Fast Summary:
Jo and Ryan, an Australian couple earning a high income, struggled with a “paycheck-to-paycheck” cycle due to mismatched pay frequencies and credit card reliance. Through the Your Budget Mates 12-month coaching program, they eliminated debt, built a $17,000 cash buffer, and gained the autonomy (knowledge and control) to manage their finances independently.
Jo and Ryan came to us following a referral from their finance broker, Ben Clarke at Wright Evans Partners.
At the time they were stressed financially despite earning good income. One was paid fortnightly, the other paid monthly. This created a frequency issue when it came to cashflow as every month at the 3-week mark they would run out of money and seek to use the credit card for the remainder of the month to ‘make ends meet’ until the monthly pay cycle kicked back in and the cycle began again.
The credit card would be paid off in full when the monthly pay cycle came in, leaving them short for the rest of the month expenses. This cycle just wouldn’t stop.
When they met with us for the first time, they knew something needed to change, but they weren’t sure what. We presented our fees for their consideration to come back to us when they were ready. At first, they thought ‘how can we afford this,’ but in a private moment of contemplation they thought… ‘how can we NOT afford to do this?’ This is where real change began.
As we worked with Jo and Ryan at their gathering meeting, we drilled down and got clearer on what their goals were:
- Reduced financial stress in household.
- No more anxiety checking the bank account multiple times per day.
- No more week 3 of stress, no money and credit card reliance.
- Navigating unforeseen events (like a broken windscreen and septic tank issues in their first few months).
- Getting rid of credit card altogether.
- Saving money for fun.
- Saving money for travel.
- Saving money to invest.
- Giving their child the best start in life.
As we navigated through their 12-month journey together (beginning in February) other things emerged. How do we replace both of our cars without it impacting our financial future significantly? How do we make sure the credit card is gone by July at the latest?
Every concern, every important question was taken into account and actioned within their strategy. Multiple strategies all incorporated into one plan. Complex in nature, but simple in implementation.
A few months into their program the 3 weekly cycle and credit card reliance had ceased. Ryan was no longer looking at the bank account with high level of anxiety multiple times per day wondering when the next payment would bounce, or if there was enough money in the account to cover direct debits because we had maintained a buffer for expenses which was covering everything as needed.
We flipped their reactive spending cycle into a weekly spending cycle by creating bank account structure and flow that supported their budget and life goals regardless of when income arrived. Despite fortnightly and monthly income arrival, weekly spending remained capped at a specific amount every single week, guilt free – and it was always there. This supported Jo and Ryan’s ability to get everything that was required on a weekly basis (not on an ad-hoc, reactive basis), including groceries, petrol, a weekly allowance for fun (including coffee/wine etc).
The pantry was always full. The cars always had petrol. Everything that was needed was there, weekly and consistently – without stress.
And whilst long-term expenses and weekly spending were being taken care of with the correct budget structure, their savings happened seamlessly. Some for fun. Some for travel. Some for investing. All happening simply.
The credit card was paid off and closed two weeks prior to the date we had committed to (which amazed Jo and Ryan because it happened so quickly), and the allocations for credit card payments were redirected to boost savings even higher.
Towards the end of their 12-month program Jo & Ryan had:
- 2 new cars, structured properly without damaging the budget.
- Financial clarity instead of anxiety.
- A bank balance that they enjoyed checking ($17,000 at last count across multiple accounts).
- No credit card.
- No three-week stress cycle.
- Clear understanding of their budget and how their money flows to make informed financial decisions.
- And most importantly…. The confidence to manage their budget themselves!
It’s stories like this that we love.
Taking someone from stressing to thriving in 12 months through focused action and genuine guidance, care, love and support never gets old. We’re not in the business of keeping clients forever, we’re in the business of giving people the tools so they never need us again. That’s what makes our work so powerful.
Because people deserve it and because financial literacy is possible when you have the right tools, system, structure and guidance in place.
It’s an absolute pleasure to serve and be of service.
Thank you Jo and Ryan for trusting us to be of service to you. We are so thrilled for you, your results, and your life going forward. The international travel that you are seeking, the regular camping trips you get to have, and the confidence you can manage this on your own without paying fees for the rest of your life brings a massive smile to our faces.
Ryan’s Google Review:
“We signed up because we felt like we were living pay check to pay check, adding to a credit card that never seemed to be paid off and stressed all the time. Andrew and Alyssa listened to our goals and helped us understand where our money was going. We set a goal to pay off our credit card debt and we smashed it (earlier than planned!). We couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”
Client Case Study:
How Jo & Ryan Achieved Financial Confidence with Your Budget Mates
The Financial Challenge: The 3-Week Stress Cycle
Despite a strong household income, Jo and Ryan faced a common cash flow bottleneck:
- Pay Inconsistency: One partner was paid fortnightly, the other monthly.
- Credit Card Reliance: By the third week of the month, cash reserves were depleted, forcing them to use credit cards for essentials.
- The Debt Loop: Monthly pay was used to clear the credit card balance, leaving them short for the following month’s expenses.
The Transformation Strategy
Your Budget Mates implemented a structured financial framework designed to shift the couple from reactive spending to proactive management (THIS IS OUR KEY DIFFERENCE).
Key objectives included:
- Eliminating Financial Anxiety: Removing the need to check bank balances daily.
- Structured Cash Flow: Aligning mismatched pay cycles into a consistent weekly spending budget.
- Emergency Preparedness: Building a buffer for unforeseen costs (e.g., vehicle repairs and home maintenance).
- Debt Eradication: Closing the credit card account ahead of schedule.
Key Outcomes After 12 Months
The program resulted in measurable financial growth and lifestyle improvements:
- Debt-Free Status: Credit card paid off and closed 2 weeks ahead of the July target.
- Savings Growth: Accumulated $17,000 in liquid savings across structured accounts.
- Asset Management: Successfully purchased two new vehicles without compromising their long-term budget.
- Psychological Shift: Transitioned from “survival mode” to “thriving mode” (their reason for seeking budgeting help), with dedicated funds for travel, camping and investments.
Client Review: Ryan’s Perspective
“We signed up because we felt like we were living paycheck to paycheck… Andrew and Alyssa listened to our goals and helped us understand where our money was going. We set a goal to pay off our credit card debt and we smashed it!”
Expert Guidance by: Andrew Mates, Chief Budget Strategist & Money Coach at Your Budget Mates.