Can you afford to quit your job?
Not a pep talk, a calculation. Your assets, your monthly costs, and the number of months you can go without a salary. Then the three things to sort out before you hand in your notice.
Your numbers
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SabbaticAid uses historic averages, not a crystal ball. Not financial advice. Talk to a real advisor for big decisions.
The number that answers the question
Whether you can afford to quit comes down to one figure: how many months your liquid assets cover your spending, after the yield they earn and before you need income again. Six months means you can quit and look for something better without panic. Twelve or more means you can take a real break first. Under three means the honest answer is not yet, and the calculator will show you how much a spending cut or a few more months of saving would change that.
Three things to settle before you resign
Health insurance. This is the cost that surprises people. In the United States, COBRA keeps your employer plan for 18 months at full price, typically 750 to 850 a month in 2026. In the Netherlands your basisverzekering must continue, at about 145 to 160 a month. In Germany voluntary public insurance starts around 270 a month. The plan panel gives the figure for your country.
Unemployment benefit. In most countries, resigning voluntarily disqualifies you, either entirely or for a waiting period. If there is any chance of a negotiated exit, a settlement agreement or a formal leave arrangement, explore it before you resign.
Leave instead of quitting. Unpaid leave keeps your benefits, your seniority and your way back. Spain gives you a legal right to it after one year, France after six years of work, and many Dutch and German contracts include it. Ask before you assume the answer is no.
If the answer is "not yet"
Run the 20% spending-cut scenario and look at how many months it adds. Then look at what a savings target of six months of expenses would take. Most people who want to quit can get there in a year or two with a concrete number in front of them, which is more than a vague wish ever achieved.
Questions people ask
How much savings do I need to quit my job?
A common floor is six months of expenses in liquid assets, plus a buffer for health insurance and the job search. If you plan to take time off before looking again, add the length of that break.
Do I get unemployment benefit if I quit?
Usually not, or only after a waiting period. Rules differ by country: the Netherlands normally refuses benefit after a voluntary resignation, Germany applies a 12-week suspension, the UK sanctions Universal Credit for 13 to 26 weeks. Check the country guide for yours.
Should I quit or negotiate unpaid leave?
Negotiate leave first. It keeps insurance, seniority and the option to return, and it costs you nothing to ask.