People quit their jobs in record numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Table of Contents
It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. 5 money steps to prepare to quit your job
1. Take a full inventory of your finances
2. Create a budget
3. Prioritize saving
4. Be ready to adjust to your new lifestyle
5. Supplement your lifestyle with other income streams
The bottom line
5 money steps to prepare to quit your job
1. Take a full inventory of your finances
2. Create a budget
3. Prioritize saving
4. Be ready to adjust to your new lifestyle
5. Supplement your lifestyle with other income streams
The bottom line
Having a full and realistic estimate of your monthly expenses is key before quitting a job.
Saving enough to cover six month’s worth of expenses should be a bare minimum.
Make saving a priority, consider starting a side hustle, and stick to your budget for best results.
Read more stories from Personal Finance Insider . Get the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. Something is loading. Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .Qutting a full-time job without having another one lined up may seem like a risky thing to do. But it can also be a positive move, as long as you’re financially prepared.Americans have resigned in record numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic amid a shift in many people’s attitudes about their jobs and work in general. While some left to take full-time jobs elsewhere, others decided to step away from the 9-to-5 workforce altogether, at least temporarily. If you’re so inclined yourself, there are some key things you should do first. 5 money steps to prepare to quit your job 1. Take a full inventory of your finances Before you walk away from your job, take full stock of your finances. How much money do you have saved? What are your fixed, variable, periodic, and discretionary expenses? The answers will help you determine whether you are in a financial position to quit, or at least provide you with a roadmap to help get you there.Businesses use cash flow formulas to prepare for slow seasons and ensure there is enough money on hand for business costs and other spending. You can also use one to determine how much cash you’ll have on hand in the event you do decide to quit.Forecast your cash flow over a period of time using the following formula: Beginning cash + expected income – expected outflow = ending cash forecast If you quit, you won’t have income from your 9-to-5 job, but maybe you’ll have some money from a side hustle, dividends, or other forms of payment. Let’s say you start out with $5,000 in savings, expect to make $2,000 per month from your side hustles, and your monthly expenses total $3,000 per month.Your projected cash flow formula would be: $5,000 + $2,000 – $3,000 = $4,000 Under this scenario, you’d lose about $1,000 in only your first month. You’d need to figure out where you need to adjust your spending, make a few lifestyle changes, or increase your passive income strategy.You should also consider the amount of debt you hold and what your monthly payments will look like moving forward without your regular paycheck. Having a little bit of debt is one thing. But if you have a lot, particularly high-interest credit card debt, you might consider moving to part-time, before quitting your job altogether until you get that debt paid down. 2. Create a budget — and stick to it Without a steady paycheck, you’ll need to create a budget that reflects your lifestyle and strictly follow it. According to financial planning expert Deborah L. Meyer, the chief executive officer of wealth management firm WorthyNest , using a spreadsheet to get a better perspective is a simple way to monitor your spending and keep track of where your money is going.She divides her budgeting spreadsheet into five main areas: income, required expenses, discretionary expenses, annual expenses, and surplus or savings.Since you will be quitting your job, it’s crucial to stay within your means. Start by adding up your income streams to set a baseline for your budget. You already have […]