5 ms·

Wow. A whole 5 years to get "FU Money" saved up. That's a blessing, and can strongly be considered "just getting it". Short of an inheritance, or winning the lo

Wow. A whole 5 years to get "FU Money" saved up. That's a blessing, and can strongly be considered "just getting it". Short of an inheritance, or winning the lottery, normally salaried or hourly workers will never have "FU money"; let alone in 5 short years.

MS90 7y ago
I've already been saving for 5. And by "FU" money I was considering an amount that would allow me to say "fuck you" to a boss and survive until I found a new job without worrying too much. Like, $100,000 or less. Probably closer to $70k, after ten years of saving.
- novok 7y ago
  You my friend, need to go get a better paying job. Get out of Europe/Canada/Asia and get a software job in the USA.
  - MS90 7y ago
    I do have a software job in the USA. However, with the exploding prices of everything in Austin, it's getting harder and harder to hang onto any cash. I get consistent raises year over year but don't feel that I have any more money.
    - novok 7y ago
      Even better! I would suggest studying for interviews with something like interview cake & leetcode and getting a job at a FANG. Try moving to seattle or if rain doesn't work for you, the bay area. With an income of $300k+ you could probably save that $100k amount in a few years. Don't move until you have job, that way you get a relocation benefit and that $3000/month rent won't seem that crazy to you. Even working at a startup will pay you better than what I'm estimating you make in austin.
      - MS90 7y ago
        Yeah, no thanks. I've been to Seattle and to the bay area and I wasn't a fan of either. I have an entire life built here and have zero desire to ever move, and even less to work for a FAANG. There's much more to my life than being a programmer, that's just what I do for work. My life does not revolve around it.
  - ClumsyPilot 7y ago
    Have you ever heard of Visas and family commitments?
    - novok 7y ago
      Yeah, I had to get a visa & navigate family commitments too. It was a sacrifice, but now I can support my family overseas better.
      - ClumsyPilot 7y ago
        Just trying to point out that your advise is not universal. I have moved to UK, but if my parents were ill and in need of care, that would have been impossible.
- mattsfrey 7y ago
  What industry do you work in? I do software and can quit and find a new job within a month no problem, 10k is more than sufficient...
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    "quit and" How many times have you quit without plans and gotten right back to work?
sloopy543 7y ago
Where does your money go? Do you regularly audit your finances and account for it all? I have a bigass spreadsheet I use to track every last dollar, and I ruthlessly optimize everything. Cell phone plan, down to $30/month. Health insurance, just $300/month. No tv. No subscriptions. No commute. Even if I did, I own my car outright so no car payment. No B.S. pre-packaged food. I cook pretty much everything at home. Have done so for years. Minimal eating out, once a month or so at inexpensive restaurants. No debt. Of any kind. So therefore no interest payments. A few small "luxury" expenses here like a ski pass because you only live once. All of this is completely within the realm of someone who makes $70k per year or more, the bottom rung of software development. You should be able to hit $100K in savings in five years if you are smart with your money. Likely more if you really hustle and audit every dollar. Maybe a little less if you're supporting kids, but you can optimize how you spend your money on them too.
- PenguinCoder 7y ago
  Congrats on having no debt of any kind. I have debt. I also strictly budget my income and expenses (also with a big ass spreadsheet). Healthcare costs me more than $300/mo. Daycare (1.8k/mo), housing (1.2k/mo), car ($600/mo all inclusive) and food ($550/mo for a family of 4), are my largest expenses. Don't tell me to get rid of the car; I don't live in a city or area with ANY public transportation. The car is literally, it. No I'm not moving to CA. I don't have luxuries to cut. I don't go out to eat, I don't have Netflix, Spotify, Amazon prime, or the latest phone (my phone is a One Plus 3). I use a service provider that costs me $60/mo for two lines (TOTAL - $60/mo) for cell phone. TV is friends Plex or free Roku apps. I won't say how much I have in savings, but your 100k in five years (20k saved a year?! SERIOUSLY?! that's more than min wage full time job, PRE TAX!) is not at ALL realistic. No I don't work a Min Wage job, but I'm not SF/Bay/SV area salary wither.
- perl4ever 7y ago
  There are a lot of people who are programmers but aren't "software developers", particularly not "full stack" buzzword enabled types. If you've been programming for a decade or two, and haven't had that title, you're likely not going to get that $70K that fresh grads will. Likely not even hired, for "cultural fit". Hope you don't fall off the treadmill, because if you do, you'll find out there is no way back and no pity.

