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What Do People in the IT Field Do for Side Jobs?
Flagg0204 asks: "Growing up in a primarily white collar household I wasn't exposed to 'side-jobs' until I met my girlfriend whose family was mostly blue collar. This got me to thinking. What do people in the IT field do for side jobs? Electricians, plumbers, HVAC, mechanic, these fields have many opportunities for a little extra cash on the side. What are some IT/IS side jobs that Slashdot readers do for extra money?"
Aside from that, I've noticed that the lion's share of part-time skilled labor still takes place between 9 and 5. There are plenty of 10-15 hour a week IT jobs, but very few where you're not on regular work hours. Even if you find one, any bit of success tends to pull the work towards business hours -- I briefly had a side gig as a trainer at night, but that quickly devolved into "can you do this during the day?" once companies started demanding our services.
As a consequence, you are forced to look for jobs which are both off-hours and feature very flexible schedules. This tends to translate into low skill and thus low paying. I don't mean to sound elitist here, but when you're making good money at a regular job I think you'll find that it's just not worth surrendering your free time for what you can bring in working at Starbucks. Remember: just because you're not paid when you're not at work doesn't mean that time is worthless.
If you're not making enough money, it might be a better use of your time to continue your education. Many universities cater to people who work a 9-5, and a lot of employers will help pay for you to go. The payoff isn't as immediate, but in many situations it's a far better plan overall.
Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
...turn on a computer.
So, to answer the question - nothing.
If we could only charge our grandmothers for every time we fixed their cord not being plugged in...
Runnin' On Empty
i mostly do programming / it work, but i also bartend at a local club on weekends.
i like it cuz it actually gets me out in front of people and keeps me from completely becoming a troll . . .
All of my SO's friends and relatives know that I'm into IT. So whenever one of them has a problem, they come to me. If it is something that will take more than an hour, I charge them.
When a local computer shop tells them $95/hr with a one hour MINIMUM, paying me $60 sounds a lot more reasonable.
For $60 they get a free antivirus program (Avast or AVG), Ad Aware, Spybot S & D, a scandisking, a defrag, updated drivers for all of their hardware, up to date patches for their games, and whatever else they "need" to get their computer running smoothly again.
It's an equitable solution, everyone wins.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Is by not spending any...
A penny saved, is a penny earned!
100% Insightful
The real sticky part is making sure your customers pay by the job... otherwise you'll end up providing indefinite support for any computer you repair, set up, work on, etc. It's amazing how some people think that once you touch a network or a machine you're bound to provide free service for it forever. I often wonder if these people pay their car mechanics once and then expect all future automobile service, maintenance, and upgrades for free.
Whatever you do, just make sure that you let customers know that they pay you by the job or the visit. Otherwise they have to put you on salary.
-- Gargonia
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
Maybe you shouldn't be in the IT industry then. When you have a passion for something you tend to enjoy doing it when ever the opportunity is available. I cannot imagine an artist saying I cannot wait to quit painting or drawing...
Just my 2 cents.
Why is this insightful? I doubt the last thing a plumber wants to do when he gets home is unclog his sister's toilet, nor does the mechanic want to talk to his neighbor about that tapping sound his car started making. People generally take side jobs because they need the money. I don't really want to clean megs of spyware off a family members' computer, but if they want to slip me some cash I'll be right over.
Well, yeah, has been happening well before I was even employed in the field, it was just assumed (Oh, he'll fix that).
:D
So, I have an Aunt in another state, and she wanted to upgrade her computer (she's online and likes to look at the pictures of our bub up there, email us etc.)... so what did we do? I chose a computer for her, have bought it over here... am in the process of setting it all up AND I'm doing some video tutorials about how it all works so I get minimum heartache. Then we'll send it over to her.
Also... I'm installing VNC on it, so I will be able to remote access it (she's on ADSL, so reasonable bandwidth there) and fix any niggly issues from here without the painful...
Me: "OK, what's on your screen now?"
Them: "Some box thingy with a message in it"
Me: "Uh huh... ok, so what does the message say?"
Them: "The Program XXX has um... encountered an error and er... will now shut down... um... error code 1...433X....3 um, dash, Seg-men-ta-tion fault at..."
Me: "OK, OK, I've got it..."
Etc. etc.
