“We had a plan for everything else but our money.”
I just thought, I cannot continue like this. Reaching out and getting some help was a big step. I felt a huge load off my shoulder just knowing that there was someone out there that understood, that had a program they could teach me and a tool that would help me. It was like the light at the end of the tunnel because I was becoming quite depressed about the situation.
I’m a mother of five, grandmother to three, a retired primary school teacher and now a stay at home mum. My husband earns a great salary but we didn’t manage it efficiently. That change obviously brought a huge change in our finances – we hadn’t prepared for a reduction in income.
We’d continued to live a lifestyle that wasn’t conducive with a one-income family. We already had a bit of debt that just compounded and it was really hard to change the ways we were doing things. It wasn’t working when we were earning the money. Take that second income away and it just goes backwards.
I tried quite a few other financial programs but always thought, this is not what I’m looking for. I know how to write a budget. I have used a budget, but there was nothing that showed me how to plan for the future and get rid of that debt. That’s why this program was just a revelation for me because one, I get a mentor – when I start anything new I really feel like I need support and then I’m happy to fly. And I really love that this is focused on the future and then I could just forget about the past. That first few weeks my husband noticed a lift in me. I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy and that I was going to have to make some massive sacrifices. I couldn’t just do it on my own.
This was the first Christmas, in I can’t remember how long we did not touch the credit card. That in itself was a massive learning curve for us. And we had a wonderful Christmas.
If I look at my past behaviour with money, I need to be kept on track. You know, these are lifetime habits that need to change. So having the plan gives me the security to do that.
– Karen, Spring Valley, WA
“I paid off my Credit Card Debt in 8 months”
Using our Spending Planner has changed my whole relationship with money.
Initially it was frightening to confront our situation. I felt hopeless, and Anthea, rather than commiserating with me, pointed out that there was only one way to deal with our credit card problem, and that was to face it and work out how to pay it off.
I honestly felt that was impossible, given our income and expenses. With Anthea’s help, we worked out a plan to pay off our credit card debt in 17 months. Once started, I suddenly saw how it was possible, and ended up paying the debt off in 8 months.
That began a new confidence with our household budget. Spending Planner allows me to look at the year ahead and see that I have the funds to manage our family life. Previously I was completely in the dark, was anxious all the time, and had spending habits, although modest, that were actually sending us backward.
Our family has faced some really big challenges in the last three years, and knowing where I stand financially, and exactly how much is needed in various accounts to keep things running, has supported me substantially. I actually don’t know how I would have managed this period without that.
Anthea’s manner is always supportive and positive, and I thank her for helping bring about such a great change in my life.
– Lucy Turner, Mittagong NSW
“It changes your entire view on money and on how to manage it, and it takes the stress of working it out yourself.”
Before Bright Spenders we sort of went week to week all the time. We tried to keep ahead of our bills rather than wait for them to come in, which worked in theory. But if we got caught out, we never had any money left – a vicious cycle of stress and worry about where we were going to find money.
Our Spending Planner gives us the chance to look ahead to see if we can we really afford something. It saves me trying to figure out whether it’s going to work or not. Spreadsheets and formulas can only work so far. Now. I log into spending planner every day and I stop thinking about it. So it leaves room for me to stress about all the other things in life! It’s worth it. It changes your entire view on bills, on money and on how to manage it, and it takes the stress of working it out yourself.
– Kaali Feltus, Barossa Valley, South Australia
“Don’t think about it, just do it. Just get in there and start straight away!”
We’ve run a local automotive business for 15 years. In the last year and a half, things got hectic, and we took our finger off the pulse. Since I’ve been working with Bright Spenders, we’ve got a lot of things under control. Life is a lot easier. I wasn’t as active in our business as I should have been. It was kind of running itself and I wasn’t monitoring our personal spending consistently. We got to that crunch point in our business this year – the drought hit a lot of farmers, there wasn’t a lot of work going around. And we needed to get control. Not long after starting with Bright Spenders we had a big curve-ball and I haven’t been able to be on the pulse with my finances because I’ve been worried about family members, and having this set up prior to that means I don’t have to worry at all.
