With Summer get-aways often triggering life changing decisions, new research reveals that over a third of UK workers (39%) are so eager to transform their careers that they're willing to spend upto £10,000 of their hard earned cash to help them - that's equivalent to the average cost of 3.5 family holidays abroad.

The research conducted by GE Money suggests people believe £10,000 (and for 5% that rises to £20,000) on a career change is money well spent - a small price to pay for how much happier they perceive they'll be. Infact they're not wrong; of the four in ten workers (43%) who have recently changed careers, 86% report a positive impact as a result.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of the 1,000 adults surveyed say a change of job has improved their working life and 44% believe being happier at work has benefits for their close relationships. For over two thirds (69%) perhaps the improvement to their personal lives can be partly explained by their new career giving their finances a boost.

The positive impact of a job change might further explain why, for one in five (21%) people, it tops their wish list of major life changes - above moving home, changing relationships and their finances. A further 27% want to improve their academic qualification, perhaps to enable them to get the job of their dreams.

The results also reinforce the rising trend of the serial career shifter. Most likely to make a significant job change are thirtysomethings (53%) though surprisingly 42% of 18-24 year olds have also already undergone a career move. For those who have not yet taken the leap to change career, a substantial 39% are willing to invest money, from employing a life coach to funding their retraining (for instance going back to university). While 4% stated they would be happy to fork out over £20,000 to achieve their ambitions, the average amount of money they would be willing to invest was £3,238.08.

In spite of the relatively low reported cost of changing career, lack of money (31%) was the number one factor holding people back from finding the job of their dreams, followed by not having the right qualifications (30%). A lack of confidence was the issue for a further one in five (19%). For those wishing to boost their academic achievements, a shortage of funds (32%) was closely followed by a lack of confidence (27%).

Dr Sally Ann Law, executive life coach, says: "People are increasingly willing to tackle some very courageous changes to achieve a more fulfilling, challenging and satisfying work-life. They realise how important it is to their overall quality of life to have a career that truly suits them."

Commenting on the research, Najlaa Taqi-Eddin, managing director, GE Money Direct said: "Being happy in your job is so important to being happy in general. This helps explain why people are willing to personally invest money to transform their working lives, especially given the positive benefits that were reported. Here at GE Money, we have specifically designed our credit card and loans to help transform people's relationship with their finances so that money becomes an enabler in making positive life changes, such as getting the job of your dreams, rather than holding people back."

For more statistics and information please contact Leanne Childs on 020 7878 3228, Nina Barnieh on 020 7878 3219 or Rachael Coomber-Nolan on 020 7878 3227

GE Money

GE Money is the new trading name of Consumer Finance (GECF), one of the world's leading consumer finance services to consumers, retailers and auto dealers. Headquartered in the US, GE Money operates in 48 countries around the world and has assets worth over $150 billion.

In the UK, GE Money offers credit cards, fixed-term retail credit, loans, mortgages and auto finance. GE Money also operates retail branded credit cards for fashion retailers, department stores and supermarkets. Further information about GE Money can be found at

www.gemoney.co.uk.