“I Can’t Afford to Change Career”. Oh Really?

By Sab

Hate to burst your bubble but you can afford to change career. The process isn't always costly, but if you need to finance retraining or pursue a lesser-paying career it needs considering. If so, is it 'impossible' to cut back your expenses to fund the change, or do you just not want to?

Ever read our inspiring stories about people who jack it all in to travel the world, set up their own business, or pursue a lower-paying but infinitely more rewarding line of work? Does the idea of sacrificing finances to do a similar thing block you from taking the leap?

You might have to severely cut back on your expenses. You might have to downsize your house. No festival tickets this summer. No weekend ski trips. You might have to give up going to the cinema to see the latest release with your family. No more Saturday trips to the shops to browse clothes, gadgets and home ware for six months unless it is a real necessity (no, a new party dress or surround sound speakers do not count as necessities).

If you look at these things - cutting back your expenses, saying no to costly social invitations, going without extras that you’ve been accustomed to - do you say to yourself :

1. I can’t do that

Or

2. I choose not to do that

???

This can make all the difference in your moving ahead with your career change.

Yes, you can cut back.

You can

  • Go teetotal for 6 months and see how much money you save that can go towards retraining
  • Say no to an expensive night out with your friends and instead plan a pot-luck dinner party at your home
  • Stop treating the kids to meals out
  • Go without new clothes, you have clothes already that you can wear out until they truly need replacing
  • Cancel your gym membership and take up running or cycling for free
  • Sell the things you own that you hardly use but are unwilling to part with ‘just in case we need them later’
  • Stop buying newspapers and switch to reading their websites instead
  • Move to a smaller place with lower rent and council tax
  • Make your own lunches to take to work and go without café-bought coffee
  • Scale down costly food treats (farmers market bread that costs £3, organic fresh turkey for £20... You know what I’m talking about)

The question is, are you willing to? Can you choose to cut back? Do you value your career change more than all these things? Are you willing to make the sacrifice? Are you willing to set yourself a time limit (say 6 months or a year), take on the challenge, and meet your financial goal that supports your career change?

You can do this. It is not impossible. It is a valid available option. It is a challenge. But you can do it.

What one thing can you cut back on starting today?

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“After attending a Careershifters workshop I had the energy and drive to start researching how to get into teaching. I applied for a course, had an interview, got a place and left my old job in less than a week. It was so easy when I finally decided to go for it.”

Nikki

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