Moonlighting??

Hey there,

My husband is a PGY2 in otolaryngology and just got 'tapped' to start moonlighting in July. He says it pays insanely well, like double your salary with 7 days a month well, but I'm worried about how much this will affect his already busy schedule. Granted, he says 3rd year is one of the best years in residency and we could absolutely use the dough. Does anyone have any insight? Thanks!

[Chrisada]

My husband moonlights frequently. Yes, it makes him busier, but hey, we need and like the extra money. The checks he gets from moonlighting are insane. He's an intern BTW.

[SuzySunshine]

My husband is an NSG resident. I would have liked him to moonlight during his research years but not while he was on a regular surgical schedule. We see him little enough when he's on a regular schedule I can't imagine adding moonlighting to that. Granted we are able to live on one salary comfortably because I worked the first 3 years he was a resident. I think it depends on your priorities and how much free time he really has/will have. Each program is different and if he had done it before we had kids I would have been more open to it, not after.

[SuzySunshine]

And Portlandia you should hop over to the Intro forums and tell us about yourself.

[DCJenn]

Not an option for the military. It can be done but it is most definitely frown upon during training. They're not especially happy about it when you're an attending but there's not as much that they can do to stop it. My husband has never moonlighted because he's cranky enough with the hours he works already.

Jenn

[oceanchild]

My husband does not moonlight because for us the time is more important than the money (I work full time too, so we do ok salary-wise). I agree with SuzySunshine that it really depends on your priorities.

[Chrisada]

I should add that my priority it to be a SAHM to our very young boys. DH also chose to go into IBR and start re-payment on loans now. That being said, DH is willing to moonlight to fully support us.

[Deebs]

I think it also depends on whether or not there is benefit beyond the paycheck. Where DH trained, the experience EM residents gained while moonlighting was invaluable. They still had to do it within work hour rules (so it really was during breaks or research months only). The residents who did moonlighting felt much better prepared their first few months in their "real" jobs than those who didn't. His program actually made some revisions (after he finished) based on this feedback.

[madeintaiwan]

moonlighting isn't allowed here.

[Thirteen]

DH says he gets more variety when moonlighting, which makes him feel more prepared for "the real world."
It doesn't hurt that the moonlighting places pay some nice cash money - the extra cushion really helps for things like saving/moving costs/paying down debt/baby items, etc.

My first thought when I saw the title of this thread? "Ka-CHING!" (So terrible, but true).

[v-girl]

My first thought when I saw the title of this thread? "Ka-CHING!" (So terrible, but true).

ditto

[diggitydot]

DH's program actively encourages moonlighting. Lots of great learning experiences and the pay kicks ass. However, 7 shifts a month might be a tad much. Depends on scheduling, though.

[migirl]

DH was also not permitted to moonlight during training. The money would have been nice, though ...

[GrayMatterWife]

Be sure he is allowed to moonlight. My DH is prohibited from moonlighting by the terms of his contract.

[ides]

Dh is not allowed to moonlight either. Even if they did allow it I don't see where he would find the time. His residency sucks up every second of his time.