I know those accounts are set up, that there’s money there for bills. I can pop in in five minutes and know yep, they’re right.
I work in an accounting firm and I’ve had accountants before give me budgets and cashflow forecasts that just weren’t right for us. So it was very clear to me when yours popped up in the feed that this was what was going to work for me.
While I had a few accounts set up to try and put money away, nothing works better than having the Spending Planner software alongside and knowing you can put scenarios in, you know that this bill is going to be due on this particular day, and how much money’s going to be in your account on that particular day.
Don’t hesitate. Just do it. I’ve already looked into the planner this week to see how quickly I can pay off the next credit card. And It’ll be done in like a couple of months. It’s like, wow, yippee – another one gone!
– Lisa Martin, Corrowa, NSW
“We know EXACTLY where we’re going”
We had excess money and knew we were wasting it. I was looking for something to make sure I knew where this money was going. It was a bit daunting at first because you really have to tighten up what you’re spending and I wasn’t used to sharing those sorts of things. But once I did it was a weight off my shoulders.
We know exactly where we’re going. The main thing is I feel confident in knowing that I can see a light at the end. I couldn’t see it before.
As far as all our debts go, we have specific dates when they’ll be paid off, which are basically going to be at the end of this year, assuming we stick to our Spending Plan. We have mucked up a couple of times, but we brought ourselves back. I’m very happy with the way things have gone.
Have a good look at it, if you’re serious about doing this – You’re going to have to think about what you actually want at the end of it, and if it’s financial freedom, like it was for us, yes it is hard work, but it is well worth it. Just the freedom we get and having the confidence to go ahead.
– Tanya Page, Perth WA
“You are truly making a huge difference in our lives”
I knew we needed to join the Bright Spenders program but we were struggling financially. I questioned how on earth I could commit us to spend more money when we just didn’t have it to spare to learn budgeting – something that after all these years I should have mastered.
I am so glad that I listened to my gut and joined the program, it’s only early days for us but we have had quite a few firsts:
– We no longer run out of money only days after being paid
– We pay our bills on-time
– I no longer dread going to the letterbox.
I can now see a rosier future, sleep better at night and my stress levels have significantly decreased.
Now that we have factored in all of our expenses we will make little tweaks to start to pay off debt and continue to consciously spend or delay spending, knowing what expenses we have coming up. It is amazing how a small increase in your hourly rate, negotiating a better deal on utilities or chasing up someone that owes you money makes when you update your spending plan.
For those thinking about joining – do it.
For those that have just started – follow and trust the process.
For those of you that are program veterans – I take my hat off to you and hope to learn from your experience.
Finally, to Amy, Anthea and the other coaches – thank you for your continued guidance and support – you are truly making a huge difference in our lives.
– Simone Files, Toowoomba QLD
“Ahead by $11.5K in just under 6 months”
When I first came across Bright Spenders I had already tried MyBudget which, to be honest, didn’t teach me much. Now with the help and expertise of my mentor, Amy Waters, I have gone from having nearly $35.5k in debt, with zero savings to having paid off over $8k of the debt with $3.5k in savings in just under 6 months.
My financial future has never looked this good. I’ve always been the one struggling and stressing about bills.
I’m also 2.5 months in front of my rent so that I can start saving for a new, bigger place when my lease is up.
At first, I was like, ‘Wow, the program is pretty expensive,” but now, with Amy’s knowledge and expertise and my hard work, I see it as short term pain for maximum long term gain. Don’t let the fees stop you from this outstanding program.
A huge thanks to Anthea and Amy for helping make my financial future much brighter.”
– Ashley Sultana, Toowoomba QLD
“We’re definitely on our way to our next big purchase!”
“We chose Bright Spenders after hearing Anthea speak on a podcast. My husband & I had never really had a budget, and this system sounded easy to use & is a better way to look at your budget.
