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Moonlighting or working part-time has long been an option for many full-time workers seeking a little more income. However, what has long been overlooked are the fringe benefits or dividends that working part-time provides. Working this way reduces spending and is more than worthwhile for the minimum numbers of hours required. The national retail store I work at requires employees to work a minimum of six hours per month to receive both low cost health insurance (around $20 per week) and a very generous discount good on all regular, sale, and clearance priced merchandise. For me, health insurance is extremely important because I have been self-employed for the past eight years and was paying a whopping $400 per month for basically the same insurance coverage. Working this way I've saved hundreds of dollars per month on health insurance and paid much less for brand new, brand name clothing, home goods, and gifts than I would have otherwise. A friend of mine works for a large nationwide video rental store. By working a minimum of four hours per week, he receives five free video rentals per week along with discounts on games and other goods sold by the store. Movie rentals on average cost around $4, so he is able to save $20 per week on rentals. Most importantly, he also receives low-cost health insurance for himself, his wife, and child, which is something he does not have at his full-time job. These are just a couple of the many fringe benefits available to part-time moonlighters. To make the most of a part-time job opportunity, it is essential to ask yourself two questions.
Regardless of what your hobby, activity, or need is, there is a company out there that is in dire need of good part-time employees and will be more than willing to provide you with a flexible schedule and great fringe benefits for working a minimum number of hours. So next time you think moonlighting is just a way to make extra money, it could actually be an excellent way to save money. By looking at the big picture, you'll be able to see that what you don't receive in pay can be more than made up for in money-saving benefits. Copyright 2005 Jona E. Kessans. All rights reserved. Jona is an instructional designer, web and graphic designer, and technical and business writer. When she isn't working on client projects, she can be found updating her personal project, www.simpleandfrugal.com, a website dedicated to those seeking to simplify their lives. Jona has been practicing simple living/voluntary simplicity for over 10 years and is available for speaking engagements. Contact her at simplefrugal@fuse.net.Share your thoughts about this article with the editor. Just Click Here and tell us what's on your mind. Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
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