From Debt-Stuck to Dream-Ready
Dave & Michelle’s Your Budget Mates Story
When Dave and Michelle first walked through our door, they were done.
Done with false promises.
Done with sleek apps that looked impressive but delivered nothing.
Done with feeling like failures despite earning a high income.
Four years they’d spent with another budget provider. Four years of smooth-talking support and a polished system. Four years watching their $100,000 debt barely move. Sure, bills got paid. Sure, there was occasional “fun money.” But the core issues? Still there. The debt? Still crushing them. The dream of home ownership? Still out of reach.
They were barely saving $50 a week… if they managed to save at all. Most months, that $50 disappeared before it had a chance to grow. And despite being on a high income, they were living week to week, paycheck to paycheck, stuck in a cycle they couldn’t break.
Aaron Vogt from Preferred Finance believed in what we do and passed Dave and Michelle our details. Thank you, Aaron.
They held onto that referral for a year. A whole year of wondering if real change was even possible. A whole year of wanting to reach out but being too scared to hope again.
When they finally sat across from us in that first discovery session, their trust was shattered. Their hope? Barely flickering.
But they showed up. Nervous. Cautious. Ready to try… just one more time.
The First Three Months
We welcomed Dave and Michelle into our 3-month program, and from the moment they said yes, we got to work. Empathy, clarity, guidance, genuine care… this is what we do.
The first few weeks were raw. Gritty. Full of honest conversations and confronting truths.
We looked at real numbers, not hopes, not guesses. We began closing down old systems that weren’t serving them, redirecting income, reshaping priorities. Together, we re-imagined their entire financial world from the ground up.
It was in that powerful moment when they stopped outsourcing their future to a system that had kept them stuck, and chose to own their outcomes, that everything shifted.
By the end of three months, they were saving $200 a week consistently. Genuine savings that stayed put. Savings that grew like magic.
We created a crystal-clear debt strategy. Priorities 1 through 9. Snowballing smartly. Consolidating wisely. Building a plan that felt achievable and empowering.
For the first time in four years, Dave and Michelle were making confident decisions about their money, and it showed.
The Decision to Continue
Dave and Michelle couldn’t believe how far they’d come in 3 short months. We could.
Because this is what happens when people are finally seen, heard, and supported with real, personalised care.
When the 3 months ended, they chose to keep going with us and we couldn’t have been more thrilled. We knew the best was yet to come.
The Next 12 Months and Beyond
Over the next 12 months, we watched the magic unfold. More debt gone. More savings built. More life lived.
There were setbacks. A car accident that could have derailed everything. But this time? They were prepared. With their custom budget plan as their anchor, they navigated every challenge with clarity and confidence, moving forward at each hurdle.
And when they replaced their car with a brand-new model, they paid it off in just 9 short months. A loan that was meant to last 5 years… gone in less than one! That’s what happens when strategy meets momentum.
Two Years Later
Two years into their journey with Your Budget Mates, Dave and Michelle are debt-free. Let that sink in.
💥 Over $100,000 of consumer debt… gone.
💥 No car loans.
💥 No personal loans.
💥 No credit cards.
💥 No AfterPay.
💥 No stress.
And most powerfully? They now save over $1,000 a week towards their goal of home ownership. That’s not a typo. It’s the result of steady progress, relentless commitment, and a plan that finally worked.
Dave and Michelle are no longer just dreaming of their forever home. They’re preparing to build it.
The Transformation
In our monthly accountability calls, Dave and Michelle shine. They’re engaged, proactive, and lit up about their future. Their confidence has soared. Their life has changed, and we are so, so proud to be part of it.
It breaks our hearts that they couldn’t achieve these results with their previous provider… but oh, how our hearts sing that they did with us.
Why We Do What We Do
This is why we do what we do.
We’re not here for apps and automation. We’re here for transformation. For human connection. For stories like Dave and Michelle’s.
At Your Budget Mates, we walk this path with our clients. We cheer them on. We guide them forward. And we celebrate every single win along the way.
Because when debt no longer defines you, your whole life opens up, and that’s a beautiful thing.
At Your Budget Mates, we’re here to help you take the stress out of money management. Book your complimentary discovery meeting, grab our free resources and let’s make the next financial year your best yet.
Visit: www.yourbudgetmates.com.au
Blog: www.yourbudgetmates.com.au/blog
It’s never been a better time to get started on your journey to financial well-being.
Andrew & Alyssa Mates, Your Budget Mates.
Sort your budget, you sort your life.