What if the fear of Retirement isn’t about money at all?

Let’s be honest:
Retirement, or any major shift away from a stable career, can feel terrifying. It took me 3 years to make my final step away from my safety net.

And the number one fear most people name?
“What if I run out of money?”

But dig a little deeper, and the fear isn’t just about money. It’s about worth.

➡️ Who am I without a salary, title, or productivity to measure my value?
➡️ What happens if I have less — less status, less structure, less certainty?

We’ve been sold a story:
💡That our self-worth is tied to how much we earn.
💡That success = busyness.
💡That financial safety is the only safety that matters.

So when retirement or redundancy looms or when we dare to consider leaving a “safe” job for something meaningful but untested our inner alarm bells go off. 🔔(Mine were deafening! 🎧)

But what if we’ve been preparing for the wrong thing?

The Money Myth (and the truth behind it)

Most retirement calculators assume you’ll need 70–80% of your working income to survive. But research shows that’s often inflated.

According to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), a “moderate” retirement lifestyle in the UK costs around £31,700 per year for a single person (as of 2025). That includes some meals out, holidays in the UK, and hobbies.
👉 Source: Retirement Living Standards – PLSA

Many people spend less in retirement, not more. You’re not commuting, you’re not paying into a pension, and you have more time to make intentional (not reactive) spending choices.

The real question isn’t “Can I afford to retire?”
It’s “Can I afford to keep living in a way that drains me, just because it pays well?”

When you ask yourself that question, what changes?

The Hidden Cost of Staying Stuck

We rarely talk about the emotional cost of staying in a job that’s outlived its meaning.

• The Sunday dread.

• The identity crisis masked as “success.”

• The quiet yearning for something more... human.

When we ignore that cost, we stay trapped in the familiar — even when it’s slowly undoing us.

Dr. Riley Moynes talks about this in his TEDx talk on the Four Phases of Retirement. The most confronting? Phase 2: Loss — the period where you’ve walked away from the old but haven’t built the new.
It’s uncomfortable. But necessary.

📺 Watch: The Four Phases of Retirement by Dr. Riley Moynes

So, What Can You Do About It?

Here’s a controversial idea:
You don’t need to have it all figured out to start.

Instead, take small, intelligent steps before you leap:

💡 1. Know Your Numbers — And Then Know Your Values

Tools like MoneyHelper UK and Unbiased can help you assess your financial picture and even find a financial advisor who doesn’t try to scare you into staying put.

Ask yourself:

• What do I actually need to feel safe?

• What matters more to me than money?

• What would “enough” feel like?

🌱 2. Create a “Bridge” Plan

You don’t need to retire cold turkey. Try:

• Phasing out of full-time work

• Taking a sabbatical to test life on the other side

• Building a portfolio career or passion project alongside your job

📘 Try: “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
This book helps you prototype new paths before you commit.

🧭 3. Build a Purpose Map

A life of freedom without purpose can feel like drifting.
Use Ikigai-style tools to explore:

• What you love

• What you’re good at

• What the world needs

• What you can get paid for (or what energises you without payment)

🎯 Free tool: Inside Out Retirement Workbook – ask me for a copy.

🔥 4. Question the System

Here’s the real controversy:
Maybe the fear isn’t yours. Maybe it’s cultural conditioning.

We’re trained to see retirement as decline.
To see rest as laziness.
To see staying put as maturity, even when we’re quietly breaking down.

What if bravery looks like walking away before you burn out?
What if wealth is measured in time, energy, and freedom not just your bank balance?

Final Thought: You Are Allowed to Begin Again

Retirement doesn’t have to mean withdrawing from life.
It can be a creative act — a bold refusal to let the next 20–30 years be shaped by fear or obligation.

So yes, plan for the money.
But also plan for meaning.
Plan for joy.
Plan for the version of you that’s been waiting patiently to be let out.

You’ve earned more than just a pension.
You’ve earned the right to redefine what this next chapter gets to be.