Quick and dirty facts:
Side job is alcohol promo model at bars/clubs. 10-99 contract. I choose when and where to work, have complete control over proximity to my house. I tend to venture outside of my city to get more frequent work. A typical week is 8-12 hours @ $25 per hour, and although miles driven varies a lot, I will at minimum drive 20 miles in a given week.
Pros:
* I enjoy the social outlet as someone who works from home 100% of the time for my 9-5
* Incredibly simple (and admittedly, fun) way to make $25 per hour
* I'm valued at the company and like my co-workers
* Tons of flexibility - I can work, or not work, whenever I like
* Cash flow - my 9-5 job underpays me quite a bit (48k this year net) and this side job helps me not to struggle to make ends meet
* It's my "safety net" in the back of my mind I guess?
* Co workers can be a little flakey, as most of them are 21-22, which leaves lots of openings for last minute work
* Paid weekly
Cons:
* Requires use of my vehicle (I get about 32 miles per gallon avg in my car, gas is around $3 per gallon locally, and the miles vary quite a bit as mentioned). *I wanted to note my vehicle is newish (2017) and it's a dealership "lemon" story, which has been commented on here before. I'm not able to sell it now, and do not plan on it for the forseeable future.
* Requires miscellaneous purchases that would otherwise be frivolous - for example, occasional new shoes or clothes for events. I write these off on my taxes but they certainly exist.
* Back to co workers being a little flakey- sometimes this means extra work for me, like unplanned errands to cover shifts or grab supplies
* Can get annoying if bar patrons are excessively drunk/shitty, but people are people
Overall I just like it and enjoy extra cash coming in, but I doubt I make an actual profit from it. Prepping for my taxes this year has been an eye opener - do you think it's worth it to keep a side job around just for the safety/cushion/enjoyment? I'm stable in my full time job and work with my family, but I do really dislike the work itself, so I tend to go through "should I leave and use my degree?" loops, and therefore like this side job as a way to keep myself stable if I ever left the full time gig.
Thanks for your input!