<prompt> Human: Long-story-short my employer of 14yrs is fucking me over. The H-1B consultant they brought in as a second set of eyes, who they asked me to familiarize with our processes is in fact taking my job now. This couldnt have come at a worst time personally. Ive just completed some technical training that I had to pay for and it has burdened me with debt in addition to preexisting student loans the family and kids which already stretched my paycheck. I dont have a rainy day fund or any other magical pot of money I can tap into. Aside from the educational debt I can cut down to a pretty modest month living cost. Both my wife and I drive cars that are paid off and we rent a small house that is less than 2k mo. I have 60k in my 104k and I dont foresee a way of surviving without tapping into it. In fact, I would like to tap in and payoff all educational expenses total 30k. Without the educational debt I feel I could get by with a less paying job. Given the job mrk in my area heavy oil and gas, stepping to a lower pay grade might be unavoidable. My question here, once fired, what are my options for accessing the money in my 104k?Many thanks!Update: Thank you all for the amazing feedback, I am reading and researching all the advice given so far.  <response>: If you have been working for 14 years I assume you are almost 40? Clearing out your retirement to pay off student loans would really hurt in the long run. You are going to pay 10 plus income taxes so you would need to withdraw almost the entire thing to pay off those loans. On top of that if you end up making less money it will be even harder to save for retirement.I would look at moving or downsizing in other areas. 