Short Answer
To meet your monthly savings goal, you need to work about 30 hours at your second job. This is calculated by first determining your fixed expenses at 30% of your income, then finding your discretionary income, and finally calculating the additional earnings needed from the second job to reach your savings target.
Step 1: Calculate Fixed Expenses
Begin by determining your fixed expenses based on your primary job’s income. This involves calculating 30% of your total realized income. For example, if your income is $2,034.24, multiply it by 30% to find your fixed expenses.
- Fixed Expenses = 30% of $2,034.24 = $610.27
Step 2: Determine Discretionary Income
Next, calculate your discretionary income from your primary job. Discretionary income is what’s left after your fixed expenses are deducted. In this case, subtract 30% from your income to find the remaining 70% which will help you understand how much you can save.
- Discretionary Income = 70% of $2,034.24 = $1,423.97
Step 3: Calculate Additional Earnings Needed
Finally, to achieve your savings goal, determine how much you need to earn from your second job. First, calculate your savings goal as a percentage of your discretionary income, then figure out your required hourly wage and the total hours needed for your second job based on that wage. This will lead you to find that working around 30 hours monthly, at the required rate, will help you reach your goal.
- Savings Goal = 20% of Discretionary Income = $284.79
- Hours Needed at Second Job = $284.79 / $9.50 (hourly rate) = approximately 30 hours