We were worried at the beginning about being able to juggle the personal & business systems together, but it has worked out well. Anthea suggested that we keep them separate, so I look after the personal budget & my husband looks after the business budget. We’re happy with the outcome. We can see clearly where we are spending money & how we might be able to cut back on some of our spending & turn into savings. We are definitely on our way to our next big purchase.
Thank you Anthea & the Bright Spenders Team”
– S & G Soster, Thirroul, NSW
“Wish I had our Spending Planner when I was bringing up 4 Children!”
I wish I had had the Spending Planner when I was bringing up 4 children! We had great assets, good income, but I managed to spend far more than our income, and had no way to track my spending.
Anthea asked me if I would be interested in having peace of mind with money, and my husband John and I were very interested..
Although we had a great life, I found that we were always worrying about the pointy end of our lives.
The best thing about The Spending Planner is that I know EXACTLY where my finances are each week, without having to unduly cut out the good things from my life.
Now I’m thrilled to know any medical costs are covered, and after two months of accumulating savings, we can make some solid decisions about our future and plan to do some fun things as we get older.
The Spending Planner is easy to use, and Anthea is there to guide you every week, and more, when you are first setting it up.
Have fun spending money that you actually have, and NOT worrying over borrowed money!
– Lyndy Hill, Shute Harbour, QLD
“I want to say how amazing working with you is.”
It is truly marvelous and supportive feeling to have Spending Planner and you as our coach.
Thank you for all that you do for us. We are in such a good position as per the below. We have managed to reach our long term savings goal so far of $28K.
– Brook, Sydney NSW
“I love seeing the big picture.”
I’m single, work for Queensland police in a quality assurance role. And I live in a mortgaged, lovely one-bedroom unit. I decided to join back in May when I realized it was in alignment with where I was at and where I wanted to go. I’ve tried a few different programs. I’d let someone completely manage my money, like My Budget. Then I tried Scott Pape for a while, but being a shift worker I just found the percentages weren’t working and I still didn’t have an emergency fund.
I guess the biggest change is not using my credit card. And living within my means. I’ve actually gone down in pay and I haven’t really noticed a difference. The biggest thing I love about this program is that it tells you ahead of time what kind of expenses you might have – if your fridge breaks down or your hot water system breaks down. Mine did last year and I had to get my parents to pay for my hot water system. I was just devastated that I still didn’t have an emergency fund.
I love seeing the big picture, to see everything that’s coming up and what my bank balance is going to be. I think that’s probably the highlight of this program for me. My goal was to have $2000 [emergency fund] so when it hit $1200, you saw me go, “Yay!” My reservations were not wanting to pay for the coaching, but actually needing the coaching. And I do so much better with one on one coaching and asking questions as I go. And meeting up with you every month has been awesome.
Stop thinking and just do it because you won’t regret it and you’ll only move forward with your finances and feeling more safe and secure around money and planning for the future. Future goals – I would love to renovate my unit that’s been on the back burner for some time now. So once I’ve got my security blanket there, that’ll be my next goal of saving up and having my unit beautified.
– Sue Bach, New Farm, QLD
“Now that I have the tools to take control and banish stress, I forgive myself completely and I’m so excited to take control of my financial future”
OMG – zero balance budgeting is THE answer! Still learning and perfecting my forward-looking budget but just having the stress taken out of daily spending questions such as “Can I afford to have my hair done this week?” or “Can I really afford to spend money on a hobby or the garden?” is changing the way I look at budgeting.
Now when there are spare funds I ask myself what do I want to do with them, instead of just frittering them away and leaving me feeling guilty and not in control. Now I am in the driver’s seat.
I knew my impulsive purchases were an issue but I was powerless to understand how to deal with it. My finances are now forward-looking and I’m in charge of my financial future, not looking back at the mess in my wake thinking, “If only I hadn’t X I would have money for what I really want to do!”.
Now that I have the tools to take control and banish the stress, I forgive myself completely and I am so excited about managing my financial future.
