1. Training costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition or course fees | |
| Books, tools, uniforms or equipment | |
| Exam and licensing fees | |
| Transportation and childcare during training | |
| Total training cost |
2. Monthly budget during the transition
| Expense | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Housing | |
| Utilities and phone | |
| Food | |
| Transportation | |
| Insurance and health care | |
| Debt payments | |
| Other | |
| Total monthly expenses |
3. Your runway
- Savings available: $________
- Monthly income during training (part-time work, partner, other): $________
- Monthly gap (expenses minus income): $________
- Months of runway (savings ÷ monthly gap): ________
Aim for at least three to six months of runway before reducing your current income.
4. Break-even
- Current annual pay: $________
- Expected starting pay in the new career: $________ (see our salary guide)
- Expected pay after 2–3 years: $________
- Total cost of the switch (training + lost income): $________