We all know living in the city is expensive. So how do people do it? Our series, Second Shift, features people working more than one job to make ends meet, and still have fun. Want to be featured? Email emily.laurence@metro.us.
This week, meet Yana, who works in finance but whose real passion is her travel business.
Yana Kemelman used her passion for traveling to start a side business helping others plan their trips.
Credit: Provided
Name: Yana Kemelman
Age: 28
Residency: Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Number of jobs: 2
Your main job is in finance. What is it exactly?
I’m an analyst for a finance company. That’s my Monday through Friday job.
What’s your other job?
On the side, I create customized trip itineraries for people. So, let’s say someone contacts me and says they want to go somewhere in South America for 10 days in March. I tell them where to go, what the best activities are and cool local boutique hotels where they can stay. That’s my passion. I love to travel, so I thought it would be a good side business to share my talents.
Do you make your own hours or are there set hours you have to do it?
It’s just me, so it’s on my own time. Some months I have three clients, but some months I have no clients. Even when I don’t have clients, I spend time researching new travel destinations and trends so I stay knowledgeable about the industry.
It sounds like you would rather focus on your travel business than your finance job.
I would, but it’s so unstable and I can’t survive on it. I need to pay my bills. I’m hoping one day my travel business will take off and then it can be my main focus.
Do you have time to travel yourself?
I do. I get four weeks’ vacation and travel as much as I can. It helps that my family lives close by, so I don’t have to use my vacation days to go see them.
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