends!
A little extra spending money.
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a little extra spending money outside of their regular budget? Now don’t slap my wrists with the PF ruler. I’m not talking major lifestyle inflation here, I’m just saying I like to splurge every once in a while. And it would be nice to have that money already set aside when the mood strikes.
Do you have any extra income outside of your regular job? Why did you decide to start? What do you use your extra income for?
I work for extra income so that I can be more diversified. I also like to be able to pay down debt more quickly.
I am totally in awe of your extra income. LOL. I’m so excited for you and glad that all your hard work is really paying off!!
As of right now I have a little extra income . I use the extra income to pay off debt.
Awesome! Keep it up! 🙂
Definitely try to sock away every cent you can before trying to get pregnant. Since I didn’t do that, now I’ve got that part-time job, plus I’m selling everything that isn’t nailed down (including all of my collectible barbies and 260 beanie babies. Yes, I am 12 years old). There is stuff that I would *really* like to get right now, like a new mattress (especially since i’m going to weigh 700 pounds before the baby gets here so I need the extra support and our mattress is older than I am), but I just can’t justify spending that money. Especially since UGA is awesome and does not have paid maternity leave, and of course I don’t have all of the sick/personal leave I need. Urgh. So, yes, there is my pregnancy/money rant/hijack of the day. 🙂
I definitely want to increase my income (both at work and side hustle) before we have kids. As for UGA, they are kind of sucking at life. I can’t believe they don’t have any sort of paid maternity leave. Boo!
Travel seems to be the most meaningful way to spend extra income: emotional investment, of sorts.
Well, I just paid off my 2 cars and it was the greatest feeling. I’m never buying a car on a loan again. I want to get rid of all my debt as fast as I can and live payment free.
BTW – how did you get that box at the end of your post to share and comment?
From my perspective, it always feels good to be ahead of the game. A regular job could end any day. So too, a medical expensive, not covered by insurance may occur. To at least be able to survive during those times, without ruining the rest of your financial history can be a determining factor in getting some extra income.
Like you said though, there are always plenty of common expenses that can occur, on an almost daily basis. You can always upgrade (for better or worse), give away, or my favorite – use it to be able to take time off and relax with family and friends.