– Julie Davis, Darwin, NT
“Within a couple of sessions we had a clear and realistic plan to get back on top of things and that feeling is priceless”
“Lance, I wish I had discovered you years ago! I wasn’t sure what to expect when we had our first interview, but your professional and easy-going nature had me realise there was a manageable solution, and all I had to do was follow your recommendations and address any debt that was pulling me backwards. Having taken a huge salary drop, you made me realise it’s all about learning to manage what you have, regardless of the amount. Simple steps, broken down, made it all appear much more doable and I couldn’t wait to get started. Within a couple of sessions we had a clear and realistic plan to get back on top of things and that feeling is priceless … You have been absolutely fantastic getting things sorted and a complete pleasure and fun to work with. Thanks again for your amazing help in getting things sorted.”
– Jacqui Wurth, New South Wales
Hi Lance, I know I wrote ages ago to thank you for your wonderful support and guidance with my spending plan. You have been absolutely brilliant and so dedicated to getting me back on track. Feel very comfortable with using it all now and love checking in on it all to see those green worms.
Looking forward to a new chapter in my life and getting away from a toxic workplace! Thank you again for your ongoing patience and guidance. I can only thoroughly recommend you to anyone else even slightly considering what you offer!
– Jacqui Wurth, New South Wales
“I no longer worry about upcoming bills”
I now see it that it is actually quite a light touch. All I have to do is stay within the plan. So I don’t have to think about if we do have enough money because it’s all been pre-programmed.
I’m a system administrator in the IT industry and currently single. I decided to do the Spending Planner to get better at money and forward planning and began about 3 months ago. I love that I can put in an expense and plan ahead for it, and manage the date those things are going to be possible. Before deciding to do it I worried about whether would it actually work. It was quite scary at first trusting it, but now I follow it and it seems really easy. It’s helped me not be worried and short for upcoming bills. I would really recommend the Spending Planner because I’ve definitely seen progress even within 3 months.
– Camilla Clark, Canberra, ACT
“I love the ability to see into the future.”
We were sick of robbing Peter to pay Paul and felt like we needed to be more focussed and mindful about how we were using our money. What I like the most about Spending Planner is the ability to see into the future. you can see the green areas growing when you’re sticking to the schedule that you’ve prepared for yourself and you’re learning to be more empowered and in control of money. Anthea was very knowledgeable, very non-judgemental and helped us plot out a little path to success so that we could get out from all the anxiety and pressures and things that keep you awake at night. I was concerned at the start that the program might just become another bill but we were proven wrong quite quickly and I enjoy logging in and checking what’s coming up.
– Naomi Miller, Cross-Fit Southern Highlands, Mittagong, NSW
“I’m feeling empowered with my money”
I’ve been working with Anthea Falkiner and the Spending Planner for the last six months.
It’s really helped me to feel more empowered with money, with my budgeting, creating more structure with my spending and savings, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
– Emma Grant, Byron Bay, NSW
“I’ve got to thank you again for this planner. It’s got M and I talking money without fighting.”
We are both doing all activities and having light bulb moments. M is, for the first time, discussing what he should be doing as well as actually looking at his books for the first time. He’s always walked away when I try show him anything. This is awesome. Can’t wait for the next step!!
P.S. TV didn’t even get switched on last night.
– F & M, Melbourne, VIC
“I’ve got a little bit more control over my money and my life”
I feel like I’ve been living in the dark most of my life, financially speaking but Anthea and Bright Spenders has come in and true to her name, she brought me into the light a bit and I feel like I’ve got a little bit more control over my money and my life.
– Nick, Mittagong
“Working with Bright Spenders is some of the best money we’ve spent”
Anthea came into our lives and became the welcomed third wheel in our relationship. We were a couple of business professionals; great at our jobs but not so great at taking the time to manage our own money. With heavy workloads and a young family there was never any time to be consistent with managing our own money. If we had a discussion about personal finances it would almost always end up in an argument.
The turning point came when one of us resigned from our job due to stress and exhaustion. Whilst this relieved the work stress. Home life became a pressure cooker. Our inability to communicate about finances was amplified. We needed to know how long our money would last; our lifestyle was cemented on a two-person income so it was important to know “the date” we were covered to.
