Career Break Runway Calculator
Example: Liquid savings available: 40000 $ · Monthly living expenses: 3500 $ · Monthly income during the break: 800 $
| Months of runway | 14.81 |
| Total you will spend down | $40,000 |
| Monthly net burn | $2,700 |
Worked example
Suppose you have $40,000 saved, spend $3,500 a month, and expect $800 a month from a side gig or rental. Your net burn is $2,700 a month, so $40,000 divided by $2,700 gives about 14.8 months of runway. Over that time you spend down the full $40,000. Seeing a concrete number near fifteen months lets you set a realistic job-search deadline and decide whether to trim expenses to stretch it.
Frequently asked questions
What should count as liquid savings?
Cash and near-cash you can spend without penalty: checking, savings, money market funds, and a taxable brokerage you would sell. Exclude retirement accounts you do not want to tap and any emergency reserve you refuse to touch. Entering only truly available money keeps the runway honest.
Should I include unemployment benefits as income?
Yes, if you qualify, enter your expected monthly unemployment benefit in the income field, since it directly extends your runway. Remember benefits are time-limited and taxable, so if they run out before you find work, re-run the calculator with income set to zero to see the tougher scenario.
How much runway is enough?
A common guideline is at least three to six months of expenses for an unexpected job loss, and more for a voluntary break or a competitive field where searches take longer. If your runway here is under a few months, building it up or lining up part-time income before you leap sharply reduces the risk.
What if my income exceeds my expenses?
Then your net burn is zero or negative, meaning your savings are not being depleted and your runway is effectively unlimited during the break. That is the ideal position — you have replaced enough income to sustain the break indefinitely, so the constraint becomes your goals rather than your bank balance.