How much runway should I have before resigning without another job?

Six months of burn is the common floor, and nine to twelve is more comfortable in a slow hiring market. Look at how long people in your specific role and city are actually taking, not the general average.

Should I withdraw my PF to extend runway?

It is a last resort. Withdrawal before five years of continuous service is taxable, it takes weeks to arrive, and you lose the compounding permanently. Exhaust everything else first.

How long your savings last without a salary

Runway is the number of months you can go without income before the money runs out. It is the single most useful number to have during a job search, because it converts a vague anxiety into a date.

The second number here matters just as much: how much longer you last if you cut spending. Knowing that in advance means you can decide when to cut, rather than discovering it too late.

Runway

8.6 months

Burning ₹70,000 a month

Total available: ₹6,00,000
Monthly burn: ₹70,000
Runway at current spending: 8.6 months
Runway after a 25% spending cut: 11.4 months
Months bought by the cut: 2.9
Savings needed for six months: ₹4,20,000

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How this is worked out

Burn is your monthly expenses minus any income that continues after the job ends.
Runway is your available money divided by that burn.
The lean figure recalculates with expenses reduced by a quarter, which is roughly what most households can cut without moving house.

What this does not cover

Count only money you can reach. Provident fund withdrawals take weeks and are taxable under five years of service.
Health insurance usually ends with employment. Budget for a personal policy, because the gap is the expensive part.
Loan EMIs do not pause. If they are a large share of your expenses, the 25% cut scenario is optimistic.

Questions people ask

How much runway should I have before resigning without another job?: Six months of burn is the common floor, and nine to twelve is more comfortable in a slow hiring market. Look at how long people in your specific role and city are actually taking, not the general average.
Should I withdraw my PF to extend runway?: It is a last resort. Withdrawal before five years of continuous service is taxable, it takes weeks to arrive, and you lose the compounding permanently. Exhaust everything else first.

Where these figures come from

Rates and rules on this page were last checked against the source on 31 August 2026. Tax law changes; check the source before you rely on a number for a decision.

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