the wherewithal to (do something)

1. The resources, especially financial, needed to do something. She has a fantastic business model, but she'll need the wherewithal to get it off the ground. I desperately need a new computer, but I simply don't have the wherewithal to upgrade right now.

2. The energy or motivation needed to do something. I knew he was grieving, but I simply didn't have the wherewithal to offer him a sympathetic ear at the time. Sarah was so dejected after losing her job that finding the wherewithal to go out and look for a new one seemed impossible.

3. informal The appropriate level of savvy, initiative, common sense, or resourcefulness to do something. Usually used after "have," especially in negative constructions. I was surrounded by important industry people, but I didn't have the wherewithal to introduce myself and try to promote my business. I wish I'd had the wherewithal when I was younger to start investing in a pension plan as soon as I got my first job.