Plan your runway

#OpenToWork Runway Calculator

How long your cash lasts, as things change. Nothing is saved or sent — it all stays on this page. Change any number to see your runway update live.

Cash & income

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Cash you'd actually draw down — checking + savings.
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Walled off for a new emergency. Runway counts down to here, not to $0.
Isn't my savings the emergency fund? Isn't this the emergency?
Yes — and that's the point. The 3–6 month rule is about what to save before a job loss. This is the job loss, so that money is meant to be spent now. Spending it is the plan working.

Your reserve floor is a smaller, different number — what you keep back for:
• a second emergency while you're already out of work (car, medical, a repair at the rental);
• the gap after "yes" — a start date is weeks out, and the first paycheck weeks after that;
• leverage — cash is what lets you turn down a lowball offer instead of taking the first thing.

Many people land near one month of essentials plus a cushion for surprises. Set it too high and you'll "run out" on paper while money is still in the bank. CFPB on emergency funds →
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Texas withholds UI for the weeks your severance covers: gross severance ÷ gross weekly pay, counted from your last day of work. Round up.
Not sure you'd qualify for unemployment?
Many people are surprised they're eligible after a layoff. Check your state's official rules and file at usa.gov/unemployment-benefits.
Getting severance? It usually delays when UI starts
Texas doesn't let you collect unemployment for the weeks your severance covers. For a lump sum, TWC divides the gross severance by your gross weekly pay to get the number of delayed weeks, counted from your last day of work — so a payout equal to eight weeks of pay means roughly eight weeks before your first UI payment. File immediately anyway: your claim starts the Sunday of the week you file, and waiting doesn't extend your benefit year. Two more things to check on your TWC monetary determination when it arrives: the 2026 maximum weekly benefit is $605, and claims filed in 2026 fall under a new sliding scale of 20–27 weeks tied to the state unemployment rate, so you may get fewer than the traditional 26 weeks. Enter whatever TWC confirms in the fields above.
Losing job-based health coverage?
You may be able to keep your current plan through COBRA — it lasts up to 18 months at 102% of the full group premium (the exact monthly cost is on your election notice). A layoff is also a qualifying event for an ACA marketplace plan with a 60-day special-enrollment window, worth pricing against COBRA before your first self-paid month. Note the enhanced marketplace subsidies expired at the end of 2025, so quotes will run higher than pre-2026 figures. You can also use FSA funds — see this FSA & COBRA guide.
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Any other recurring take-home — a partner's income, side work, etc.
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If you rent out a property, enter the amount and the month it starts coming in.

Monthly obligations

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COBRA runs up to 18 months at 102% of the full group premium. Enter your rate from the COBRA election notice, and set the first month you'll actually pay it.
Essential living expenses$0
Can I lower these? Hardship & deferral options
Many servicers offer forbearance or deferral after a job loss — you can call just to gather information. For how it works and what to ask, see the CFPB: consumerfinance.gov — mortgage forbearance.
Want a more granular look at your spending?
Enter a ballpark to start. For a detailed view, a read-only finance tool can help review card room and payment strategies — e.g. AI for finance. Verify anything it suggests.

One-time upcoming costs

Toggle each on to see its bite. Enter only the cash part — leave out anything already paid or on points/miles.
Your savings last about
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Month by month
Sev = severance UI = unemployment pink = building cash
Where the money goes each month

This tool is for general planning and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to take or avoid any action. All figures are rough estimates that simplify real loan, tax, and benefit rules. Always do your own research and consult a qualified professional — a licensed financial advisor, HUD-approved housing counselor, attorney, or your loan servicer — before making decisions. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere; it all stays in your browser.