Ask HN: Would you rather have 20% more money or 20% more time
5•shortrounddev2•2h ago
If you manager offered you a choice between a 20% raise or never having to work a particular day of the week again (your choice which day), what would you choose?
Comments
JohnFen•2h ago
I go with the shorter workweek, no question about it.
shortrounddev2•2h ago
How much money would it take for you to be conflicted about it? 40% raise? 100%?
JohnFen•19m ago
I don't think there's really a monetary price that would make me conflicted about it. If I were struggling to survive, I'd likely think very differently, but I'm not. As long as my income is sufficient for me to live the life I prefer (which it is), money is not a very large motivator for me.
However, the time taken up by the need to work is a very large price to pay. I'd be fine taking a pay cut to have more time for living.
GrumpyYoungMan•2h ago
Early in my career, the raise and put it entirely towards retirement savings. Later in my career, the free time.
aynyc•2h ago
I would choose time.
d00mB0t•2h ago
I want both!
alganet•2h ago
I prefer 100% more time and 100% more money.
This is an unrealistic question, it deserves an unrealistic answer.
helij•1h ago
I already made that choice. Have had 3-day weekends for more than 4 years now.
ActorNightly•1h ago
20% raise. I happen to enjoy the work I do - Ive taken extended time off (6month+) to do personal stuff and didn't really touch anything tech related, and felt myself getting dumber as I was missing out on tech. Being engaged in it every day is like a workout for my brain.
JohnFen•2h ago
shortrounddev2•2h ago
JohnFen•19m ago
However, the time taken up by the need to work is a very large price to pay. I'd be fine taking a pay cut to have more time for living.