I just hope it's going to work that's all
Most small businesses I have seen were started by some guy who had a 40 hour/week job and then was an entrepenuer by night. Everyone has to work a "day job" to pay bills, but what you do in your free time defines you and your lifestyle as well.
Personally I play some games, work out (Ju-Jitsu, weights, used to do Kenpo, ride a bike), read about non-tech stuff. None of this will bring in money unless I semi-retire and teach martial arts, which is something I am actually pencilling in for 5-10 years from now. This makes me a worse admin/engineer/whatever, but it makes me a better person overall I believe. Certainly more sane and pleasant, not to mention thin.
So what are your goals and priorities? Most money possible? In that case you should spend your free time getting business-savvy since there is no salary limit on salesmen or business owners. Prefer a balanced life? In that case don't work 80 hours a week, go find a non-tech hobby and sacrifice the extra cash.
Unfortunately, being on pager duty prevents me from having a second job, unless it was an online job. Finding those has proven highly difficult. I'd sure dig the extra $$ if I could find a way though.
I don't really want to clean megs of spyware off a family members' computer, but if they want to slip me some cash I'll be right over.
Trouble is, many family members do not want to pay you to clean megs of spyware off their computer and straighten out lord knows what goofy symptoms it has. They want you to do it for free.
Wansu, th' chinese sailor
But like the poster above, the last thing I want to do when I get home from working with computers all day is to touch another computer, even if it is something really cool. Every now and then I'll get hit with inspiration, and that is when I add cool new features to the cycling team database, or to my mail server, or my home jukebox, or whatever. The nice thing about it is that I can do it on MY TERMS. I refuse to do 'tech support' type work, however; even for family members. I didn't STOP using windows years ago just so that I could fix OTHER PEOPLE's problems with that PITA inflexible pile of crap.
The last thing I want to do when I go home is...
...turn on a computer.
WTF? Who says you have to work? Play video games, listen to music, watch some videos, IM some friends, read a Ebook, or the million of other things to do on a computer.
Every top programmer I know does side projects at home. They code for the pure fun and thrill of developing new applications, many give back to OSS since they work for a Corp all day.
Also, I guess you ONLY post to Slashdot from work?
Man, you have hit the nail on the head...(pun intended)......We as a group are forced to address problems in the MOST creative ways (We have done SO much, for SO long, .....) and then usually have to agree to someone (PHB) else's whims, that when it comes time to relax, but still be vital i.e...for PAY... it serves us well to do something that feeds our creative side, so we can also DECIDE how to interpret that (fleeting and fickle) artistic impulse.
I've been doing evening/weekend jobs for years. The secret is to tell them up front that you are only available to them during certain hours and even those are not guaranteed. Also, charge between $30 and $50 per hour and they get you for at most a third of what you're worth on paper as a consultant. Deal only with small businesses with minimal needs and very little mission-critical data. Make friends with them and be perfectly honest about everything. Also, bring in your toys when you meet with them, so you can convince them that they need them because they're cool. Build their machines for them, and charge physical labor by the job, make a higher hourly rate that way, and you'll be able to add to the system if need be. You will still get the occasional secretary to call you during work with an email crisis or whatever, but nip those in the bud through the boss. Keep detailed records of everything you do for them. Make sure they understand what is your responsibility, what is the ISP's, what is the phone company's, etc. Offer to be a liason between those companies and the business at your regular hourly rate so they don't have to know what's wrong, just that something is and you'll handle it. I get all the work I want this way, and pass unwanted work on to friends (sometimes even non-techies for the lightweight stuff). I keep about 15 clients, and I sometimes get too busy. I would say if you build up a list of about ten clients through friends, family, even putting up fliers, you'll find all the work you want.
I also take old old old drawings (many of which are done by hand) and turn them into CAD files at $20 an hour (which is such a rip-off, 30$ is the average for such menial work). Lots of real estate companies, especially people with rental buildings and munti-unit developments, need this done and have no idea how to do it.
Since most of my new family is blue-collar (really, the white-collar members of my SO's family still do farmwork in their free time) I also have some blue-collar side-jobs. I wrangle horses, plant and pick veggies, and help build stuff all around Pritchard township. Thats also a good way to meet people who needs stuff designed (see side-job number one!)
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
I fix my brother's computer; he does my taxes.
"Love heals scars love left." -- Henry Rollins
When you get really into computers and you have the smarts and time.. your realize its cheaper and more fun to make your own software.
