Build Your Financial Confidence

A structured journey through personal budgeting, designed for real people dealing with everyday money decisions

Get Started in September 2025
Participants engaged in interactive budget planning workshop

Learning Path That Actually Makes Sense

We break down budget communication into manageable pieces. Most participants complete the program in 14 weeks, meeting once a week for two hours. You'll work through each module at a comfortable pace.

01

Understanding Your Money Flow

Start by mapping where your money actually goes. We'll look at your bank statements together and spot patterns you might not have noticed. No judgement – just honest conversations about spending habits.

Income tracking Expense categorisation Pattern recognition
02

Creating Your First Realistic Budget

Forget complicated spreadsheets. You'll build a simple budget that reflects your actual life. We'll account for those irregular expenses that always seem to catch people off guard – car registration, birthday gifts, that annual subscription you forgot about.

Budget frameworks Goal setting Buffer planning
03

Talking About Money Without the Awkwardness

This is where it gets interesting. Learn how to discuss budgets with your partner, housemates, or kids without starting an argument. We practice real conversations using scenarios from actual participants.

Communication scripts Conflict resolution Shared decision-making
04

Adjusting When Life Happens

Budgets need to bend. We'll work through how to handle unexpected expenses, income changes, and those moments when everything seems to hit at once. You'll develop your own system for making quick decisions under pressure.

Crisis planning Priority reassessment Emergency protocols

What Changes After The Program

These aren't guarantees – they're common experiences from people who've completed the full 14 weeks

Starting Point

Checking bank balance multiple times daily with anxiety

Avoiding money conversations with family members

Unclear about where money disappears each month

Unexpected bills causing stress and scrambling

After Completion

Weekly budget check-ins that take less than 15 minutes

Regular household money discussions without tension

Clear visibility of spending patterns and habits

Buffer funds for irregular expenses already set aside

Group of participants reviewing budget plans together in collaborative learning environment

Who You'll Learn From

Ingrid Mikkelsen, lead budget communication instructor

Ingrid Mikkelsen

Lead Instructor

Spent twelve years helping families untangle their finances. Started this work after realising most money problems weren't about maths – they were about communication. Teaches the first two modules and runs the Thursday evening sessions.

Beatrix Callahan, communication specialist and workshop facilitator

Beatrix Callahan

Communication Specialist

Brings background in conflict mediation to money conversations. Works with couples and families on the communication module. Known for creating safe spaces where people can talk honestly about money stress.

Vesna Radovic, practical budgeting systems instructor

Vesna Radovic

Systems Instructor

Teaches the practical side – spreadsheet setup, tracking methods, and adjustment strategies. Former software developer who retrained in financial education after helping friends organise their budgets on weekends.

Fionnuala Doherty, program coordinator and student support specialist

Fionnuala Doherty

Program Coordinator

Manages day-to-day program logistics and handles one-on-one support sessions. Available between classes if you're struggling with a concept or need to talk through a specific situation privately.