Money Skills That Actually Stick

Real budgeting isn't about restriction. It's about knowing where your money goes and making choices that fit your life. We run eight-week programs that teach practical money management through hands-on experience rather than theory.

Get Program Details

Participant working through budgeting exercises during workshop session

How We Actually Teach This

Most budgeting courses throw spreadsheets at you and hope something clicks. That's not how people learn to manage money. Our programs run for eight weeks because changing money habits takes time.

You'll work with real numbers from your own life. We don't use generic examples or pretend scenarios. By week three, participants typically have a clear picture of their spending patterns. By week six, they're making adjustments that actually work for their situation.

Small group sessions with 8-12 people so everyone gets individual attention

Weekly check-ins between sessions to troubleshoot problems as they happen

Access to simple tracking tools that don't require accounting knowledge

What Eight Weeks Covers

Each module builds on the previous one. We start with understanding current habits and finish with a flexible system you can maintain without constant effort. The pace lets concepts sink in before adding new layers.

Week 1-2

Money Reality Check

Track every dollar for two weeks. No judgement, just data. Most people are surprised by what they find.

Learn tracking methods, identify spending patterns, spot money leaks

Week 3-4

Building Your System

Create categories that match how you actually live. Generic budget templates don't work because everyone's life is different.

Design personal categories, set flexible limits, account for irregular expenses

Week 5-6

Handling Disruptions

Life throws curveballs. Your budget needs to bend without breaking when unexpected costs hit.

Build buffer funds, adjust on the fly, recover from overspending

Week 7

Future Planning

Once basics are solid, we look ahead. Setting aside money for goals without sacrificing daily life.

Goal prioritization, savings automation, realistic timelines

Week 8

Making It Stick

The final week focuses on maintenance. How to keep your system running with minimal time investment.

Monthly review process, adjustment triggers, long-term habits

Ongoing

Support Access

Graduates can drop into monthly check-in sessions for a year. Questions come up as situations change.

Monthly group calls, email support, resource updates

Who Runs These Programs

Lachlan Pemberton

Lead Facilitator

Ran a community financial literacy program in Newcastle for five years before joining fisarexilon. Finds that most money problems come from unclear priorities rather than lack of income.

Sienna Kirkwood

Workshop Coordinator

Handles the practical side of running groups and creates most of our tracking templates. Background in adult education helps her break complex concepts into manageable steps.

Freya Donovan

Support Specialist

Runs the weekly check-ins and troubleshoots individual challenges. Previously worked in banking and saw too many people struggling with systems that didn't match their lives.

Matilda Fenwick

Program Developer

Designs the curriculum and updates content based on participant feedback. Believes the best budget is one you'll actually use, which usually means simpler than you'd think.

Next Program Starts September 2025

Autumn Session

September 8 - October 31

Monday evenings 6:30-8:30pm

Location

Port Macquarie Community Centre

189 Matthew Flinders Drive

Groups limited to 12 participants. Winter session (June 2025) is currently full with a waitlist. We also run weekend intensive options twice yearly for people who can't commit to weekly sessions.