I’ve worked for the county for 10 years making more than $100K with a pension — but I hate my job and dread going into my toxic workplace every single day. Should I quit or just tough it out?

Work out your monthly survival number

Start by calculating your bare-bones budget — the minimum you need to cover essential expenses like housing, utilities, bills, insurance, transportation, healthcare and groceries. Don’t forget minimum debt payments and regular savings, such as contributions to retirement.

Once you add it all up, you’ll have your survival number — the amount you need to earn to meet basic living expenses. That number could help Joe figure out whether a low-paying but more fulfilling job could support his lifestyle.

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Audit your spending

With your survival number in hand, you can take a hard look at your current spending. That means combing through your bank and credit card statements, digital transactions and savings activity.

Where can you cut back?

Maybe it’s canceling subscriptions or limiting takeout. Or maybe you need to delay a bigger purchase like a new car or home renovation.

If your housing costs are eating up more than 30% of your gross monthly income — the standard threshold for affordability — could you downsize or take on a roommate? It might make sense to make those changes before leaving the job you hate.

Run pension and benefit scenarios

Use free online pension calculators to estimate what you might receive based on your current salary, years of service and retirement age. Try running scenarios: What would your pension look like if you stayed another five, 10, 20 or 30 years?

Many county pension plans allow you to collect a pension even if you leave before retirement age, provided you’ve met the service requirements. Some plans let you transfer your benefits to a new employer’s plan or withdraw your contributions in a lump sum.

You can run these numbers yourself or work with a financial advisor to explore what would happen if you invested those funds on your own. You might find that managing your own retirement plan could leave you just as well off.

Every pension plan is different, so talk to your pension plan administrator before making any big moves.

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Build an exit strategy and a quit fund

Even if you’re ready to leave, it’s smart to develop an exit strategy. Give yourself time to build a quit fund and line up your next opportunity.

Start networking, reach out to recruiters and apply to jobs. Depending on your qualifications and industry, it could take a while to find the right fit — but laying the groundwork now makes the transition easier.

Leaving a new job lined up can be challenging, so aim to build a quit fund that covers 6 to 12 months of living expenses. Keep it separate from retirement savings and in a highly liquid account — like a high-yield savings account — in case you need it.

Joe could also look into whether his skills are transferable to another county department or whether upskilling could help him move up. That way, he might be able to escape his toxic manager and find more fulfilling work — without giving up benefits and pension.