Build Habits That Actually Work
A structured program for people tired of financial chaos
We've worked with over 200 Australians who were stuck in the same cycle—earning decent money but never quite getting ahead. Most came to us because traditional budgeting apps felt like homework. They wanted something different, and honestly, so did we when we designed this.
Enrolment Opens July 2026
What Makes This Different
Look, we're not going to tell you this is revolutionary. It's just intentional. We meet weekly for eight months because that's roughly how long it takes for new patterns to feel automatic rather than forced.
The groups stay small—never more than twelve people. That's partly because our venue at Auburn only fits that many comfortably, but also because we've found larger groups turn into lectures. Smaller ones let you actually talk through what's not working.
You'll track things. Some people love spreadsheets, others prefer notebooks. We don't care which—the point is building awareness about where money actually goes versus where you think it goes. That gap is usually the whole problem.
Between sessions, you try one small change. Not five. One. Maybe it's automating savings on payday. Maybe it's checking your balance every morning. Whatever makes sense for where you're stuck right now.
How the Eight Months Break Down
Each phase builds on the last, but they're not rigid. If you need longer on something, that's fine—this isn't school.
Foundation Work
First six weeks focus on getting clear on current patterns. Most people discover they've been guessing about their spending for years. We map out what's actually happening—not what should be happening.
You'll identify one habit that's causing the most friction. For some folks it's impulsive online shopping at night. For others it's never checking account balances because it feels stressful.
Weeks 1-6Building Systems
Months two through five are where you test different approaches. We cover practical stuff—setting up accounts that work with your brain, creating spending plans that don't feel restrictive, building buffers so one unexpected bill doesn't wreck everything.
This phase gets messy sometimes. You'll try things that don't stick. That's expected and useful—figuring out what doesn't work is half the process.
Weeks 7-20Making It Stick
Final months are about refinement and troubleshooting. By now you've got systems running, but life happens. We work through real situations—unexpected expenses, income changes, those weeks where everything falls apart.
You'll leave with habits that are actually yours, not something you copied from a finance guru on social media.
Weeks 21-32Who You'll Work With
We keep the teaching team small and consistent. Both instructors have spent years working with people on financial behavior—not just theory, but the messy reality of changing how you handle money when you're already stressed about it.
Thea Kowalski
Lead Facilitator
Thea spent twelve years as a financial counselor before getting frustrated with the six-session limit most services impose. She wanted to work with people long enough to see habits actually change, not just provide advice that gets forgotten within a week.
She's direct but not harsh. If you're making excuses, she'll call it out—but she's also the first to acknowledge when something genuinely isn't working for you and needs adjusting.
Janne Vermeulen
Program Coordinator
Janne handles the practical side—making sure sessions run smoothly, resources are ready, and everyone knows what's happening next. She also leads the monthly check-ins between main sessions, which turn out to be crucial when people hit rough patches.
Before this, she worked in adult education for eight years. She's good at spotting when someone's struggling but won't say it, and at creating space for people to admit things aren't working without feeling judged.