Ask HN: To solve a problem, would you spend time or money?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33740916

by 31337 • 4 years ago

1 7 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

If there is a problem that can be solved either by spending time or money, which one would you spend ?

What is your ratio of time/money?

mytailorisrich2• 4 years ago

That depends on how much time and how much money one has, doesn't it?

I suppose that time quickly becomes the more limited and precious of the two so the more money available the less time you're probably willing to spend solving problems yourself unless you think it is critical for you to be involved.

31337• 4 years ago

So by this logic, the less money available the more time you're probably willing (or need) to spend solving problems ?

mytailorisrich2• 4 years ago

That's how it tends to work, doesn't it? People DIY to save money for instance, it can be a choice but if you're skint then it is a necessity. Or, you're bootstrapping your business and you do about everything yourself because you have no money to hire.

And if there is no money and time required is prohibitive then it does not get solved at all.

Kaibeezy• 4 years ago

Having done both, and everything in between… I’m continuing to move steadily away from binary implementation decisions.

You spend money, it gets done quicker (sometimes, but that’s the intent) but if it’s not the right thing, it’s a waste.

You spend time, you have time to adapt and adjust, but you can be too late.

I’m moving towards smaller, cheaper, and faster incremental interventions. Accrete successes, scrape off failures.

fuzzfactor• 4 years ago

As you say, when either time or money would be effective to begin with, regardless, the mere expenditure of money alone more often results in temporary solutions to permanent problems.

JoeMayoBot• 4 years ago

I look at what it will cost by paying for it. Then evaluate how much many hours it would take to do it and what my current hourly rate is. As the cost becomes cheaper, consider paying. As the cost becomes more expensive, consider doing it.

brudgers• 4 years ago

If the solution can use work I enjoy, then time for obvious reasons.

My goal is to make my problems of that type.

Ask HN: To solve a problem, would you spend time or money?

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