Path & PennyBack to my plan

A little time off.What would it take?

Sample numbers

A clay trail with a hammock, backpack and tent

Starting now. Back to work afterward.

Extra costs sit on top of your usual spending: travel, health cover, that sort of thing.

$17,800

cash needed for 6 months off

Keep workingTime off
Monthly surplus$1,500-$2,800
Cash needed$0$17,800
Estimated FI age4849

About 1 year later

$2,200 of your available cash stays aside.

FI = investments could cover spending. Estimate, not a guarantee.

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Keep the useful bit.

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Assumptions & math

The break budget

Usual spending /mo
$2,500
Extra costs /mo
$300
Income during break /mo
$0
One-off costs
$1,000
Pay forgone, before inflation
$24,000

Cash needed = one-off costs + months off × max(0, monthly spending + extra costs − break income). Lost pay is not the same as cash needed.

Your break budget stays fixed. Afterward, your current take-home pay and spending resume, adjusted for inflation. Partial years keep their exact number of months; investment growth uses annual steps.

Why the curve grows

Annual return, before inflation
7%
Annual inflation
3%
Withdrawal rate
4%

Savings earn returns. Those returns can earn returns too. The graph removes inflation, so future amounts have today's buying power.

FI target = annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate. The target uses your normal spending after returning to work, not a temporary break budget. Ages are estimated in whole years.

Quick comparison, not a full retirement plan. One fixed return for cash and investments. No investment taxes, market volatility or other life events. No job-search delay, changed future salary or pension / benefit loss unless you add those costs. This estimates when you first cross a target, not whether a retirement lasts.

WORKED EXAMPLE · MODEL REVIEW SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

Can I afford a 6-month career break?

With $2,500 of usual spending and $300 extra per month, no break income and $1,000 upfront, six months needs $17,800. Keep your emergency buffer separate.

Illustrative USD inputs, not an offer or a forecast. The example uses the same calculation code as the tool above.

Is lost salary the same as cash needed?

No. Cash needed funds the spending gap and setup costs. Forgone salary also changes how much you could have saved and compounded.

How much should I trust the answer?

Use actual offers where possible and change uncertain inputs. Returns and inflation are assumptions. Estimated FI age is target crossing, not proof that retirement lasts. The assumptions panel explains exclusions.

Can I keep the result without signing up?

Yes. Save one snapshot on your device, compare it with an edited result, or download a one-page PDF. Email sharing opens your own mail app. No bank login needed.

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