‘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

In the clip — which has been viewed more than 1.2 million times and has amassed over 145,000 likes and 5,200 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’s three ways to stretch your hard-earned dollars without having to work crazy hours.

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.”

Creating and sticking to a budget that breaks down your monthly income between necessities, wants and savings is a great way to get on top of your money.

Try to avoid common financial mistakes — such as relying heavily on credit cards for purchases you can’t afford at the time or getting loans that you’ll struggle to pay back.

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 — and survive the soaring cost of living.