How We Actually Think About Money
Most budget advice misses the point. It's not really about spreadsheets or cutting back on coffee. It's about understanding why we make the choices we do—and working with human nature instead of fighting it.
Starting Where You Are
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all budgets. What works for someone who grew up with financial security looks different from someone still carrying money stress from childhood. And that's completely normal.
Our approach starts with listening. Not to your bank balance—though that matters—but to your actual relationship with money. Because here's what we've learned: people don't fail at budgets because they're lazy or bad with numbers. They fail because the plan doesn't match how their brain works.
Some folks need rigid structure. Others need flexibility or they'll rebel against their own budget within a week. There's no wrong answer. Just different wiring.
We spend the first few sessions just mapping out patterns. When do you spend impulsively? What triggers it? What does "treating yourself" actually mean to you? These aren't rhetorical questions—they're the foundation of a budget that actually sticks.
Three Things That Actually Matter
After working with hundreds of people across Australia, we've noticed the same patterns. These three areas make or break financial progress—regardless of income level.
Emotional Triggers
Money decisions happen fast. You're stressed, tired, or celebrating—and suddenly you've spent $200 you didn't plan for. We help identify these moments before they happen, so you can build strategies that actually work when emotions run high.
System Design
Willpower runs out. Good systems don't. We build automation around your weak spots and create friction around impulse spending. It's not about being perfect—it's about making the right choice the easiest choice most of the time.
Progress Tracking
Numbers without context feel meaningless. We help you see progress in ways that connect to what you actually care about. Maybe that's months of expenses saved, or days of freedom earned, or stress reduced. The metric matters less than the meaning.
People You'll Work With
We're not financial advisors in the traditional sense. We're behavioural specialists who happen to focus on money. That distinction matters—it changes how we approach everything.
Callan Fitzroy
Behavioural SpecialistStarted in clinical psychology before switching to financial behaviour. Spent years asking why smart people make predictably bad money choices. Still asking that question, honestly.
Dashiell Petrovic
Systems DesignerBuilds the frameworks that make good habits automatic. Background in cognitive science and user experience. Believes most budget failures are design problems, not discipline problems.
Ewan Lindstrom
Research LeadTracks what actually works versus what sounds good. Runs the numbers on client outcomes and keeps us honest about what we can and can't promise. Data person who remembers people aren't data.
What Working Together Looks Like
No two programmes look identical, but there's usually a rhythm. We start with assessment—figuring out your patterns, triggers, and goals. Not the goals you think you should have. The ones that actually motivate you.
Then we build systems. Small at first. Maybe it's automating savings before you see the money. Or creating a 24-hour rule for purchases over $50. Or setting up separate accounts for different purposes so money has jobs instead of just sitting there tempting you.
Most people start seeing shifts within a few weeks. Not because they suddenly have more money—but because they stop fighting with themselves about it. That's when things get interesting.
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