| When we think about working, we generally focus on | | | | B. Do you own your car because of this job? If so, |
| the hours we work per week and the total paycheck. | | | | add your car payments, insurance, and maintenance |
| While it's true that getting the most pay for your hard | | | | costs per month. Even stops at the car wash should |
| work is critical, there are other aspects to consider | | | | be included. The average older car costs about $1200 |
| when thinking about the value of your job. | | | | per year in repairs, so add $100 per month for repairs |
| While employment brings you income, but it costs you | | | | as well, if your car is more than 5 years old. |
| as well. If you are on track with living a simpler, | | | | 2. Does your closet contain clothes you consider your |
| healthier, greener lifestyle, you need to consider all | | | | work clothes? If so, how much does it cost to maintain |
| drains on your budget including this one. | | | | your wardrobe. For example, bank tellers and clerks at |
| Here are 5 ways your job may be costing you: | | | | upscale clothing stores are expected to look classy on |
| 1. Commute expenses. | | | | a very un-classy paycheck. How much is your work |
| A. How much gas are you when you travel to work? | | | | wardrobe worth? And how much does it take to |
| Figure out your average gas mileage: | | | | maintain it? |
| 1) The day before your work week begins, fill your car | | | | 3. Do you pay for daycare or after-school care? Be |
| with gas and jot down the mileage reading on your | | | | sure to add those expenses to your list along with |
| odometer. | | | | special food, diapers, or other materials these services |
| 2) Get the accurate distance of your drive, not your | | | | require. |
| estimate but the mileage from your odometer. Jot | | | | 4. What about the fatigue factor? Do you stop for |
| down the mileage when you leave home and the | | | | fast food or call out for pizza because you are so |
| mileage when you park in the lot then subtract them. | | | | tired you can't face the kitchen routine? Mark those |
| Or use your vacation mileage counter, if you have one. | | | | charges on your kitchen calendar (Ordered Pizza, $25) |
| 3) When the tank is low, fill the tank again. Note down | | | | and add them up at the end of the month. Add 75% |
| the number of gallons you've used and the miles | | | | of the total to your monthly work expense list since |
| you've driven. | | | | you would still pay about 25% of the cost when you |
| 4) Divide the miles by the number of gallons. For | | | | cook a meal. |
| example, if you have driven 355 miles and used 10 | | | | Once you have your 4 amounts, think about how you |
| gallons of gas, you would divide 355 by 10. Your miles | | | | could cut costs in each category. By shopping for |
| per gallon would be 35.5. | | | | consignment items? Paying a student for after-school |
| 5) Take your distance to work from #3, multiply by 2 | | | | care instead of a childcare service? Trading in for a |
| to get the to-and-from amount. Then multiply by the | | | | more fuel-efficient car? |
| number of days you work per month. For example, if | | | | Don't rule out the possibility of finding a job closer to |
| you drive 5 miles to work, then your to-and-from | | | | home or a job with flexible hours so you could avoid |
| distance is 10 miles per day. If you work 20 days per | | | | childcare expenses. Working at home eliminates the |
| month, you drive a total of 200 miles per month. | | | | car, wardrobe, and childcare altogether. Even at a |
| 6) Multiply the miles per month by your gas mileage. In | | | | greatly reduced income, you may still come out ahead. |
| this case 200 miles times 35.5 miles per gallon equals | | | | Is that an option for you? |
| 5.63 gallons per month. | | | | No matter how large your paycheck seems, what |
| 7) With gas at $2.00 per gallon, your total gas | | | | really matters is how much you get to keep. |
| allowance for your job is $11.26 per month. | | | | |