Is Overtime Really Worth it?

We all would agree that getting paid time-and-a-half is worth the extra hours we have to work. But aren't there also costs to working extra hours? In this article, the author mentions how her husband works overtime every Saturday in order to provide a higher net income for the family. After all the calculations of taxes, he is only making an extra $185 a week, rather than the $500 he thought he was making. Does this take into account the time lost with family and friends? Is he missing out on memories that the rest of the family will remember for ever? Is his health going to suffer from the extra strain and stress on his body? An extra $185 seems like a lot to us, but missing out on our children's childhood or major health problems does not account for the extra money. I would rather have weekends to myself and my family than working in an office. Sure, it is okay to work overtime every once in awhile, but when it becomes a weekly priority, it puts a damper on family and home life. Overtime is all about opportunity costs; what are you willing to give up for a little extra cash in your pocket?