I recently had a powerful conversation with a client who found herself in a pretty amazing position: After seven years with her company, she was offered a 3-month paid sabbatical…or the option to take the equivalent amount in cash.
Both options were great on paper. But as we talked it through, I noticed a shift in her tone. She hesitated, then finally said:
“I know you’re my financial coach, and you probably think I should take the money… and the extra cash would be helpful. But honestly? I think I’d rather take the time off and be with my kids.”
Without hesitation, I responded:
“You should absolutely take the time.”
Because here’s the thing — she’s already done the hard work.
- She lives within her means.
- She has a spending plan that actually works.
- She’s built her emergency fund.
- Her short- and long-term goals are aligned with what really matters to her.
- And every month, she’s refining her system — gaining more clarity, more momentum.
Before we started working together, like many people, she didn’t really have a system. Just a vague idea of what came in, what went out, and a constant, low-level stress humming in the background.
Now? She’s confident. Intentional. Grounded.
Would a lump sum of extra money help accelerate her progress?
Absolutely.
But the one resource you can never earn back is time.
And this — this moment of choice — is what financial coaching is really about.
Despite what people might assume, my job isn’t just to help you save more or spend less.
It’s about helping you create a life that feels meaningful and aligned with what truly matters to you.
Because when you have control over your money, you gain something far more powerful than just a bigger bank balance:
You gain options.
You create the freedom to:
- Take a sabbatical
- Start a business
- Say no to burnout
- Say yes to your kids, your creativity, your health
- Walk away from what no longer serves you
When you’re stuck in survival mode, everything feels urgent. Scarcity takes over. You second-guess your gut. You delay your dreams.
But when you build a system that supports your life — when you know what you have, where it’s going, and what it’s doing for you — you can stop surviving and start imagining what else is possible.
Want to move from survival to dreaming again? Try these questions:
- If money weren’t the deciding factor, what would I choose?
- What’s something I’ve been putting off because I “can’t afford it” — and is that actually true?
- How much is one hour of my time really worth — not in dollars, but in memories, energy, peace?
- What would it feel like to use my money as a tool for freedom instead of fear?
Your money should work for your life, not the other way around.
So if you ever find yourself facing a choice between more money and more meaning — pause.
Breathe.
And ask yourself what future-you would be most grateful for.
Because the most powerful return on investment might not be in your portfolio — it might be in the time you get to spend living the life you actually want.
P.S. Have you tried my “How Many Hours Will This Cost Me?” calculator? It’s a helpful way to look at spending through a different lens. Instead of just seeing the price in dollars, it shows you how many hours of your life you’d need to work to pay for something based on your income. It’s a simple but eye-opening exercise — let me know what you think!
