Back in early 2019, I was helping a mate sort through his bank statements at a pub in Tamworth. He earned decent money but had no clue where it all went. That conversation turned into Lazuloriva.
They need someone to sit down and explain how money actually moves through their life. That's what we figured out after teaching our first few groups.
Our approach came from watching what worked in real kitchens and living rooms across regional NSW. People would bring their actual bills, their phone would buzz with payment notifications during sessions, and we'd work through it all together.
By mid-2020, we had taught about forty people. Some were tradies who wanted to save for equipment. Others were young families trying to understand childcare costs. A few were recent immigrants who found Australian banking completely baffling.
What they all had in common was this: once someone showed them the patterns in their own spending, they could make better choices. Not perfect choices. Just better ones.
Our method evolved from hundreds of one-on-one sessions. These are the three things that keep showing up as most helpful.
We work with your actual bank statements, bills, and receipts. No made-up examples or generic scenarios. Your Netflix subscription, your grocery shop, your car loan. That's what we look at together.
Before we talk about budgets or goals, we spend time just looking at patterns. When do you overspend? What triggers impulse purchases? Where does money leak out without you noticing?
We're not asking you to stop buying coffee or cancel all subscriptions. We help you find two or three changes that actually fit your life. Changes you can stick with past week three.
We keep our teaching team small on purpose. Everyone who teaches has spent years working directly with individuals on budget issues.
Budget Strategy Instructor
Fletcher spent eight years at a community financial counseling service before starting with us in 2021. He's particularly good at helping people who've never tracked expenses before figure out a system that doesn't feel like homework.
Financial Planning Mentor
Meredith came from banking but got tired of just processing transactions. She joined us in 2022 and runs most of our sessions focused on irregular income - gig workers, contractors, seasonal employees.
These figures come from participant surveys conducted three months after program completion in late 2024 and early 2025.
Across 14 different program sessions held between March and November
Reported still actively tracking expenses three months after finishing
Median amount saved per month among those who completed follow-up surveys
Typical duration before participants notice pattern changes in spending behavior
We run small groups of eight to twelve people. Sessions happen over six weeks, Tuesday evenings in Tamworth, with some flexibility for online participation if you're regional.