I'm not aware of a startup specific formula (e.g. if startup then do XYZ,) we don't know all of your details and it really depends on what you're planning for y

I'm not aware of a startup specific formula (e.g. if startup then do XYZ,) we don't know all of your details and it really depends on what you're planning for your life/career. If you are trying to build a career and a life, you should seek a documented form of payment, else you'll have a hard time convincing future employers, your government, and lenders/creditors that you're legit. In general, I've heard the advice "pay yourself first" which when pondering jobs I interpret as: make sure you are getting enough compensation every month to pay rent, groceries, health insurance, etc. At that point hopefully you can start negotiating(/deciding) between more salary versus more equity. Only take equity if you're sure you won't need the cash any time soon, because lots of companies are staying private for a long time these days, so you may be waiting around for an acquisition/IPO.