I dont know if there is any other way. If you have a good relationship with your boss, then you can ask directly. You seems like you dont, I dont think he will lay you off. *** especially if he knows you will resign yourself, he will abuse you more because it can save the company some money ***.
maybe you can illness notes (reason is high stress at work and psychologically disorder due to the money cut???), just joke (I dont know), so I can take leave unpaid for absent, then I can take my time to find a job, then quit this one.