Engineer Varun Hasija, who made over ₹1 crore in his previous work, talks about how he and his wife budgeted their money before he quit.An engineer who worked for a company in Bengaluru has started a social media debate after revealing his experience of quitting a comfortable, well-paying job without receiving a new offer.
Ten-year veteran Varun Hasija left his position as a product manager, where he was making more than ₹1 million annually. The 30-year-old had no other job offer with a greater wage on his last day of employment with the company in October.
"A couple of months ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: I left my cushy, high-paying (₹1 Cr+) job without another offer in hand," Mumbai resident Hasija wrote in a widely shared post on X (previously Twitter).
"No strategy. No fallback. Just the realization that, for the first time in my ten-year career, I needed a break—a real one."
The techie claimed that his decision was not rash but rather the outcome of a methodical process he had adhered to during his ten-year career.
How did he want to leave his lucrative position?
He claimed that confiding in his family was the first thing he did. He and his spouse, Dr. Mokshda Manchanda, a thirty-year-old English professor, reside in Mumbai. Making a financial plan as a couple was the next step. For the next two to three months, the couple kept a record of every expense they incurred, no matter how tiny.
"I created a simple Excel spreadsheet and organized everything, including groceries, insurance, dining out, vacation, and rent. We would divide the funds into "must-haves" (necessities) and "good-to-haves" (luxuries) at the end of each month. HT.com was informed by Hasija.
The pair determined a sum they believed was required to sustain their lifestyle after a few months, when they had a better understanding of their normal monthly expenses.
"We added an additional six months as a buffer because of the current state of the market, even though I had originally planned for a six-month vacation. In order to determine a safe target, we simply multiplied the monthly budget by twelve," he stated.
How the pair managed to save money for the upcoming six months to a year
The couple's decision to let one spouse leave their lucrative career was greatly aided by the fact that they did not have a housing loan. The couple rents a home in Powai, Mumbai.
"We're still comfortable even though we haven't booked any extravagant vacations or last-minute purchases. We can draw on our investments if something significant arises, but that's more of a last resort," he stated.
Varun Hasija bases his career choice on three criteria: generating wealth, impact, and happiness. He claimed in his thread that the first two were absent from his previous position.
It was difficult to send that email of resignation. It is difficult to leave stability behind. However, there are instances when it's essential to move on," he stated in his thread.
Over the past two months, Hasija has been living a more aware life, attending to his physical and mental well-being, and spending more time with his loved ones.
Advice for those wishing to take a vacation from their careers
"To start, make sure you don't have any significant expenses coming up, such as purchasing a home or something significant that you can't manage without a salary," Hasija said.
Additionally, Hasija counsels other millennials to consult their families before quitting a job.
"It's so much easier and less stressful later if you take them into confidence," he remarked.
Finally, allow yourself some leeway. Make a good financial plan so you don't worry about money every other day and can truly enjoy the break.
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