The three most complicated words in the English language are “I love you.” But the two most complicated just might be “I quit.”

Getting those words wrong won’t break your heart, but it sure could bruise your wallet. Here’s how to leave with your wallet - and your credibility - intact.

Serve notice. Two weeks' notice is still the basic minimum career requirement. If you can stand it, give more. In an ideal world, throw in at least a week of vacation time for yourself so you can start the new job fresh.

If you absolutely must give less than two weeks' notice, bend over backward to make it as easy as possible for your soon-to-be-former boss. Don't make it a confrontation unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Quit defensively. Unless you have a contract or collective bargaining agreement, you can get fired anytime without severance. Some companies with questionable ethics will fire people as soon as they give notice, which could force you into two weeks without pay. If your company has done this to someone else, consider making an exception to the two weeks' notice rule.

Sweat the details. Accumulated vacation pay should be in your last check, and you should usually be able to stay on the company's health insurance plan for a while, paying your own premiums. If you have believe the company might be cheating you out of anything significant, talk with an attorney or at least check out the Web site megalaw.com.

Make a great last impression. No matter how angry or bitter you might be toward the company, don't ruin your reputation with bosses and colleagues by acting like a jerk during your final days. Those people can be crucial to your network someday. You don’t want to spoil those relationships.