BDSM is the same way.. when your really into it you make your own stuff learn a hobby save some cash.. DomDepot (Aka HomeDepot) can be a sadistic place for someone with a creative mind.
The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
Trouble is, many family members do not want to pay you to clean megs of spyware off their computer and straighten out lord knows what goofy symptoms it has. They want you to do it for free.
Ahh the joys of family. Does your mom charge you for Thanksgiving dinner? No, of course not. So we all get to "fix" our families pc's for free because it's what we do.
Oderint dum metuant
I would never feel comfortable considering poker as a job, side or otherwise, regardless of the amount of income it generates (interestingly enough, the Canadian government agrees--playing poker is not a job and your winnings are not considered taxable income--they are "lottery winnings"--and casinos, lotteries and game shows already pay tax on the revenue they make from the losers). Casinos (online or otherwise) rely on there being more losers than winners in order to have a sustainable (duh). Given that big-time casinos offer high-rollers complementary-everything (valet parking, drinks, food, sometimes even accomodation) it is apparent that there a *great deal* more losers than winners.
If you enjoy gambling, by all means, have fun--just so long as you treat it as ENTERTAINMENT and set a budget of how much you can lose and QUIT when you reach that limit (or quit while you are ahead. Considering it as a JOB (ie. depending on the proceedings of gambling as your livelihood) is reckless and possibly immoral IMHO (your opinion may differ but I'm stating mine because gambling addiction has affected more than one person I know):
* It is reckless because by law of averages the time will come where it is your turn to pay the piper. If you rely on gambling income for your livelihood then you may put you and your family out on the street.
* It can be considered immoral to live of the proceeds of gambling because you are putting your families quality of life on the line (if you have a family you are supporting), and less directly you are profiting from the exploitation of others--every time you win big others have to lose (sometimes big). Some of these people are gambling addicts ruining their lives.
This is my personal opinion so I hope I do not offend too many people. I enjoy going to the Casino from time to time but I am by no means a big player (I've never let my losses exceed $100). In a way gambling is like sex--it is a great recreational activity but when it becomes a way of life it tends to lead towards exploitation and ruins lives.
As for what I do on the side...well my day job keeps me pretty occupied and my personal schedule is pretty full too, so there is little in the way of "side job" work right now. However, I still have a mostly-dormant side business which involves PC upgrading, repair, virus/worm/trojan removalfrom Win2k/XP machines, etc. I do not depend on this income for my livelihood (it would only by me the occasional dinner at a fancy restaurant anyways).
In the case of the virus removal, if it gets me a bit of extra spending money and that money is willingly given (and giveable) by the PC owner than I'll do it from time to time. Besides being unenjoyable work I would not like to make a living off of others peoples misfortunes. I think that if Windows requires so much security maintenance that people can actually make a living solely from that activity that Microsoft should be the one footing the bill, not the end users directly. I'd prefer to make my living as a developer, thanks.
Artists that paint houses as a day job can't wait to go home and "quit painting".
Having a real job generally involves a large amount of meetings, company politics and doing work that you don't want to do. Like if someone higher up mandated you use some specific tool, or setup your network topology a certain way, or put some stupid feature in a software package. You usually end up having to do it, even though you think it's a stupid. And nobody can have a passion about that.
The point is, in generally, working in the IT industry isn't something you enjoy doing 100% of the time, unless you are at an exceptional company.
I love designing, writing and debugging software. But most of my time is spent managing documentation revisions, discussing status in meetings, implementing dumb ideas that aren't mine, etc. I don't hate my job, if I did I would quit, but I can't say that I have a passion for being a software engineer.
I but I do have a passion for coding. But after a long day at work I'm really too burnt out to even play games. I end up reading a book, cooking dinner or watching a movie. By about 10pm I'm finally rested enough to do something on the computer. But that does not leave me much time if I have to wake up by 8am.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
It's probably best to ask them to clarify this clause.
For example, if you wrote a virus, would they want to take full responsibility for the damage it caused.
What about if you inadvertantly use code that has an expensive licence for commercial use in one of your own creations.
Your HR people may be a little more amenable to rewriting that clause to clarify that it doesn't include work that's not related to the company's core business, and that you do in your own time.
Renée Magritte (of "This in not a pipe" fame) went to his studio every morning after breakfast, then came home at the same time every day for dinner with the family, effectively treating the art as his dayjob.
