[keiferski]

It's a bit difficult now with COVID, but have you considered traveling, especially to somewhere with a low cost of living? I'm not sure how much you have saved, but it's possible to live on $1,000 in many smaller cities in eastern and central Europe, the Caucasus, Morocco, etc. You could build your startup for 6/12 months without eating much into your investment.

[throwaway48491]

Ah, I've always wanted to travel. Covid is a bit scary though so I don't want to be somewhere unfamiliar and get sick. I've wanted to go to Europe, even the US (but the politics are a bit up in the air right now.) I was thinking about getting a remote gig and then going somewhere with a super low cost of living, save up a bunch and see what happens but I haven't done a lot of research on the pros and cons of that though.

[keiferski]

Take it from someone that got horribly sick while alone in North Africa: it's a character-building experience ;)

I recommend the remote job route, at least for a year or two. The 'digital nomad' thing gets old after awhile, but it's definitely worth doing for a few years. If you stick to Central and Eastern Europe, there is nothing to worry about re: politics, illness, food quality, etc.