Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it? • Hacker News Board

Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#1

Post by granfalloon » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:17 PM UTC

Hi HN,

A week from now I'll be leaving a high-paying/high-stress job at a big law firm for a part-time remote position (bitcoin related) that pays (comparatively) very little. I decided I wanted time to seriously pursue music, while also having time to read and learn new things (something I haven't done much of the last few years). Diving into the workings of bitcoin has also made me want to get back into learning programming, which I haven't really done since college. It's a big change and a bit scary, but I figure now is the time to do something like this, as kids are still at least a few years off.

So I'm looking to HN for general advice on budgeting my time and money -- I'll have plenty of the former and little of the latter. I really want to maximize this experience, but I also know that I tend to be a bit over-ambitious ("5 hours a day of music! Learn python! Work through euclid's elements! Start an exercise regimen!".) I've read plenty of great posts on HN about productivity, efficient use of time, and ultra-budgeting, so I thought this would be a good place to start. I'm also looking for any general tips about staying engaged and active while working from home.

If anyone has any advice or stories to share, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks, all!

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#2

Post by jnsaff2 » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:42 PM UTC

I started Udacity courses, highly recommended, you don't have to pay as well if you don't want to. There are othe MOOC's as well..

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#3

Post by wj » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:45 PM UTC

I'd recommend filling out a dreamline (Google it) to figure out SPECIFIC goals you want to achieve over the next year or so. Then list the specific steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

Start on step one today.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#4

Post by dragons » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:49 PM UTC

wj wrote: post #3

I'd recommend filling out a dreamline (Google it) to figure out SPECIFIC goals you want to achieve over the next year or so. Then list the specific steps you need to take to achieve those goals. Start on step one today.

There's a lot of irrelevant stuff on the first page of a Google search for dreamline. Here's a solid link: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/lifestyle-costing/

Thanks for posting about this; I've read Ferris but hadn't heard about this one.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#5

Post by 3pt14159 » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:52 PM UTC

Get a good kitchen set and starting making your own meals. Spend two weeks where you make every meal you eat, so you break the habit of eating out.

Also continue to surround yourself with fantastic people, it will keep you from getting depressed. Exercise (jogging, especially) is a very economical and beneficial pastime. Start that as soon as possible.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#6

Post by asterfr » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:52 PM UTC

Do that stupid thing: a todo list. Write what you want on it, set priority, set a lifetime for the todo list (like say it's for three month), setup deadline for some achievements like (30 hours of by june), update your todo list.

You'll keep track about what you have done so far and it will remove that feeling that you will meet at some point that you haven't achieved anything.

The key is to review your todo list regularly : to know what to do, to remind you of your objective, to write down that you have actually done something and also, very important, to update it by removing what doesn't interest you anymore and adding new stuff.

I have a three months todo list, with all the big things in my life, I have milestones or targets for all these. I find it pretty efficient.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#7

Post by derwiki » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:54 PM UTC

Congratulations :)

- when you find yourself not being productive any more, stop and take a walk. You can't be productive 100% of the time, and it's important to accept that. 30-60 minute walks will do wonders for you.

- pick modest goals for the first month to make sure you knock them out of the park, and then set appropriate goals the following month. Nothing gets you down like missing your first set of goals and being perpetually behind.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#8

Post by ar7hur » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:56 PM UTC

If you can do your work remotely then pack a small backpack, and travel around the world. No flights, just cheap road transportation, trains, boats, where you'll meet ton of people you'd never meet in your life. Go to South America, to Asia, to Africa, if you're smart and tough you can travel a year on a $15K budget.

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#9

Post by benbou09 » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:58 PM UTC

Take 20 min a day to meditate

Re: Ask HN: Will soon have lots of time and little money – how to spend it?

#10

Post by namenotrequired » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:00 PM UTC

Congratulations on taking the big jump and going on a new adventure!

I'm hoping to be in a similar situation in the future (uni student with a gap of up to 7 months because I'm ahead of the curriculum, and I have maybe ~€3k in savings, while living with my parents). Here's some ideas I had for myself.

- Travel cheaply. I have friends in many parts of the world and hopefully some of them will let me stay with them. I could also stay closer to home and travel by bike with a tent, but sleeping in a tent might be harder to combine with a remote job.

- Experiment with freelancing, possibly on a "Pay what you want" basis because I won't really need the money

- Focus for some time on just learning the things I've wanted to learn for a long time; technologies, languages, hobbies, professional skills.

- Create some side projects, primarily to learn but some might also bring in a little money.

Disclaimer in case it wasn't clear: I'm not speaking from experience, those are ideas I have for the future.

> I'm also looking for any general tips about staying engaged and active while working from home

This is something I do have experience with and I found that communicating sufficiently, clearly and honestly is both harder and more important than at non-remote jobs.

Edit: I'm also bookmarking this thread to find advice for myself - thanks a lot for posting this question!