Why six figure earnings are feeling stressed about money

You did it. You hit six figures.

If you’re a business owner with a wildly inconsistent income stream, you’re not the only one who feels this way. As a financial coach for self-employed families, I see this exact pattern all the time: the revenue number looks great, but the day-to-day money stress doesn’t *magically* disappear.

Maybe you've even blown past that number. Your business is bringing in more money than you ever dreamed of back when you were just starting out. You should feel amazing right now.

So why are you still lying awake at 2 AM thinking about money?

Why does every big expense still make your stomach clench? Why do you feel like you're working harder than ever but somehow... not getting ahead?

If this is you, I need you to know something important: You're not bad with money. You're not unintelligent (obviously, you're great at what you do!) And you're definitely not alone.

A recent survey found that 64% of people earning six figures view their income not as a success milestone, but as the "bare minimum for staying afloat." That's not a typo. The majority of high earners feel financially squeezed.

Let's talk about why this happens, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.

The Sneaky Culprit: Lifestyle Creep

Here's what nobody warns you about when your income starts climbing: your expenses have a funny way of climbing right alongside it.

It starts innocently enough. You upgrade your car because you can finally afford something reliable. You move into a nicer place because you deserve it after all those years of scraping by. You start saying yes to things you used to say no to, the nicer restaurants, the better schools, the vacations that aren't just "staycations."

This is called lifestyle creep, and it's incredibly sneaky.

The thing is, each individual upgrade feels totally reasonable. You are making more money. Why shouldn't you enjoy it?

But here's the math problem nobody talks about: if your expenses grow at the same rate as your income (or faster), AND you have little to no buffer (savings) you end up feeling exactly as stretched as you did when you were making half as much.

Someone earning $300,000 can feel just as financially stressed as someone earning $75,000. It sounds crazy, but it happens all the time.

The Self-Employed Income Rollercoaster

Now, if you're self-employed, there's another layer to this that makes everything harder.

And this is the part where working with a small business financial coach can be a game-changer—because you don’t just need “a budget,” you need a system & routine that can handle inconsistency without making you feel like you’re failing every other month.

Your income isn't a steady paycheck that shows up every two weeks like clockwork. It's unpredictable. Some months are incredible. Other months? You're wondering where all your clients went.

This inconsistency creates a unique kind of stress that W-2 employees don't fully understand.

When you have a great month, there's this nagging voice in the back of your head: "But what about next month? What if this doesn't last?"

So you don't feel safe spending OR saving. You're stuck in this weird limbo where the money is technically there, but it doesn't feel real or reliable.

And that uncertainty? It's exhausting. It keeps your nervous system on high alert, even when your bank account looks perfectly fine.

The Blurry Line Problem

Here's the third piece of the puzzle, and this one might be the biggest culprit for self-employed folks.

When you run your own business, the line between "business money" and "personal money" gets really, really blurry.

Maybe all your income flows into one account. Maybe you pay yourself... whenever. Maybe you're not even sure how much you actually need to live on versus how much your business needs to operate.

This lack of clarity creates constant low-grade financial anxiety. You never quite know:

• How much you can safely spend on yourself
• Whether you're saving enough (for future slow months, taxes, retirement, emergencies)
• If your business is actually profitable or just busy

Without clear boundaries, every financial decision feels heavy. Should you buy that thing? Can you afford that vacation? Is it okay to invest in that course? Who knows! The money is all swirled together in one confusing mess.

The Golden Handcuffs Trap

Once you've upgraded your lifestyle, the mortgage, the car payment, the private school tuition, the subscriptions, you become dependent on maintaining that high income.

This is what some call "golden handcuffs."

And if something happens, a health issue, a market shift, a client exodus, you're suddenly in crisis mode because your expenses don't care that your income dropped.

This is why so many high earners feel trapped by their success. The freedom they thought money would bring? It got eaten up by obligations.

Signs You Might Be Stuck in This Cycle

Let's get specific. Here are some signs that you're earning good money but something's off:

• You make more than ever but have little to show for it in savings
• You feel guilty about spending money, even on things you can clearly afford
• You're using credit cards or "buy now, pay later" for purchases you could pay cash for
• You have no idea what your actual monthly expenses are
• Tax time feels like a crisis every single year
• You've thought about taking on a side hustle... even though you already run a business
• The idea of taking a month off feels financially impossible

Sound familiar?

What Actually Helps (Real Talk)

Okay, so what do you do about all this? Here's where we get practical.

1. Get Crystal Clear on Your Numbers

You can't fix what you can't see. Take a hard look at:

• What does your life actually cost each month? (Not what you think. What the bank statements say.)
• What does your business actually need to operate?
• What's left over after both of those things?

This might feel uncomfortable. Do it anyway. Clarity is the first step to calm.

2. Create a Real Boundary Between Business and Personal

If you haven't already, separate your finances. Different accounts. Clear purposes. Pay yourself a consistent amount each month: like a salary: even if your business income fluctuates.

This one change can dramatically reduce your financial stress. When you know exactly what's "yours" to spend, every purchase stops feeling like a gamble.

3. Build Your "Enough" Number

What do you actually need to feel secure? Not luxurious. Not deprived. Just... good.

Figure out that number. Then build your lifestyle around it intentionally, instead of letting your expenses drift upward without a plan.

4. Create Breathing Room on Purpose

High earners often have zero margin in their budget because they've expanded to fill every dollar.

What if you left some space? What if you didn't upgrade just because you could? That breathing room is what creates actual financial peace: not the income number itself.

5. Stop Comparing Your Behind-the-Scenes to Everyone Else's Highlight Reel

A lot of financial stress comes from trying to keep up with people who look successful but are just as stretched as you are. Remember: 62% of six-figure earners carry credit card debt. What looks effortless from the outside rarely is.

I want you to feel like you're managing your money (and life) intentionally.

Here's what I want you to take away from all of this:

Making good money and feeling financially stressed isn't a character flaw. It's a systems problem.

The solution isn't to work harder or earn more. It's to create structures that let you actually feel the security your income should provide.

That might mean getting intentional about your cash flow. It might mean setting up real financial boundaries. It might mean working with someone who can help you see your blind spots.

Whatever it looks like for you, know this: financial peace at six figures is absolutely possible. You just need a different approach than the one that got you here.

This is also where money mindset coaching matters more than most people expect. Because even when your spreadsheet is “fine,” your brain can still be stuck in scarcity, pressure, and what-if spirals... especially with fluctuating income.

If you want support, this is literally what I do at Northwest Money Coaching LLC as a Certified Money Coach—helping you build a simple, repeatable plan for both business and personal money (without the shame spiral). And yes, I work with clients as a Financial Coach online in Oregon and California (and all over the world, really). 

You've already proven you can build something amazing. Now it's time to build a financial life that actually lets you enjoy it.