Just because someone really likes doing something - even if they are passionate about it - people may well want to not do it all the time. Most scientists do not actually spend all their waking hours thinking about their work, most mucisians aren't always playing or thinking about music.
Most people, passionate or not, do want a life.
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
I don't really want to clean megs of spyware off a family members' computer, but if they want to slip me some cash I'll be right over.
take a tip from Billy Gates.
nobody get's something for free. bill charged his family and that is how he started microsoft.
Aunt Meggie can either give you $50 bucks or she can give the computer super center $120.00 to fix her computer.
It works great, and the first time they get real prices to have a computer repaired and it returned to them with everything erased they will gladly feed you, give you a beer and 50 bones in cash.
I stopped giving away my weekends and weeknights to relatives and friends years ago. give them a deep discount like my example, but do NOT give it away free.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
If the particular CC company is used by porn sites to process payments, that might just be the reason!
"Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
...I signed a document saying anything I invent, create, whatever, while I am on or off company time, is owned by the company.
Do you have any idea of the damage you cause when you do stupid things like that??? Jeez! You have no self respect. People who sign those kind of deals should be "working" on their knees. I bet you would buy all those steel girders that link Brooklyn with Manhattan. Shame on you.
If the particular CC company is used by porn sites to process payments, that might just be the reason!
Unless the merchant site itself hosts pr0n, I see no reason for blocking it for porn reasons since presumably they'd be unable to get there from the blocked porn site, or back from there to the pr0n site.
It's more likely that the thing blocked the site to keep the kids from sneaking the cards out of mommys purse (or some numbers off IRC) and going on a shopping spree.
If it's only a couple of clicks and they're willing to bring the computer to me (or I happen to be there) and they understand and accept the risks...no problem (1/2 joking).
Things that will get people off my "free" list:
- Asking frequently.
- Asking frequently because they decide to "maintain" their system in imaginative ways.
- Asking me to 3 hours commuting and working on their system then pooh poohing my recommendation to buy a new part because, at $40, its "too expensive".
- Especially if that part is a SOHO router.
I still don't really like to do it because there is always a risk that what appeared to be a minor problem could take days to fix. As an example, routine Windows maintenance should probably include running Windows Update. If WU kills the system however, guess who's on the hook? (hint: not Steve Ballmer)
If you did this with the intention of misleading someone that you had signed the document, you might be guilty of some kind of fraud.
Due to their own negligence, they might not have a very good case against you, but you are trying to mislead them in exchange for money. That's a little messed up.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
:wq
I'm a contract Java programmer and work is spotty right now. I occasionally do volunteer work for non-profits, but they usually call me at odd hours and expect me to perform miracles on a shoe-string budget. Right now I'm helping my senior neighbors install and use their new PC. I'm moving at the end of the month and they bought a new machine and a store service contract (at my recommendation). They're paying me in free meals and beer.
I fixed a (non geek) friend's girlfriend's PC and she's asked me to help a few of her friends. I make it a point when I install things like Firefox to emphasize that I "customize it" with special features, so she when she bragged to her friends about her experience there was only one place to go to - ME. Another advantage is that if you're dating someone and she doesn't work out, either she won't bother you for tech support any more or she'll go out of her way to ensure that you remain good friends.
The best "side-job" I've found
I know some a creative mechanic who drives a "tweaked" car, an electrician with a fantastic christmas display, a chef who likes to throw dinner parties to show off, and a few carpenters with some really nice home interiors. If you're not happy using your skills outside of work, then you're probably not totally happy with your career. To me, that's difference between a career and a job.
As for seeking greener pastures, I worked 3 or 4 truly hellish jobs. One firm moved me 4 times in a year; my colleagues had resumes that spanned 20-40 job sites in 5 to 10 years. Another was small enough that the ceo and his wife split managerial duties, and their marital strife led to us getting conflicting orders twice a day. And so on... until I got in with a company full of wizards and acolytes that was managed with an eye toward us having balanced lives. Full telecommute privileges, anything-goes flexibility to hours we worked, etc. What I'd call 'professionals leading professionals' is so much better than the crap you're enduring. Yeah, I work wicked long hours, but I do it in my own fashion: I come in late, I stay a bit late, I go home and play with my kids and then go to my computer room and work for another few hours (or not) at my own discretion. From that first good gig, I've gone to another firm with similar rules. The work's fun and cutting-edge, with plenty of time for retrospection and self-training. Oh, and I make double what I did for any of the sweatshops. As the kid says, "I highly recommend it."
