Changing market makes multiple jobs more common

Spend time talking to the servers or clerks in a resort town and you'll probably hear stories about one or two of their other jobs.

It's expensive to live in a ski resort town, so it takes several streams of income to make ends meet.

More and more, however, holders of multiple jobs are living in everyday American communities.

New labor rules that go into effect Dec. 1, which will require employers to pay overtime to more salaried employees, are likely to create more part-time positions as businesses struggle to hold down costs already bloated by Obamacare.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the number of multiple job holders jumped by 300,000 last month to 7.8 million -- 5.2 percent of all job holders, up from 4.9 percent in September 2015.

The number reflect a tight job market and low unemployment, as well as an increasing number of freelance and temporary employment opportunities.

Many holders of multiple jobs are using the income to pay off debt or provide income while attending college.

If you find yourself attempting to hold down several jobs, it's important that you stay organized to preserve your sanity.

* Create a calendar, whether paper or electronic, and make sure you can get at it whenever you need to check your schedule so you don't double-book your time or needlessly turn down extra income.

* Get in the habit of making lists so you can make sure you meet all your obligations. It also provides a sense of accomplishment as you check off completed tasks.

* Write down your working hours, so you can double-check your paychecks to make sure they're accurate.

* Keep work at work. You'll be busy enough without making calls or checking email without being paid for it. You'll also have more energy to devote to work when you're on the clock.

* Create time in your calendar for yourself. It doesn't have to be a lot of time but you need time to recharge and relax and devote your own energy to something you love.