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As part of what is called Great Resignation, 95% of employees are considering quitting their jobswith a third citing burnout as the main factor, according to a recent survey. If this describes you, then you should come up with a financial plan before you leave the ship, especially if you are not leaving for another job. Here’s a look at a few must-dos if you want to quit without another gig waiting for you.
Look for alternatives to actually quitting your job
For financial security reasons, ask yourself if you need to stop at all. In most states You are unlikely to be eligible for unemployment benefits if you voluntarily quit, unless it is for a “good cause” such as unsafe working conditions or to accept a permanent job offer that later fails. Also, quitting gives you less flexibility in finding a more desirable job as you race against the clock to mitigate dwindling savings.
If you feel that you are not holding up in your current work conditions, talk to your boss about what you can do to shift or reduce your workload – the worst he can do is say no and if he does you really as an employee, they may be ready to do anything to keep you. And if you stay employed, your job search can take as long as you need, so you can jump in when the right job comes up.
Make sure that your debts are manageable
Consider quitting your job until you have paid off any high-interest debt from credit card balances or other loans, especially if there is a chance that you will miss a payment once regular paychecks run out. Otherwise, you should take stock of your expenses and see how you can maintain your debt payments while you are unemployed. With your student debts, you now have more leeway, as the payment and interest moratorium has been extended until January 31, 2022.
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Have six months’ worth of living expenses in the bank (if you can)
While it’s a big job, financial planners generally recommend taking at least six months of accounting for expenses (rent, car, insurance – everything) before quitting a job, if not more. Of course the job market is thirsting for employees, but you should also plan for uncertainty. Many people leave their job with a plan to get a new job right away, but that doesn’t always happen even if you have relevant, in-demand experience.
Reduce your fixed costs
Just because you’ve saved money doesn’t mean you want to spend it, too. Try to stretch every dollar by rethinking your expenses and reducing monthly expenses. For example, could you save rent if you live with your parents? Do you really need more than one streaming TV service? Since you have no income, keep spending to a minimum.
Don’t let your insurance expire if you can avoid it
Life, health and disability insurance are often part of an employer’s benefit package, and if you give up your coverage when you quit you should already have a plan for how you are going to do it close the gap between insurance periods while you are looking for a new job. Also, avoid the temptation to trim or delete others Must-have insurancesuch as B. a rental deposit or car insurance (unless you no longer need a car). For health insurance, consider at least enrolling in a cheaper Bronze Obamacare plan to protect yourself from inflated healthcare costs that can ruin your finances in the event of a disaster.
Plan to transfer your 401K (if you have one)
It can be tempting to cash out your 401 (k) when you quit a job, but doing so comes with immediate penalties and severely limits your ability to save for retirement. Consider keeping your existing 401 (k) with your current employer (if it contains more than $ 5,000) until you get a new job. You can then submit an application Direct transfer your new employer’s 401 (k) plan. If the new employer doesn’t offer a 401 (k) or you’re starting a new business, this should be considered Transfer your existing 401 (k) to an individual retirement account (IRA).
