I left my job without a job in 2023.
I wish I could tell you an inspiring story about how I planned my career break for years.
That I saved relentlessly, hustled on the side, built multiple streams of income and finally accumulated enough money to leave corporate life.
But that would be bollocks.
The truth was, my husband gave me a chunk of money because I was crying so much and having multiple breakdowns.
A lot of career-break content gets romanticised into courage, boundaries, self-care, etc.
But there is an uncomfortable economic reality underneath it.
Leaving a job without another job is much easier when you have a financial runway.
And this is where I introduce you to what I call the “fk-off fund.”
From my experience, if you want the financial safety net to quit without another job, aim for:
Your current net salary (not gross) x 12 months.
If you’re earning below RM5K (gross) a month, you could start by aiming for at least 6 months as your minimum runway.
And there is no shame how you obtain the fund, even if some of it comes from your family.
You can always plan to pay back when you are able to. Which I did.
So, before you quit without a job, get all the support you need or start building that financial runway.
You need to survive quitting before you can start healing, if it makes sense.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