MS90 7y ago

I've already been saving for 5. And by "FU" money I was considering an amount that would allow me to say "fuck you" to a boss and survive until I found a new job without worrying too much. Like, $100,000 or less. Probably closer to $70k, after ten years of saving.

novok 7y ago
You my friend, need to go get a better paying job. Get out of Europe/Canada/Asia and get a software job in the USA.
- MS90 7y ago
  I do have a software job in the USA. However, with the exploding prices of everything in Austin, it's getting harder and harder to hang onto any cash. I get consistent raises year over year but don't feel that I have any more money.
  - novok 7y ago
    Even better! I would suggest studying for interviews with something like interview cake & leetcode and getting a job at a FANG. Try moving to seattle or if rain doesn't work for you, the bay area. With an income of $300k+ you could probably save that $100k amount in a few years. Don't move until you have job, that way you get a relocation benefit and that $3000/month rent won't seem that crazy to you. Even working at a startup will pay you better than what I'm estimating you make in austin.
    - MS90 7y ago
      Yeah, no thanks. I've been to Seattle and to the bay area and I wasn't a fan of either. I have an entire life built here and have zero desire to ever move, and even less to work for a FAANG. There's much more to my life than being a programmer, that's just what I do for work. My life does not revolve around it.
- ClumsyPilot 7y ago
  Have you ever heard of Visas and family commitments?
  - novok 7y ago
    Yeah, I had to get a visa & navigate family commitments too. It was a sacrifice, but now I can support my family overseas better.
    - ClumsyPilot 7y ago
      Just trying to point out that your advise is not universal. I have moved to UK, but if my parents were ill and in need of care, that would have been impossible.
mattsfrey 7y ago
What industry do you work in? I do software and can quit and find a new job within a month no problem, 10k is more than sufficient...
- perl4ever 7y ago
  "quit and" How many times have you quit without plans and gotten right back to work?

sloopy543 7y ago

Where does your money go? Do you regularly audit your finances and account for it all? I have a bigass spreadsheet I use to track every last dollar, and I ruthlessly optimize everything. Cell phone plan, down to $30/month. Health insurance, just $300/month. No tv. No subscriptions. No commute. Even if I did, I own my car outright so no car payment. No B.S. pre-packaged food. I cook pretty much everything at home. Have done so for years. Minimal eating out, once a month or so at inexpensive restaurants. No debt. Of any kind. So therefore no interest payments. A few small "luxury" expenses here like a ski pass because you only live once. All of this is completely within the realm of someone who makes $70k per year or more, the bottom rung of software development. You should be able to hit $100K in savings in five years if you are smart with your money. Likely more if you really hustle and audit every dollar. Maybe a little less if you're supporting kids, but you can optimize how you spend your money on them too.

PenguinCoder 7y ago
Congrats on having no debt of any kind. I have debt. I also strictly budget my income and expenses (also with a big ass spreadsheet). Healthcare costs me more than $300/mo. Daycare (1.8k/mo), housing (1.2k/mo), car ($600/mo all inclusive) and food ($550/mo for a family of 4), are my largest expenses. Don't tell me to get rid of the car; I don't live in a city or area with ANY public transportation. The car is literally, it. No I'm not moving to CA. I don't have luxuries to cut. I don't go out to eat, I don't have Netflix, Spotify, Amazon prime, or the latest phone (my phone is a One Plus 3). I use a service provider that costs me $60/mo for two lines (TOTAL - $60/mo) for cell phone. TV is friends Plex or free Roku apps. I won't say how much I have in savings, but your 100k in five years (20k saved a year?! SERIOUSLY?! that's more than min wage full time job, PRE TAX!) is not at ALL realistic. No I don't work a Min Wage job, but I'm not SF/Bay/SV area salary wither.
perl4ever 7y ago
There are a lot of people who are programmers but aren't "software developers", particularly not "full stack" buzzword enabled types. If you've been programming for a decade or two, and haven't had that title, you're likely not going to get that $70K that fresh grads will. Likely not even hired, for "cultural fit". Hope you don't fall off the treadmill, because if you do, you'll find out there is no way back and no pity.