Should you take an extra shift?

The useful number is what you keep per hour of total time, not just the rate printed on the schedule.

Start with the full block of time

Count paid hours, the unpaid break, the round-trip commute, and any time spent getting ready specifically for work. An eight-hour shift can easily take nine or ten hours from the day.

Subtract costs caused by the shift

Travel, parking, tolls, an extra meal, childcare, and other shift-specific costs reduce what the shift adds to your life. Do not subtract normal expenses you would have paid anyway.

Decide your minimum before the offer arrives

Pick the lowest real hourly rate that would make the extra work worthwhile for you. That number may be higher on a day off, late at night, or when the shift gets in the way of school, sleep, or another job.

Example: an eight-hour shift that takes longer than eight hours

A worker earns $20 an hour for eight paid hours. The shift includes a 30-minute unpaid break, 40 minutes of commuting, 15 minutes of preparation, $8 in travel, and an estimated 18% tax deduction. The posted rate is $20, but the real value is much lower once the full time and costs are counted.

When declining can make sense

A shift can still produce positive cash and be a poor trade. Declining may be reasonable when the real rate falls below your floor, the commute is unusually long, the shift creates another expense, or the recovery time damages the next day.