Become The Adult Your Life Needs
In recent years, we have witnessed a quietly devastating trend creeping into everyday life: adults—grown, capable, intelligent adults—becoming more and more like children.
No, we are not talking about binge-watching cartoons or collecting Pokémon cards (although, no judgement there). We are talking about something far more concerning: the outsourcing of thought, the abandonment of self-responsibility, and the steady decline of practical life skills like budgeting, planning, and counting your cash without needing a calculator… (or a prayer).
On one of our recent adventures to the shops I paid for a $6 item with a $50 note only to be handed $46 in change back. The change should have been $44, but the cashier (and consequentially also the store manager—gulp!) must have thought (without thinking) that we had handed over money on top of the purchase price. They had no idea how to handle cash and giggled (like an embarrassed child) when we advised of the error which was followed by a half-hearted apology. During our connection it appeared as if they were living in la la land… with no idea where they were, or what they were doing.
Put simply, it’s basic maths, gone walkabout with thinking out the door.
A few short years ago this wasn’t a problem because people got it. They were switched on, solid in thinking.
But in recent years we have witnessed first hand in coaching, but also in our daily experiences a slow devolution. It’s almost as if were watching a slow-motion regression unfold before our eyes.
The Loss of Mental Muscle:
During our time as money coaches, we have had the opportunity to sit across from couples of all ages who have been confused about their own spending habits. It’s sad to see that so many just don’t get it. They genuinely don’t understand where their money is going. Even when we break down everything to simple terms of what people should know (basic education) we often get blank stares…
Couples choose to argue over little things whilst missing the big things because they are stuck in the rut of daily action. At a coaching session, one of our couple clients who were living week to week put more priority on fixing their watch (at a cost of $900) that this became the focal point of our conversation. Not savings goals, not getting out of debt, but how do I get $900 to fix my watch.
We ended up helping them save over $30,000 during their 12 month program with no thanks… but when the watch was fixed he was happier than his first born child on Christmas morning.
The problem we see is that many can’t see the trend lines, the warning signs, or the connections between their daily habits and their future outcomes. But they sure know how their favourite football team played on the weekend. Their priorities are wrong.
Worse still? It never used to be this way only a few short years ago, and now, most don’t care that they don’t know. They just accept that they are ‘terrible’ with money, which isn’t the case—they just haven’t done the work, and they aren’t even aware of what the work is.
This creates a precedence of a dangerous apathy setting in for our society all wrapped neatly in the classic Aussie shrug:
“She’ll be right.”
But here’s the truth bomb:
She won’t be right.
Not if we continue to live like we’re spectators in our own lives.
It’s Time To Realise That Life Is Happening FOR YOU, Not TO You:
It appears that we have slipped into a reactive mindset. People are treating life like a ride they didn’t sign up for, instead of a journey they get to design.
The sad thing? When life “happens to you”, you become powerless. You complain about prices, whinge about debt, and argue over who owes what for half a roast chicken (yes, we have had this exact scenario appear at a client meeting). You remain stuck in a web of inaction—within a victim mentality of your own creation.
But when life “happens for you”, you take the wheel. You see opportunity. You plan. You act, and you thrive.
In our experience, adults of today have no idea where their money is going, and when shown the truth, the response is either apathy or resistance. It’s as if someone else is supposed to do the work for them.
Newsflash: No one’s coming to save you.
Regressing in Real-Time:
In 2018, when Adelaide Budgeting was just getting started, our clients were switched on. They followed the guidance. They implemented their plans, developed new strategies and they understood what was at stake. For many their dreams of home ownership were realised and others dream holidays took them to amazing destinations. Others had better relationships with money, their partner, their life and a new found confidence within them that was priceless.
Fast forward to 2025?
Now, we’re battling to get people to even read their plans, let alone implement them.
It’s like teaching a five-year-old to handle money—except the five-year-old actually wants to learn.
And the key is, being better with money isn’t about intelligence. It’s about learning, wanting to learn and having the awareness, discipline, responsibility, and want to do so. We now have more tools at our disposal than ever before to help us. The calculators, the spreadsheets, the apps, the mentors, the free budgeting help—so many options that we are drowning in solutions. But still people are struggling.
You have to wonder why. Why are people still saying?
“I didn’t know.”
“I forgot.”
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
The apathy in the way some people choose to live their lives is astounding. Because it’s not hard to live a better life. All you need to do, is do. Do something better today than you did tomorrow. Do something new. Think. Create. Do… and learn.
Adults, Where Are You?
Don’t get us wrong, we are not here to shame anyone. But we are here to call it out. Because somebody has to.
Where are the adults?
Where are the leaders?
Where are the people who choose to think?
As a society, we have become obsessed with the now: the flashy car, the brunch, the latest iPhone. But what about the future? What about showing up for your kids with wisdom and strength? What about building a life that isn’t just “fine for now” but thriving for decades?
If today’s adults have no vision, no discipline, no fire in their belly to get better—what will they pass on to the children of tomorrow?
What are we teaching the next generation of children if we can’t even manage the simple task of looking at our own bank accounts?
It’s Not Too Late—But It Will Be If You Don’t Act:
There is still a way forward, but the clock is ticking, and inaction has a price.
You must decide—now—whether you choose to stop drifting and start driving. Whether you choose to stop outsourcing your life and take back the reins. Because if you don’t, you won’t just stay stuck. You’ll go backwards—and sadly, many already have.
This is your financial future. Your family’s future. Your legacy.
And yes, it’s hard. Yes, it takes effort. But it’s far harder to live your life shackled to stress, debt, and regret whilst wondering how good life could be—but to never have had the fire within you to go for it.
We aren’t here to sugarcoat the truth. We are here to give you the tools, the guidance, and the accountability so that you can step up and do better. But YOU have to be the one to decide that your life is worth it, and be willing to take-action.
Because if you don’t start thinking now—someone else will do the thinking for you, and we guarantee you, they won’t have your best interests at heart.
Embrace this moment for you to shine, to step up and adult. Take time to relearn, reconnect, and reclaim your power to become the adult your life needs you to be.
Because if you don’t?
You won’t just become a child again, reliant on others to fix your problems, you’ll be one with bills, debt, responsibilities, and no backup plan.
The buck stops with you. Is it time for you to become the adult your life needs?
A Final Note:
For those that have embraced Your Budget Mates as their budget provider, helping them to achieve their financial goals we thank you.
Your results have been incredible and we are so proud of your successes to date.
From couples that were aligned with goals but disconnected with their thoughts that are now reconnected and thriving with love, holidays, family time and no more money arguments!
To couples that have saved $30,000 – $50,000 within in a 12 month window (often starting from zero) completing their programs with systems that allows them to replicate these results without us!
And other couples that have cleared $100,000 of debt in as little as 2 years.
Our results are uniquely our own and speak for themselves. We are so proud of those that come to us who ‘choose-to-do’ and thrive. We love sharing our gifts and unique cashflow strategies with them to help them live the life they most desire.
To learn more about the results we help our clients to achieve, check out our Google and Facebook reviews.
