TE
TechEcho
Home24h TopNewestBestAskShowJobs
GitHubTwitter
Home

TechEcho

A tech news platform built with Next.js, providing global tech news and discussions.

GitHubTwitter

Home

HomeNewestBestAskShowJobs

Resources

HackerNews APIOriginal HackerNewsNext.js

© 2025 TechEcho. All rights reserved.

Ask HN: Does it make sense to keep working at my currency devaluated job?

2 pointsby mxmpawnalmost 5 years ago
I&#x27;m Software Engineer with a focus on AI from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I&#x27;ve been working locally for many years earning something like $3k or $4k usd per month but since last year our currency (Argentine pesos) has devaluated a lot against us dollar.<p>I&#x27;m now earning something like 1k usd per month. That money is enough to live comfortably (I don&#x27;t rent) but lately I&#x27;ve been thinking that&#x27;s not worth it to keep working for that amount anymore. I&#x27;ve enough savings to live without income for at least ten years (120k USD).<p>My idea is to resign and start focusing on three points: investing my savings, look for jobs&#x2F;contracting&#x2F;freelancing overseas and have a try at the startup game.<p>My biggest doubts are the current world crisis like situation and that I&#x27;m going to be a dad next month, so it&#x27;s scary to be without a secure salary.<p>How does that sound? What would you do?

1 comment

gus_massaalmost 5 years ago
Hi from Argentina too!<p>Congratulations for the kid. Remember to sleep now, the next 18 years are more difficult.<p>Never invest more than you can afford to lose. It&#x27;s difficult to invest unless you understand how the market work and there are no zero risk, high gain investment. Perhaps invest a small part like 10% or 20%, assuming there is a real chance you will loose it.<p>For my situation, I prefer an stable job, but I don&#x27;t have too much savings. Each one has it&#x27;s own bias.<p>I think a startup may cause family problems. You will be at home during the quarantine drinking mate and chatting with your friends, and not taking care of the baby. I think your SO will understand that this is your work, but after a few night of sleep deprivation and changing too many diapers ...<p>The advantage of a consulting&#x2F;freelancing job is that you will get a paycheck and that makes your job real. With some luck you can get the same dollars with less work time. I&#x27;d recommend to read whatever patio11 wrote about consulting like <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kalzumeus.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;09&#x2F;17&#x2F;ramit-sethi-and-patrick-mckenzie-on-getting-your-first-consulting-client&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kalzumeus.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;09&#x2F;17&#x2F;ramit-sethi-and-patrick...</a> or <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kalzumeus.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;09&#x2F;21&#x2F;ramit-sethi-and-patrick-mckenzie-on-why-your-customers-would-be-happier-if-you-charged-more&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kalzumeus.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;09&#x2F;21&#x2F;ramit-sethi-and-patrick...</a> . Also, there is a monthly freelance thread here <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=23379195" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=23379195</a>