One last comment: having been around the field for quite a while, I suspect that we're still shedding non-geeks from the DotBomb years. The extra pressure and strain is a good thing in that respect: it gets rid of people that don't do this out of love. A few more years and we should be back to where demand exceeds supply just enough to give us more options.
Yeah, I know that flies in the face of outsourcing/etc, but a guy can dream. Everything I see still points toward no end to the problem of expanding complexity and increased I/T security risks. That, for me, means plenty of work to be done.
Ok, they get the PC riddled with spyware... ..so you clean it off.
2 days later, the scanner software goes on the blink. Guess who is going to get blamed? Yeah, probably you, the kind relative that cleaned up the PC but didn't touch the scanner software.
That's why I don't touch family PCs.
So what? I clean up my families and friends computers whenever they need it. The only condition? I do it on my time, it could take weeks, it could take days I don't really care I'll just get around to it when I feel like it.
If they want an imediate fix they can pay someone for it.
"PLEASE READ (-- in HUGE letters)"
Heh. No kidding. I once sysop'ed on a BBS. The old, dial-up kind, not the new, web kind. When "ANSI graphics" meant "colored text". Anyway, we had this one popular game, with a couple different variations, and some non-obvious rules. So we gave it a menu screen all its own, with a "Read Me" kind of option set apart at the top of the menu. It was labeled something like "Important information about this game". Next to that, in blinking-yellow-on-black text, was the phrase "Read This!!!".
At least once a month, I would answer a tech support request with the form letter:
You need to read the "Important information" file on that game's menu. It's the option with the blinking yellow "Read This" next to it.
It's amazing how people have brains which are so much more capable then these dumb computers, and yet still manage to be dumber then the computers.
*sigh*
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
[ Porn can be a very lucrative industry provided you don't get addicted to hard drugs and blow all your money. Why the hell am I telling you my hard earned secrets, anyway? ]
I'm guessing because you're currently high and not thinking clearly?
Wow, it sucks to work there. All I had to sign was a paper saying that what I created on the clock and with their resources was theirs (which is perfectly reasonable IMHO).
And even with that, I have been able to get some things open sourced.
I would never take a job that claimed ownership on everything I do unless they are paying me for everything I do (hourly that works out to about 16 hour days, I'll take that overtime)
Finkployd
I refuse to do 'tech support' type work, however; even for family members.
I couldn't agree with you more. I spend all day having to fix broken computers, troubleshoot the network, listen to arrogant bitchy lusers, etc. When I am not at work and someone asks me to take a look at their computer I reach for my gun.
I liken it to this. Say you are a cook who loves to cook but you are stuck with a shitty cooks job at Dennys. You get off work and go to a friends house only to hear your friend say "bake me a pie!" That is no different than when I get off work and go to a friends house and they say "fix my computer!"
"The extra pressure and strain is a good thing in that respect: it gets rid of people that don't do this out of love. "
Finally. Someone who's came up with a good excuse for the people working at EA.
"A few more years and we should be back to where demand exceeds supply just enough to give us more options."
It just will not be in the US of A. But keep up the hope.
I don't want to be in a position to have to "pass judgement" on them, nor do I want to narc on the kids. I figure that if they're having me clean up porn popups, then they've already figured out that "someone" has been visiting naughty sites. It's their job to deal with their kids, not mine.
As for me, I don't care for blocking software, and I don't have it in my house. I think parents need to be parental, rather than hope for some automated solution. Besides, I think most kids are smart enough that they view blocking software as a sign that "dad doesn't trust them." If you're running blocking software, then guess what? They're right.
John
The upside is I have 20 something girls shopping for clothes for me (I'm colour blind) and women in their 30s teaching me how to cook.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
>Most people, passionate or not, do want a life.
What do you all mean when you use the term 'life' in these contexts?
Something like interfacing with other people with pointless chat, eating in a restaurant with other people, listening to music, dancing, doing sports, having sex, drinking alcohol, using drugs?
How ironic that in going for the tired "Bush is ignorant about the world" sophomoric humor, you demonstrate your own ignorance about the world.
The poster you were responding to is correct in what he said about *Taiwan*. While fighting back the attempts of the mainland to extend their tyranny over them, they yet wholeheartedly approve of Chinese tyranny over Tibet.
