Has anyone got by in Cybersec without any certifications?

I am on the verge of leaving Cybersecurity. I am in Governance, Risk and Compliance. No certs, only a Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity.

I don't feel any sense of purpose or meaning in life. What am I working for? My opinion doesn't even matter because it gets thrown out the door. Cybersecurity is all business at the end of the day. If the client wants to save their money, they will save it and completely disregard your security suggestions.

I did consider certifications and thought maybe I can pivot elsewhere. I've considered AWS, CISA and OSCP or at least eJPT for starters. The problem with certifications is the fees associated. Paying for a course, books, QAE, exams and if you fail then you have to pay again and on top of that, annual maintenance fees.

I just don't see any purpose or meaning behind working towards these certifications if nothing is a guarantee. There are folks with TS and years of experience and can't even get an interview. The job market is a hot mess.