By Karen D'Souza, July 18, 2019, Mercury News
Marissa Federspiel has a full-time day job at a hardware store. The 31-year-old also has a night job as a paid caregiver for her elderly uncle, who lives with her. When she tries to get some sleep, she often is awakened by her 16-month-old. Now she’s thinking about taking on a third gig.
“Most days I’m a walking zombie,” says Federspiel, who lives in Albany. “I still have some sanity left but I often feel stretched thin. Working so much can put a huge strain on your mental health. Coffee helps and so does inner strength.”
Working 80 hours a week is the norm for her. That’s what it can take to get by in the Bay Area, where housing prices and rents are among the highest in the nation. Many people have to work multiple jobs to get by. Some work six days a week, holding down three separate paid positions. Others cobble together various side hustles to make ends meet.
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