HN Explorer

28, $4k in savings, feeling stuck – need some life advice

4 points by freeourdays ↗ HN
Been working for 4 years, making about $45k. After expenses, I save maybe $500/month. Looking at my pathetic savings account, feels like I'm going nowhere fast.

Been thinking about quitting to start something, but honestly terrified of the risk. Also considering side hustles but no clue where to start.

Saw this story yesterday on TinyIdea about someone who went from side hustle to full-time entrepreneur, which got me thinking. But I'm pretty risk-averse by nature.

Questions for you all:

Any safe ways to increase income while keeping my day job? When is the "right time" to take the entrepreneurial leap? Any low-risk business ideas worth considering?

Feeling pretty lost right now. Any advice would be appreciated

7 comments

[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 22.9 ms ] thread
brettgriffin
You should be focusing on working your ass off at your job and increasing your earning potential there.

You don't say what you do or where you are, but you're earning $20 an hour. In virtually any industry you should be able to work your way into something much closer to $75k-100k within 24 months if you exhibit any significant agree of professionalism, attitude, and work ethic.

I would stop messing around with these side hustle ideas and just work like a motherfucker.

sfmz
What do you do for work? $45k seems low. The low-hanging fruit would be job hop, but tbh I guess the market is pretty bad right now.
scarface_74
Making $45k as I assume something in the technical field, working harder and starting a side hustle is not the answer. Just get another job.

You would be much better off doing interview prep, networking, expanding your job search, moving if necessary.

codingdave
> Saw this story yesterday on TinyIdea...

Which, based on your submission history, is your site, which you have been self-promoting here for a couple weeks now.

I don't know why this type of self-promotion bugs me so much. You do a show HN, it doesn't get traction, so you keep posting more and more stuff from your site. Then post a question, and drop the name in there, which reads to me as: "Maybe this will get me some traffic."

All you need to do is put in a small disclaimer: "I saw on the site I run, TinyIdea...", and now it is honest disclosure, not guerilla marketing.

Well, and be honest in general. You clearly have been running that site for almost a year according to your other posts and comments, and making somewhat of a living with it, again according to you: "Now pulling in around $1.4k consistently, which covers rent and groceries at least." I have a hard time balancing that info with the question and story from this post.

OK, maybe that is exactly what bugs me about it - it feels like dishonest marketing.

SeeManDo
Reformat Windows computers for $100 a pop, advertise with fliers at the supermarket or somewhere public where non-computer people usually go. Say something like - fix any computer problem guaranteed.
android521
If you're terrified of the risk , you're not really fit for entrepreneurship for now. Your best bet is try to increase the 45k number (changing jobs or taking on additional freelancing jobs) and invest the savings into stocks. Let time be your friends. You're still 28. It is never too late to start a business when you're 35 when you have more savings. When you have a burning desire and willing to risk everything, it's time you can quit your job.