We Started Because Money Conversations Were Missing
Back in early 2021, a small group of us sat around a coffee shop table in Broadbeach. We'd all worked in different corners of finance, and we kept coming back to the same frustration. People weren't failing with money because they were careless. They were failing because nobody ever taught them the basics.
So we decided to change that. Not with complicated investment schemes or get-rich promises, but with real budgeting skills that actually work in everyday life.
From Spreadsheets to Real Solutions
Our first workshop had seven people. We ran it in a borrowed meeting room and honestly had no idea if anyone would show up. But they did. And what we heard changed everything.
People didn't need another lecture about compound interest. They needed to understand where their money was actually going each week. They needed permission to talk about debt without shame. They needed practical ways to make their pay stretch further without feeling like they were living on nothing.
Since that first session in 2021, we've worked with hundreds of Australians across Queensland and beyond. Each person brings different challenges, different goals, different starting points. But they all leave with something concrete — a plan they can actually use.
What Drives Us Every Day
These aren't corporate values we put on a wall. They're the things we actually practice when we sit down with someone who's struggling to make sense of their finances.
No Judgement Zone
We've seen it all. Maxed credit cards, forgotten subscriptions, impulse purchases that seemed like good ideas at the time. None of it shocks us, and none of it means you can't turn things around. Everyone starts somewhere, and that somewhere is usually messier than Instagram would have you believe.
Practical Over Perfect
The best budget is the one you'll actually stick to, not the one that looks perfect in a spreadsheet. We focus on systems that fit into real life — with its takeaway coffees, unexpected car repairs, and occasional splurges. Financial wellness isn't about deprivation.
Honest Conversations
We won't promise you'll be debt-free in three months or retiring early by following some secret formula. Real financial progress takes time, and it looks different for everyone. What we will do is show you exactly where you are, where you could be, and the realistic steps to get there.
The People Behind the Programs
We're not financial gurus or wealth management executives. We're educators who happen to understand money, and we genuinely enjoy helping people figure this stuff out.
Aisling Dunphy
Financial Education Director
Jovan Petrescu
Lead Budgeting Specialist
Where We're Heading Next
Our goal for 2025 and beyond isn't complicated. We want to reach more people who feel stuck with money but don't know where to start. We're expanding our workshop schedule, developing new resources for specific situations like navigating mortgage stress or planning for parental leave, and building a community where honest money talk is normal.
If you've been putting off getting your finances sorted because it feels overwhelming, or because you're worried someone will make you feel bad about where you're at — we'd love to talk. Our next round of programs starts in August 2025, and we keep groups small so everyone gets actual attention.
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