Working with Bright Spenders is some of the best money we have spent; looking at the task ahead on our own was just too overwhelming. Anthea’s authentic approach breaks down the task into manageable steps which in turn created “the plan”. We had tried budgeting apps before, but spent more time reconciling transactions that had happened in the past, rather than managing our money for the future. This is truly what sets Anthea and the Spending Planner apart, she is all about having her clients move forward.
Anthea helped us identify some areas of our spending where we were being wasteful and we tightened our belt accordingly; but we were also unapologetic about what we loved to do and the money needed to do what we loved.
Having only worked with Anthea for 3 months, we feel like we have made 3 years worth of progress.
Our relationship (and family) thanks you, Anthea!
– Christine & Michael, Central Coast, NSW
“It will truly be the best investment you will ever make”
Having joined Bright Spenders in Jan 2020, I have to say, it will truly be the best investment you will ever make.
To be able to see financially where you will be in the future, it’s like your very own ‘crystal ball’ and will give you peace of mind.
Never having to worry yourself with the question we all have in the back of our minds, ‘will there be enough to cover……?’ All the information you ever need is there in black and white.
Everybody’s circumstances are unique, so whether it takes you a few months or longer to get where you want to be, just go with the flow. You will get to your goal. I actually had no idea I was in a fairly good place financially.
I absolutely love using the Spending Planner.
So grateful to Anthea for all her time and advice I was offered before I joined.
And to my amazing mentor Amy, the patience of a saint, so knowledgeable, kind & always at hand to explain or offer advice. It took a while for me to ‘get it’ but am now confident with the Bright Spenders program.
Thank you, Amy, so appreciative of all your help.
– TJ – Sydney, NSW
“I now have a really rock solid way to move forward”
I now see it that it is actually quite a light touch. All I have to do is stay within the plan. So I don’t have to think about if we do have enough money because it’s all been pre-programmed.
We’ve worked through every single detail with Anthea herself. It just feels like it’s all automated now and we can just do our weekly check-ins.
Spending Planner has allowed me to show myself that I’m actually doing a lot of self-care, that all of my families needs are met, and I feel like we’ve got a really rock solid way moving forward and I’m really looking forward to my weekly check-in.
I know things are going okay and we’re actually going reach our financial goals. It’s a miracle actually because we’ve been looking for something for so long. This feels like an incredibly safe but very very hands-on way. It feels like I’ve got a personal accountant, bookkeeper, and life coach to keep us going all in a one go and I think it’s amazing and I’d recommend it to anyone.
– Brook Rutherford, Sydney NSW
“It’s by far the best financial tool I have ever used and would highly recommend this program.”
I’m a commercial photographer and videographer and also married with two young children. My husband and I read a lot about the Bright Spenders program and Anthea and felt it could really help us better manage our unique circumstances. We’re both self-employed, and really needed some guidance on how to deal with the ebbs and flows of being a small business owner. We had recently had our second child and wanted to feel more confident we could manage our expenses and not waste precious energy constantly worrying. With two young children, we really needed to be sure we could cover and account for everything we needed, and be sure we were planning appropriately for the future of our family.
With this system, I can see exactly what’s coming up and when, and have peace of mind that we have accounted for everything. I also like being able to use it to explore different scenarios.
Before deciding to do it I had some doubts about just exactly how it worked. I was concerned it may be a kind of financial gimmick to be honest, which is why we researched it quite a bit before starting.
I feel so much more in control of our finances, and as though we can achieve a lot more than I ever thought with our money, just by taking control and making some simple changes.
If you’re thinking about it definitely do it! Anthea makes you feel so comfortable, and is never judgemental, only ever helpful, and with your best interests at heart. I only wish I had more time to take more advantage of all the wonderful additional material Anthea provides, such as very helpful blog posts, and a wonderful Mastermind Group! You will be guided through everything you need to know, and once you get the hang of it, it really is quite easy.
