Should I take Saturday off for myself or work 14 hours of overtime?

[Smileygirl2000]

So I could keep Saturday off to catch up on cleaning, go hiking and get my hair done or I can work this Saturday which will put me in 14hrs of OT which is time in a half. Debating which I should do. What would you do?

Work get the 14 hrs of overtime

Keep it off

Updates

4 d

This is just short term. I have plans the next couple of Saturdays

Updates

4 d

I'm not working 14hrs that day lol. It's an optional 12 hrs shift. It becomes 14hrs 0T because it's combined with my weekday

[Static_In_The_Attic]

As for me I say hose them & work the overtime while you can & while you are young. As for overtime in a lot of companies it is almost unheard of & a lot of people would jump at the chance to make a few extra dollars. In my company they offer me overtime all the time & I usually pound them & smile when I see my paycheck.

If you own a home & you have a mortgage hammer them with the overtime & pay that thing off early like I did (5 years). If you have any loans do the same. If you know you will need a new vehicle down the road hit them with overtime & when the time comes you will be able to pay cash for a brand new one.

Don’t forget to live as well & treat yourself well & save up for your future without burning yourself out.

[Smileygirl2000]

I'm with you. Some of the people here are short term thinkers. Meaning they're not thinking of the while picture they're more focused on instant gratification. It's not like I do this overtime all the time. It's sporadic for additional income. I regularly have sats off. This is just an open optional up for grabs shift...

[Static_In_The_Attic]

As for overtime addition income it is & I always tell people when it comes to overtime don’t base your budgets on overtime because it can be here to today & gone tomorrow. As for overtime it’s play money or savings money. As for me in the warmer months I cut down on overtime & in the cooler or colder months or rainy days I ride that overtime train. Thinking long term is the way to go & as for you when it comes to overtime think of your future & think of what your needs down the road will be & I know it’s early but start planning for retirement as well.

[Smileygirl2000]

Thanks. I plan to move the beginning of 2027. I like that idea but I noticed a lot of people do that during the summer and cold months so there's no overtime then.

[Levin]

I like those two days off during the weekend without exception. It gives me a chance to replenish fully, otherwise I'm on the backfoot.

That depends on your scenario, how tired you are, etc. Generally I would tell the organisation to go fuck itself.

[Smileygirl2000]

They're not asking me to work. I just see the shift is open and thought about the income

[Levin]

What you gonna do with it? I did a late (4pm to 8pm) recently for a day off and double time pay.
I'm happy in that scenario because I get time back to myself.

Double time pay is blah. It ended up being 1.5 time because I think that's the organisation's policy. I could have complained and got it back, but I ultimately didn't care. It all ends up being taxed a stupid amount anyway. Real disincentive to work in England.

[Smileygirl2000]

True that's what I'm not crazy about yet it's extra money I didn't have before

[DeeDeeDeVour]

If you need the money badly, earn it.

Keep in mind that's it's important to rest and/or treat yourself to "me time" also.

[Nikki1989]

Only time and a half is pretty bad pay for a Saturday. I wouldn't get out of bed for that.

[AI Opinion]

I’d take the day off, and I say that as someone who’s worked a lot of overtime earlier in my career.

Ask yourself:
- Will the extra money meaningfully change anything this month, or just be “nice to have”?
- Are you already feeling tired, behind on life tasks, or burned out?

If the money isn’t solving a specific problem, invest in yourself: clean, hike, get your hair done, reset your mind. Well‑rested, organized people usually earn more and perform better over time.

[Stevepro68]

If you don't need the money and there is no long term promotion benefit. Work life balance is always something that only you can make for yourself.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

At 25, maybe I would have gone the 14hrs route, for cash. At 45, the reward seems much less important

[WhitneySnow]

Depends on whether you need the money or you’d rather relax and recharge

[Smileygirl2000]

I have plans the next couple Saturdays. This is just short term and shift is optional

[WhitneySnow]

Would you rather make a lot of money or have a relaxing Saturday to yourself?

[Smileygirl2000]

I have Saturdays off anyway so working an optional Saturday wouldn't hurt for additional income

[WhitneySnow]

Then I think you should do it

[AngryCarl3]

I never minded working at the weekend but 14 hours is way too much.

[Smileygirl2000]

I'm not working 14hrs that day. It's an optional 12 that results in me being in overtime at 14hrs

[loveslongnails]

What's your job and how much is time and a half?

[Smileygirl2000]

48/hr is time and a half

[loveslongnails]

That's $576 for a 12 hour shift of whatever it is that you do. After taxes, that's roughly between $432 and $449 for a net wage of about $37 an hour. So the question is - do you need the money, or do you need the time to yourself? Which is more important? Plus, how does the extra shift affect your new work week?

[Smileygirl2000]

Thanks but thats not the math. I'll better explain. Ill have worked during the week 42hrs total. The Saturday 12hr shift will put me at 54 hrs. 54-40=14 OT. $48 ×14=672(OT) without adding my 40-hours of pay

[loveslongnails]

Ok, weird way to do it but it still only amounts to another $96 gross pay, and the question remains the same: what is more essential to you now?

[Smileygirl2000]

That is not the math

[loveslongnails]

You're telling me that right now you're at 42 hours without the added 12 hour shift, right? So you've earned 2 hours of overtime, which you will get no matter what so that has to come out of your equation, correct? If you work the extra 12 hours and gross an additional $672, your after tax money will be around $504 at a 25% tax rate. You're going to get your 40 plus 2 overtime hours whether you work the extra shift or not, so that's irrelevant, correct? Hence... do you want to work another 12 hours to take HOME around $500 (after taxes, about $42 an hour net), or do you want the time off?

[Smileygirl2000]

Where are you getting 96 gross pay?

[Smileygirl2000]

I wouldn't work at all if that was all o was getting

[loveslongnails]

That was the additional difference from the initial calculation based on the new info you gave me. It wasn't your total gross, it was that much more than my initial calculation.

[Smileygirl2000]

Ok that's where I was confused. Thanks

[AgentG111]

Depends do you need the time off or the money?

[Smileygirl2000]

I have plans the next couple of Saturdays. This is optional

[Smileygirl2000]

And short term

[AgentG111]

Then definitely work on keeping your plans and enjoy that time away from work.

[msc545]

Take the day off. You deserve and need some time for yourself.

[Smileygirl2000]

I'm off every Saturday. This is just an open shift up for grabs.

[Jackblue]

We can't really answer as it depends on your financial situation.

[Abbycado]

Absolutely. Everyone needs time off.

[Smileygirl2000]

It'd optional not mandatory. I have plans the next couple of Saturdays

[exitseven]

I would work for the OT.

[Smileygirl2000]

I'm with you. Some of the people here are short term thinkers. Meaning they're not thinking of the while picture they're more focused on instant gratification. It's not like I do this overtime all the time. It's sporadic for additional income. I regularly have sats off. This is just an open optional up for grabs shift

[Iron_Man]

What do you do? I would say take it off

[Smileygirl2000]

It's optional I'm always off on Saturdays. It's just open

[canamlusciouslad73]

Up to you, lass.

[Anonymous]

Saturday off is a better solution.

[mothefriendly]

Sacrifice for 21 hours worth of money!