28, $4k in savings, feeling stuck – need some life advice • Hacker News Board

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

#1

Post by freeourdays » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 2:31 PM UTC

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

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

#2

Post by brettgriffin » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 2:47 PM UTC

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.

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

#3

Post by sfmz » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 2:51 PM UTC

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.

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

#4

Post by freeourdays » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 3:07 PM UTC

sfmz wrote: post #3

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.

Yes, it's mainly about spending money too quickly and having a weak financial awareness

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

#5

Post by freeourdays » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 3:08 PM UTC

brettgriffin wrote: post #2

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…

Thank you for your encouragement, I can try

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

#6

Post by wryoak » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 3:22 PM UTC

brettgriffin wrote: post #2

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…

> 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

Okay boomer. In which fields or industries have you accomplished this? I agree those attributes will generally be rewarded but not at that rate, not in most fields.

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

#7

Post by idontwantthis » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 3:45 PM UTC

wryoak wrote: post #6

brettgriffin wrote: post #2

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…

> 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 Okay boomer. In which fields or industries have you accomplished this? I agree those attributes will generally be rewarded but not at that rate, not in most fields.

Has OP even tried dressing for the job they want to have and faking it till they make it? What about giving their boss a firm handshake and asking for a raise?

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

#8

Post by brettgriffin » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 4:11 PM UTC

wryoak wrote: post #6

brettgriffin wrote: post #2

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…

> 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 Okay boomer. In which fields or industries have you accomplished this? I agree those attributes will generally be rewarded but not at that rate, not in most fields.

I was making $35/hr (~$70k) a year as a department manager in a grocery store while I still in college. And that was 20 years ago.

I just helped a friend's wife (late 20s) apply and interview for a general administration position in a tier 3 city. She didn't study anything important and sort of just floundered for a few years after college doing various temp jobs. She ended up getting the job makes about $90k now. They thought I did some sort of a magic trick or something.

That seems great until you realize that fast food and grocery stores are paying new hires $22-27/hr (so 45-54k). Again, if you have any degree of professionalism and work ethic you can move into some low ranking managerial position that is closer to $30-45/hr.

In short, $75k-100 is not a lot of money anymore and is pretty easy to get. It requires ignoring this learned helplessness and working hard.

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

#9

Post by scarface_74 » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 4:20 PM UTC

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.

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

#10

Post by scarface_74 » Tue, Aug 05, 2025, 4:25 PM UTC

wryoak wrote: post #6

brettgriffin wrote: post #2

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…

> 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 Okay boomer. In which fields or industries have you accomplished this? I agree those attributes will generally be rewarded but not at that rate, not in most fields.

The median wage in the US is $38K. That’s what an Amazon driver can make.

Are you really telling me that in 2025 someone with skills and grit can’t make more than that? Hell I was making a little over $50K as regular old enterprise dev in Atlanta working for a company that mailed out utility bills in 2000.