i've been working for the state of california and earning retirement for about 4 years now. the money is currently in an alternate retirement program and needs to either be cashed out or switched over to a 401k (or the like). i'm still young and this is the only time i have ever earned retirement so i'm not sure exactly how things work. my main question is: i've been experiencing some financial hardship the past few months and i could really use the money but i want to know how much of a difference it will really make on my retirement if i don't save what i have now. in my head i'm thinking i started young and i'll be working long enough to make up these few years if i cash out what i have now but i don't know if it's that easy. if i cash out these 4 years of retirement i have saved up, will working an extra 4 years (or so) before i retire make up for it? i'm looking at a fairly big promotion within the next year and i'm sure i'll promote many more times throughout the rest of my career. more money, more paid into my retirement right? so i won't necessarily need what i have saved thus far, it will be ok if i start over if i decide to cash out since i need it more now than later?

any help/advice is greatly appreciated!