[x0xrx]

1. Apply for new job, get 30% raise (apparently everyone is doing it).

2. Cut expenses by 30% (how hard can it be? Avocado toast is tre expensive!)

3. Save for just one single year.

4. Hey there’s your salary replacement! Looking forward to awesome security tools (seriously, legit looking forward to it).

(Lest you fear obsolescence;

5. Get your new new job, 30% raise again).

[marginalia_nu]

Probably easier to just work part time. I do 32 hour work weeks. I'm still well paid by non-IT standards, and it allows me to put at least some time toward not-for-profit R&D-type stuff. I do appreciate not everyone is in a situation where that's viable.

Would I like to just get money to build cool stuff, sure. But since I'm not an actual Ferengi, I like to build cool stuff more than I like hoarding money. So this is my compromise, I make enough to make due but not so much I don't have time to do good things.