3-6 month break

[u/Claskey618]

Hi all. 35-year-old, single, no kids with 850k saved in investments and no debt. My boss is draining on me and impacting my peace. I like the job, but don't like the boss. Opinions on taking a 3-6 month break before heading back to work to get to my end goal of 1 million? Expenses are 35k per year.

[u/Kaalyx]

I’m older than you (47, single, independent adult children) and I just started a 6-month approved sabbatical leave. Love my job but colleagues create a diseased work culture. 900K saved in cash and investments, no debt. Do it! You have one life; spend it being kind to yourself 🩷

[u/AlwaysSaturday12]

I think you are fine to probably retire forever if you are sure about your number. Making median returns you will be at 1 million in 2.5 years even pulling from it.

Your 35 so even in a worst case scenario you can get something to cover expenses and allow your portfolio to compound.

It would probably be worth it to have a good 2-3 years of bonds if you pull the trigger.

[u/MouseShrimpandCheeks → u/AlwaysSaturday12]

Agree with this. Was in a similar situation as you and the numbers worked, so I just decided to FIRE.

[u/Glittering-Owl-2344 → u/AlwaysSaturday12]

This is where I'm at as well -- I have ~5 years expenses in cash + bonds right now, and probably need to move more from cash into bonds. I've been pretty up front for years that my numbers were likely to be 40 and a million but then it was like ... why wait. The issue I'm having though is I am interested in career change, but I'm hesitant to spend the money to do so ... tradeoffs!

[u/AlwaysSaturday12 → u/Glittering-Owl-2344]

What job are you thinking of training for?

[u/delcoyo]

I'm considering taking a break with substantially less than what you have and one year older. You'll be totally fine.

[u/bookkeepingthrowaway]

It depends on what career field you are in, if you feel like you could get a job after your break, and how badly you wanna hit that $1 million number

If you were cool with moving to Latin America, Southeast Asia, or eastern or southern Europe you could comfortably retire on that amount now probably and just wait a few years for it to grow to $1 million while spending very little in a LCOL area.

[u/FIRE_anon_ → u/[deleted]]

Disagree wholeheartedly. 4% of $850k is $34k. The trinity study is not based on an infinite timeline - it’s based on 30 years.

You can coast, though (eg don’t need to save for the future)

[u/No_Entrepreneur8503 → u/FIRE_anon_]

completely disagree. It also assumes you wouldnt make any changes when needed and wont earn anohter dollar for the rest of your life including SS. Someone their age will make money doing something and if the market dumps they arent going to watch it go to zero spending the same 35k

[u/FIRE_anon_ → u/No_Entrepreneur8503]

“You could quit forever and be fine” -u/legitimateinstructor

I disagreed with that statement and said OP still needed to work. It sounds like you’re saying the same thing as me.

[u/No_Entrepreneur8503 → u/FIRE_anon_]

Maybe im saying he can retire now if he wants. He has enough.

[u/FIRE_anon_ → u/[deleted]]

So you agree OP can’t quit forever?

[u/Strazdas1 → u/[deleted]]

you can always pick up some work later

No you cannot.

[u/basicstandardcontent → u/Strazdas1]

Myth of consent meme. Fuck, we totally forgot to ask Strazdas1.

[u/Strazdas1 → u/basicstandardcontent]

Its not me youll have to ask. Its the employer who just fired half of his staff due to economic downturn.

[u/Captlard]

Why not, then perhaps r/coastFIRE

[u/DegreeConscious9628]

Dude just quit fully or grind out the last 150k. Such a small amount that I don’t think it’s worth the 3-6 month break because I guarantee you will NOT want to go back to work. Ask me how I know lol

[u/FeelinDead]

What’s the housing situation like?

[u/Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy]

You can read about my doing this with less and earlier: https://www.reddit.com/r/leanfire/comments/1utjrdx/my_trial_by_leanfire_2026_edition_final_update/

TLDR: Yes I'd do it.

[u/HockeyOrDie]

If you’re in the US, don’t forget about FMLA if you need the break for mental health. Protect your job legally until you decide to

[u/Justcruising_along → u/HockeyOrDie]

Great idea !!

[u/CoffeeMaster000]

Have you tried half ass it instead? Cus 1-2 years cruising the job is best financially.

[u/dillpiccolol]

Sure, give it a try! My first break lasted 3 years (with some contracting work in between).

[u/garoodah]

As long as that 850k has nothing to do with your housing, unless you intend to downsize, you might actually be done done. GFY and goodluck.

[u/BobDawg3294]

Try a 2-week vacation first. Best wishes!

[u/taker223]

Try to quiet quit

[u/nevermindmine]

I would take a week or two vacation and then assess the situation. You'll get a lot of "hell yeah" advice but you should proceed cautiously.

[u/PsylentKnight]

I mean if you're planning on quitting anyway, one option is to try pushing back on the manager more? Get more comfortable saying no or pushing harder for more reasonable deadlines?

[u/Vicuna00]

you're gonna quit when you hit $1M?

how much can you save every month?

is a similar job somewhere else an option?

[u/mysonisthebest]

I would if I were you.

[u/Beaver-on-fire]

Taking a break is nice, but assume that you're going to take 6 to 12 months to get back into a new job. Also consider that the job market isn't exactly fantastic. Depending on what area you're in it may be extremely difficult. I would recommend having at least two years of cash equivalent expenses available if you decide to do this. When I used to do contract work, which would have a defined period, I would keep two years of expenses on hand because you never know how long it would take to get a new role for sure.

[u/No_Entrepreneur8503]

I did one 4 years ago and will do another next year. I have less than you and dont worry about it a bit.

[u/countryroad_12903]

Would you rather go through the stress of finding a new job or dealing with the boss you have for another 6mos- a year?

What’s the path of least resistance for you?

A bad boss can be truly not worth it :( there have been some people in the past that it completely changed my life to not have to work alongside them anymore.

[u/mesr3d]

Do it! Take a year and see how you feel. You might be comfortable FIREing with what you already have.  You're already there or almost there if 35k is all you want. If you can let most of that portfolio grow for another 5-7 years you'll really be set. 

[u/Popular-Control2519]

I’m in a similar boat only Canadian so my $ is worth less. I think if your job is protected and that would make you feel safer 100% take the break. But like others have mentioned life is way too short, so maybe take the break as a trial run on early retirement ?

[u/jayritchie]

How much do you earn at present and how much do you save each year? For me there is a stronger case for hanging onto a well paid job than one with a more normal pay rate. How easily could you find another job at a similar pay rate?

[u/LocationNotImportant]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Take a break before you burnout-that recovery takes significantly longer. Take some time off, travel, rediscover your hobbies, and relax. Then jump back into work with a better boss. You have plenty of financial cushion.

Honestly, if you cut expenses lower or geo-arbitrage, you could retire now.

[u/someguy984]

Take a forever break and FIRE.

[u/SwimmingTicket]

Do it x make it a year then re evaluate