Build Financial Confidence Through Real Planning
Our program started in 2023 when local families kept asking us the same thing: "How do we actually prepare for unexpected costs?"
We've spent two years developing a practical approach to budget contingency planning that works for Australian households. The autumn 2025 intake opens in September—giving you time to get your current finances organized before diving in.
Ask About September Start
Why We Built This
Back in early 2023, I was reviewing a client's budget when their water heater died. They had savings—but pulling that money meant derailing other plans. That conversation stuck with me.
Most budgeting advice focuses on tracking expenses. But nobody really talks about the messy reality: your car breaks down, your kid needs braces, your roof starts leaking. Life doesn't care about your spreadsheet.
So we created a program that addresses that gap. It's not about complex financial instruments or aggressive saving targets. It's about building a system that absorbs shocks without throwing your whole plan sideways.
The program runs for six months because that's how long it actually takes to see patterns in your spending and adjust. Quick fixes don't work here—we've tried.
Who's Teaching This
Kelton Bradbury
Financial Planning Specialist
Worked in household finance for twelve years. Spent most of that helping families recover from unexpected expenses that could have been planned for. Now teaches the planning part upfront.
Freya Ragnvaldsdóttir
Budget Strategy Lead
Former accountant who got tired of only seeing clients when things went wrong. Designs practical budget systems that regular people can actually stick with long-term.
Sienna Whitlock
Financial Educator
Teaches the psychological side of money management. Her background in behavioral economics helps participants understand why they make certain financial decisions and how to shift those patterns.
Real Progress Takes Time
Before I started, my approach to unexpected costs was basically panic and credit cards. Three months into the program, our dishwasher broke. And I just... handled it. Pulled from the right fund, replaced it, moved on. That might sound boring but it was actually amazing.
The program didn't promise miracles—and that's exactly why it worked. Small adjustments each month that actually made sense for my situation. By month four, I stopped checking my account balance with that anxious feeling. That alone was worth it.