When Finances Keep You Stuck: How to Move Forward Without the Panic
You know that feeling – you’ve outgrown your job, but the financial stability keeps you stuck – aka the golden handcuffs. You tell yourself it’s not the right time, or once I’ve saved more, I’ll figure it out. Meanwhile, months (or even years) pass, and the frustration grows.
It’s complex and scary – I get it. But let’s take a minute to look at in a less threatening way.
What if you stopped thinking about it as a reckless leap? And instead viewed it as a smart, intentional step towards the life and work you actually want. It doesn’t have to send you into a state of financial frenzy.
The Trap of the “All or Nothing” Mindset
When you’re craving change, it’s easy to think you have only two choices: stay stuck or quit everything. This kind of black-and-white thinking is exactly what kept me stuck for many years and also keeps many others paralysed.
When I left my old job, I didn’t test my idea beforehand – I jumped, literally into nothingness… well sort of. I had a few plan Bs and Cs up my sleeve.
What enabled me to take the leap and change careers was knowing my numbers – I’ve always been on top of my finances and budgeting, so this was an area I knew I could manage. I built a financial buffer that gave me time to retrain and get started. I had a plan.
But in hindsight? I’d have started my training while still employed. It would have made the transition smoother and a lot less stressful.
Why a Plan Matters More Than a Leap
Having a plan will give you the confidence to change careers safely. It gives you clarity and a level of certainty that calms you. The anxiety that you feel comes from the unknown, so the more you can prepare beforehand, the more at ease you will feel.
If you know what you want to move towards – test them. If you need to retrain, sign up for a course. You can take these steps whilst still employed – this way you have the benefit of financial security whilst feeling like you’re moving towards your new life.
The act of retraining or testing your ideas enables you to make informed decisions, again reducing your fear and anxiety about your future.
“But I don’t have time – I’m working all hours in the day already”
This is a block that we would work on in a coaching session, but in short it boils down to what’s most important for you moving forward – we would look at how you create change in the way you handle your current workload and your desire for a new life.
How Do I Test?
What would a small, safe experiment with your idea look like? Eg talking to someone about it, making a test product, undertaking a survey.
How much time and money would I really need to make the shift? What do you need to live off – pay bills, do the things you enjoy?
What’s already within my control to change right now?
Know Your Numbers
Knowing how much time and money you need to change careers safely is key to managing this fear of change.
“A big financial risk”
I recently worked with a client who wanted to make her side hustle her full time role, but she didn’t know how to navigate the transition. She felt she would be taking a big financial risk leaving her stable job, but she was desperate for change.
So I got her to examine her finances. She needed to know what her fixed outgoings are and the amount of money she would be happy to live on for the lifestyle she wanted. As she was already making money from her new income stream – estimate time it would take to grow. This then informed the amount of buffer she would need to supplement her income. Of course, she had to build up a buffer too, so the time it takes to build the required buffer would inform when she could quit her job.
Obviously, circumstances can change and the rate of growth of the new income stream is not concrete, however the money in the buffer is there to provide stability and assurance and buy you time. Knowing your numbers can help you move forward with confidence.
It’s Rarely Just About Money
But of course, transitioning is rarely just about the finances, and that’s why I do what I do. I help you firstly get clear on what it is you want, understand why what you have right now isn’t working, and help you not only plan for the transition that’s right for you, but also untangle all the internal blocks that are holding you back, such as self doubt and lack of confidence.
So are you ready to get unstuck?
If you’d like support figuring out what your next step looks like or how to make the shift without the financial panic – you can book a free Clarity Call with me.
We’ll get clear on:
Where you are right now
What’s keeping you stuck
What needs to happen next so you can move toward the work and life you actually want
You don’t have to leap blindly. You just need a plan that fits you.
About Sabrina
Sabrina helps women at life’s crossroads who feel stuck and hesitant but eager for more. She helps them cut through the noise, untangle the overwhelm, and build the clarity and confidence to move forward with purpose.
Whether you’re unclear on what’s next or blocked from going after it, she blends deep mindset work with practical systems and structure to help her clients untangle what’s keeping them stuck so they can build momentum and bring their ideas to life.
A former charity professional turned movement and wellness entrepreneur, Sabrina draws on her background in fitness and physical therapy to bring a grounded, whole-person approach to transformation. She’s passionate about helping women stop overthinking, trust themselves, and take bold steps toward something that truly matters.
When she’s not coaching, she’s usually in the garden, hunting down great street food, or planning her next adventure.
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