Just a little bit of planning and discipline can make a big difference. It’s by far the best financial tool I have ever used and would highly recommend this program.
– Natalie Hunfalvay, Mittagong, NSW
“As soon as I paid off my credit card debt Amy was the first one I told!”
Amy’s encouragement and persistence has made me accountable to getting things done. She’s encouraging without being overbearing, just the right balance. It has been really positive and I’m already kicking goals. Funnily enough, as soon as I paid off my credit card debt Amy was the first one I told, even before hubby LOL. Thank you, Amy!
Michelle Parkes, St Clair NSW
“I made an investment for my future”
I am 19 years old and, with next to no financial responsibility, this milestone of freedom and flexibility could be an opportunity for messy and wasteful spending habits to occur.
Fortunately, I made an investment for my future. With Anthea’s ongoing supervision and mentoring she has revealed the tips and tricks to become a wise and organised young adult.
The Spending Planner program has guided me to identify and set achievable goals. I have highlighted wasteful habits and the program has made me accountable for upcoming bills and financial commitments. Setting priorities has restored effective and responsible practises.
Professional and regular ‘check in’s’ of my savings progress with Anthea spurs on enthusiasm and a sense of pride when my savings and Spending Plan is on track and future goals evidently seem possible.
I am extremely grateful for the time Anthea has put into understanding my needs, goals and preferences. With this Spending Planners Program I have been able to learn the techniques and develop habits to keep me free from the cycle of debt.
I’m excited about my future. With a new and improved sense of self esteem to trust that I can reap the rewards of my ongoing hard work and enjoy the security of having money set aside for any set backs.
Josie Prohm, Bowral, NSW
“I’m now so clear on where my money is going”
I’ve been a bit of an overspender and underearner for some time and my finances were going backwards in the last few years.
Since I’ve implemented the Spending Planner with Anthea coaching me through the process, I am so clear on where my money is going and am finding it much easier to keep track of my funds and to not overspend.
I find that my priorities are automatically shifting now that I can clearly see how and where to put small pots of money away gradually to build my wealth. I would totally recommend Spending Planner!
Vanessa. K, Waverley, NSW
“It’s helping me make more money!”
I was having quite a few issues with my finances. The Spending Planner system shows me where my money is going, what I can expect my accounts to do in the future, and best of all it stimulates me to make more money. I was reticent to spend the money for the training because I was having financial difficulties but figured it would probably help me in the long run, which indeed it is doing.
It’s helped change my relationship with money by making me somewhat more frugal in spending on certain things like meals out, getting coffee and it’s helping me set goals with confidence that I CAN actually reach them . If you’re thinking about doing the Spending Planner Program then I would reassure you that you WILL learn how to manage your money better and you’ll be able to set goals and reach them with assurance and without a lot of anxiety or uncertainty. I can absolutely recommend Anthea and this program. It will open your mind and teach you a lot about how money works and how YOU work.
Jody Emerson Quintana, Monterey, California
“It gets all the finances out of my head”
We were keen to see how the Spending Planner Program could help us take some things that we thought were magical far off dreams and turn them into achievable goals. What I’m really enjoying most is the really straight forward and common sense set up of the bank account system, so it means that my money for weekly grocery shopping now feels quarantined from money that I need to be putting away for bills in the future. The other thing I really enjoy is how simple it is to plan out savings for big ticket items. As well as having your own coach and personal trainer has be a massive help.
The only reservations I had going into the program was just having to sit down and have a really good hard look at our finances, and really in the end, it was no more work than cleaning out your wardrobe at the end of the season. There were things that were good at the time, but just didn’t fit any more.
The other thing I’m really enjoying is that it gets all of the finances out of my head. That’s been the biggest weight off my shoulders, and an unexpected benefit. We’ve become much more proactive rather than just reactive. We’re really starting to think about how we can be strategic with our purchases but also strategic with our savings. We’re already seeing benefits and we’re only 2 months in so I absolutely recommend giving it a go.
Liz Gorman, Mittagong NSW
“My advice for anyone living with constant money stress, Bright Spenders can definitely help you!”
