I took options in place of a jump in salary between jobs - took a 10% pay cut, was offered a few % in options, and I felt comfortable with that as the bargain.

I took options in place of a jump in salary between jobs - took a 10% pay cut, was offered a few % in options, and I felt comfortable with that as the bargain. If you're contemplating a shift in salary that would change your lifestyle though, that seems like a bad deal. The cash, at the end of the day, is a tool - if the bargain you're going for is a step backward in your quality of life, that seems like a poor decision unless you truly are drinking the Kool-Aid. That being said, I left before any of mine vested, so I just had a pay cut and no real benefit from it other than the experience.