The Taiwanese and the Mainland Chinese, you and Bush, your use of "idiot", ah, the ironies are rich....
"Those who have never entered upon scientific pursuits know not a tithe of the poetry by which they are surrounded."
Hmmmm... I couldnt disagree with you more. When my family needs computer help, I am more than happy to help them. Everyone has a skill that they can help others with, and mine is computers. I dont love doing the work, but I love the smile they get when they see that their computer is fixed.
I maintain the basic belief that everyone you know (for the most part) is good with something enough to help someone else out. That someone else does not need to be myself, but there are people that can help me as well. For instance, my Dad is really good with cars. When I have car trouble, he is quick to help me. My Mom, well, she carried me around for 3 years or so.
So, when it comes down to it, I like helping. I like being someone that my family can count on to help them, whether it be with computers, or to come get them when they get a flat tire, or to visit them in the hospital.
I understand not wanting to help just anyone with their computer, but your family? Get off your high horse. The chefs in my family cook holiday meals, and love to discuss food with me, a bumbling hobiest cook. When it comes to your family, you can be generous, or you can be stand-offish. I know where I want to be.
He's being serious.
First off, I have a friend who makes chainmail. If you make it as armour, you can sell it for X amount of dollars. If you sell it as BDSM gear, it's about X*1.5. He started off selling at renfairs, and now sells at BDSM gatherings. So you might find it funny, but that's just how the business goes. For whatever reason, BDSM people seem have a lot of cash.
Another point - I'm a BSEE and write Linux drivers and software for my employer. And the first thing I do when I get home to unwind is make armour. I'm in the SCA, and there is something absolutely theraputic about smith work.
In some ways it's the exact opposite of IT work. In other ways, identical. It always leaves you wishing you could just simply use a raising hammer and beat a misbehaving computer into shape.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
I seriously doubt that lawyers go home and work on their own private lawyering in the evening just for fun.
Plumbers probably don't re-do their piping every few weeks for the novelty factor.
Trust me, a lot of people in the industry who are passionate and skilled at programming, go home and make a point of disconnecting to a certain extent. (Yes, I still use my home computers, but I don't want my recreation and my job to blend.)
You can be passionate about something and still make a point of moderating the amount you do it. Really, for many of us, it's a profession, and not necessarily an all encompassing obsession. And, believe it or not, many artists also force themselves to take a mental break away. Otherwise you'll either burn out or start making crap.
Cheers
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
>I never understood why peons sitting at a desk all day feel superior to people doing physical or skilled work.
I can explain this for you. Everyone feels that whatever sort of work they do is superior to the type of work everyone else does. White collar people feel superior to blue collar people because they are rough and uneducated, blue collar people feel superior to white collar people because they are soft and lazy and don't know how to change their own oil or catch fish. And sociologists feel superior to of all of them, because they think they are the only ones who understand the whole thing. And me, I chuckle at the inferiority of all of you with your week minds and simple thoughts.
While I'll agree with you that management isn't physically demanding, I need to point out that sometimes the work is mentally demanding, and that can wipe out someone just as much as a physical job would.
I've done both. I worked as an auto mechanic for years, and also did a brief stint in landscaping. Completely different energy drains and types of exhaustion, but don't discount mental exhaustion; this is why Sponge Bob was invented.
Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...
As a developer who recently graduated with an MBA (traditional classroom even, not an online degree), I think you should look to see what opportunities you can see with an MBA.
I don't see many in the IT field (they say we will be pushed up the food chain into PMing or IT Architecture). But that will be offshored as well, as the basic backbone talent is not longer here.
If you are seriously considering your MBA, consider accounting, CPA's still make a ton of cash and are not fully outsourced yet. However, they are starting to be. Several financial analysts I met in the MBA program where "right-sourced" when their jobs left for India, and China's is around the corner. The marketing people said their jobs were going too.
Also, if you change into some other career in business, don't expect the same salary. I was making well above what my fellow students were making post MBA before I started the program. But I guess less money is better than no money.
If I had to do it again about going back to school, I would get either a Doctorate in CompSci so I could teach (those are nice jobs once you have tenure.... 6 figures and hard to lay off and like 50 days of vacation a year) or I would get a Juris Doctorate. Most people, sometime in their life, need a lawyer and to boot you work for yourself.