How Much Is Enough to Survive a Layoff?
Layoffs happen to everyone. The difference is whether you're financially prepared. Calculate your number and build your safety net.
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Target layoff survival fund
Adjust for Inflation
Show values in today's purchasing power
Your Custom Fields
No custom fields yet. Add your own expenses, income, or one-time costs to personalize your plan.
Your Enough Plan
Enough Number: $500,000
Projected: $12,463
Growth Projection
Timeline
Monthly Savings Target
$20,060
per month to reach your goal
Current: $500
You need $19,560 more per month
That's about $669 per day
What If?
+$100/mo
Add $100 per month
42 mo. sooner
$14,955
+$200/mo
Add $200 per month
76 mo. sooner
$17,448
-2% return
Bear market scenario
146 mo. later
$12,231
What If You Saved Your Next Raise?
| Scenario | Final Monthly | Total Saved (10yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Save Nothing | $500/mo | $73,348 |
| Save 50% | $640/mo | $81,521 |
| Save ALL | $814/mo | $90,814 |
Saving ALL your raises instead of nothing nets you $17,466 more over 10 years.
Life Seasons
Add upcoming life events to see how they affect your monthly budget.
Click an event above to add it to your timeline.
How You Compare
Key Insights
- At your current pace, you'll reach enough by August 2063.
- You're 2% of the way to your enough number of $500,000.
- At this rate, you'll reach your goal 35.1 years late.
- Increasing contributions by just $50/month could shave 22 months off your timeline.
- Your savings rate is ~8% — every dollar counts. Can you find $50 more per month to boost it?
Coach's Corner
File for Unemployment Immediately
File on your first day of unemployment. Benefits typically replace 40-50% of your income and can extend your runway by months. Don't wait — there's no penalty for filing early.
Audit Subscriptions This Week
Cancel every subscription you don't use daily. The average American has $200-300/month in subscriptions. That's 2-3 extra weeks of runway.
Your Network Is Your Net Worth
80% of jobs are filled through networking, not applications. Reach out to 5 former colleagues this week. A warm introduction is worth 100 cold applications.
Export Results
What Salary Do I Need?
To reach $500,000 by saving 20% of your income, you'd need to earn at least $1,203,581/year.
Your Career Recovery Plan
You have 0.0 months of runway at current spending. Here's what to do next:
- 1
Update your CV and start tracking applications
Open TrackCV → - 2
Prepare for interviews while you have time
Practice with CrushMyInterview → - 3
Check if your passion aligns with your next role
Take the Passion Assessment → MyPassionJob
Prep for Your Next Role
Practice interview questions tailored to the salary you need to hit your "enough" number.
Your Enough Plan
Enough Number: $500,000
Projected: $12,463
Growth Projection
Timeline
Monthly Savings Target
$20,060
per month to reach your goal
Current: $500
You need $19,560 more per month
That's about $669 per day
What If?
+$100/mo
Add $100 per month
42 mo. sooner
$14,955
+$200/mo
Add $200 per month
76 mo. sooner
$17,448
-2% return
Bear market scenario
146 mo. later
$12,231
What If You Saved Your Next Raise?
| Scenario | Final Monthly | Total Saved (10yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Save Nothing | $500/mo | $73,348 |
| Save 50% | $640/mo | $81,521 |
| Save ALL | $814/mo | $90,814 |
Saving ALL your raises instead of nothing nets you $17,466 more over 10 years.
Life Seasons
Add upcoming life events to see how they affect your monthly budget.
Click an event above to add it to your timeline.
How You Compare
Key Insights
- At your current pace, you'll reach enough by August 2063.
- You're 2% of the way to your enough number of $500,000.
- At this rate, you'll reach your goal 35.1 years late.
- Increasing contributions by just $50/month could shave 22 months off your timeline.
- Your savings rate is ~8% — every dollar counts. Can you find $50 more per month to boost it?
Coach's Corner
File for Unemployment Immediately
File on your first day of unemployment. Benefits typically replace 40-50% of your income and can extend your runway by months. Don't wait — there's no penalty for filing early.
Audit Subscriptions This Week
Cancel every subscription you don't use daily. The average American has $200-300/month in subscriptions. That's 2-3 extra weeks of runway.
Your Network Is Your Net Worth
80% of jobs are filled through networking, not applications. Reach out to 5 former colleagues this week. A warm introduction is worth 100 cold applications.
Export Results
What Salary Do I Need?
To reach $500,000 by saving 20% of your income, you'd need to earn at least $1,203,581/year.
Your Career Recovery Plan
You have 0.0 months of runway at current spending. Here's what to do next:
- 1
Update your CV and start tracking applications
Open TrackCV → - 2
Prepare for interviews while you have time
Practice with CrushMyInterview → - 3
Check if your passion aligns with your next role
Take the Passion Assessment → MyPassionJob
Prep for Your Next Role
Practice interview questions tailored to the salary you need to hit your "enough" number.
Enough Number
$500,000
Progress
2%
Why You Need a Layoff Survival Fund
In today's economy, layoffs are not a matter of if but when. Tech, finance, media — no industry is immune. The average job search takes 3–6 months, and senior roles can take 6–12 months. Having a dedicated layoff fund means you can job search from a position of strength, not desperation.
A layoff survival fund is different from an emergency fund. Your emergency fund covers unexpected expenses (car repair, medical bills). Your layoff fund covers the gap between your last paycheck and your next one — including health insurance, rent, and daily expenses.
How to Calculate Your Layoff Number
Start with your essential monthly expenses: housing, food, utilities, insurance, debt minimums, and transportation. Multiply by the number of months you want to be covered. Then subtract any expected severance pay.
For example: $5,000/month in expenses, 6 months of coverage, minus 2 months of severance = $20,000 target.
Factors That Affect Your Timeline
Industry demand: High-demand fields (healthcare, cybersecurity) have shorter job searches. Niche or senior roles take longer.
Location: Major metro areas typically have more opportunities but higher competition. Remote-friendly roles expand your options.
Severance: Many companies offer 1–4 weeks per year of service. Factor this in — it buys you time but shouldn't be your only safety net.
COBRA/Health insurance: If you lose employer health coverage, COBRA can cost $500–$2,000/month for a family. Marketplace plans may be cheaper. Budget for this explicitly.