‘I’m not working a second job’: This mom on TikTok claims $100K/year is the new $50K — but she refuses to work more than 40 hours a week to live. 3 ways to stretch your hard-earned dollar

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A mom on TikTok has gone viral for her stance on getting a second job to survive as inflation burns holes in Americans’ bank accounts.

The TikTok creator by the name of @shayjo21, or simply Shay, recently posted a now-viral video with the caption: “$100,000 a year is the new $50,000 a year #fixitjesus.”

In the clip — which has been viewed more than 1.7 million times and has amassed over 207,000 likes and 6,900 comments — Shay says “things out here are getting expensive.”

She goes on to list items impacted by inflation: “Grapes: $7, eggs: $5, homes: half a million dollars, cars: 40 grand (used — and it could be a Mazda, they don’t care).”

But one thing she makes adamantly clear is: “I don’t give a damn how expensive it gets, I’m not working a second job.” Shay says she’s “good until about 5:30” but then her “legs start buckling” and by 6 p.m., her “vision [is] blurry, can’t find my car.”

“I can’t work two jobs,” she says. “So, whoever needs to fix it, please fix it. Because it’s to the point now where working 40 hours a week ain’t enough — but I’m going to make it enough.”

Shay’s stance resonated with thousands of TikTok users, with one commenting: “Clocking out then having to clock in somewhere else 30 minutes later is CRAZY,” while another quipped: “my vision is blurry at 9 a.m. baby!!!”

If your paycheck hasn’t kept up with the cost of living, here are three ways to stretch your hard-earned dollars without working two jobs.

Make a budget (and stick to it)

One woman who commented in support of Shay’s video said she refused to sacrifice the time she has with her son by taking a second job. Instead, she said she’s “learning to live simple and stay on budget.”

Sticking to a budget requires constant discipline and mindful spending to bring you closer to achieving your financial goals. You Need A Budget (YNAB) is a budgeting app that empowers you to allocate every dollar with purpose, ensuring your savings and spending are intentional. YNAB consolidates real-time tracking and spending reports into one convenient platform, making staying on track of your financial goals easy to do.

Maintaining financial discipline can be tricky, so consider reducing your reliance on credit. The Chime Visa debit card is a practical alternative to a traditional credit card with no minimum balance requirement, and no account maintenance fees. With Chime, you can enjoy an overdraft buffer of up to $200, preventing you from spending outside your means.

Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market — and are betting on these assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds

Prioritize paying down debt

It may seem counterintuitive to prioritize paying down your debt when you’re struggling “to keep the damn lights on” as one TikTok commenter put it, your debts is an important part of managing money.

Credible is a user-friendly online platform designed to simplify the process of finding the best lending options for your specific needs, helping you save on interest. Their online marketplace of vetted lenders provides personalized debt consolidation loan offers based on your needs, allowing you to pay off your debt more efficiently at a fixed rate without juggling multiple bills.

Signing up for Credible is free and easy. Simply answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation and you’ll be on your way to closing your loan and funding your goals.

Boost your income

There are multiple ways to supplement your income — without having to work over 40 hours a week. If real estate is on your radar, it can make a great side hustle with less commitment than you might think.

With Arrived, you can invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals, without taking on the responsibilities of property management or homeownership. Get started by browsing through a curated selection of properties, vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you’ve made your selection, you can start investing in real estate with just $100. Choose the number of shares you want to purchase and you’ll begin to receive quarterly deposits from your rental property.

Another way to add an additional stream of income is by investing in commercial real estate. Accredited investors can invest in institutional-quality, grocery-anchored commercial real estate through FNRP’s online platform.

Their team of seasoned experts takes charge of the process, managing your investments throughout their entire lifecycle, making the investment process easy for you. Once the deal is closed, FNRP’s team manages the property, so you can focus on finding more deals you love.