I was very stressed, trying to maintain a ‘no frills’ lifestyle but every month just making ends meet was getting harder and harder. It felt like there was more money going out each month than I could earn. I hated getting the mail because I never knew what to expect. I was living with a dreadful feeling that I was circling the drain and might lose my house.
When I decided I needed professional help, it was easy to find. I contacted Bright Spenders online, had a chat with the founder Anthea and joined straight away. I have now been working with Amy, my Certified Spending Planner since March this year and this has changed my life.
Amy has worked with me to set up my customised Spending Plan. This process and the software used is amazing, once you see how it works, you know you’ll be ok, you can do this! I can see what my balance should be on any given day, knowing that my regular bills have already been accounted for, and that is such a good feeling. Look at me – I have now paid off 25% of my credit card balance (and no longer using it), plus I can to my ‘rainy day’ account each fortnight!! The support from Bright Spenders is ongoing and it has been wonderful to know that Amy is there when something crops up and I need her guidance, or just for a check up.
Thanks to Amy and Brightspenders, I now know I actually have enough money coming in, I just couldn’t see it before.
– SJ – Brisbane, QLD
“By May we’ll have our credit cards paid off saving $1k a month!”
We came across Bright Spenders in the Money Magazine November issue last year. I definitely had my doubts registering with them, as there are lot of these help services. How do you choose?
It took me a while to get on the wagon, but Anthea was very punctual and consistent with her communication. I’m so very pleased with the outcome and I only registered with her last November. The best thing is by early May we will have paid off ALL our credit cards, which will mean saving $1000 a month. If that is not a great story, I do not know what is.
Irma Paparo, Ryde, NSW
“I’ve finally got money to pay bills and not have to worry!”
Tui Lombardi, Perth WA
“Affordable, informative, and easy-to-use program to track your finances.”
So this happened yesterday! (see photo) Massive thanks to Lance Box for helping us get our finances in order. We don’t have a high income, we’ve just taken control of our money… Last Christmas we sold a motorbike and a car to get through the holidays – this year we’ve bought a bike and will be fine through the break. My husband and I are SO glad we took the plunge and hired Lance to help us with our Spending Planning. Affordable, informative, and easy-to-use program to track your finances. Makes himself available above and beyond any other service, catering to our needs of night-time catch-ups with our busy life. We HIGHLY recommend him. Our income is no greater than before, yet we are able to do all the things we want and need to do – which we thought impossible.
– Naomi. H, NT
“If only I’d done this years ago! “
I’ve loved working with Anthea and Bright Spenders to get my spending in order. And it’s exactly that. Spending! In just a few months I now know exactly where my money is and where it’s going, allowing me to accommodate all my spending needs. In getting clear on my money I’ve refinanced my home loan and cleared all credit card debt. I love that I can see clearly when I can afford something. I have holidays and home repairs all factored into the spending plan as well as everything I need from groceries to clothes and make up. If only I’d done this years ago! I’m just about to set up my 18 year old so that she might have a better financial awareness than I ever had. Thank you Anthea!
Andrea Deary, Brisbane QLD.
“Anthea’s motivation to help people like me is really obvious.”
Anthea’s motivation to help people like me is really obvious. What’s unique is that her values are more aligned with helping people than just about making money.
Lucinda Peters, Waverley, NSW
“We’re paying an extra $149 per fortnight off our mortgage”
I chose Bright Spenders because I saw that the situation Anthea was in at the start was exactly how I was feeling about money, and I thought that I could benefit from her knowledge.
In the beginning I did have doubts that the Spending Planner Program would work as I had been keeping a strict budget for my family for many years but always seemed to be worried about money, so I wasn’t sure that this new plan would be any different.
When Anthea explained, and the software demonstrated how forward-looking and future-proofing the Spending Planner is, my doubts were diminished. It is still early days for us but I can see now that a budget just shows you what is possible with your money, not actually how to achieve your goals, which is what the Spending Planner does. I’m very happy because, as a person who is a born worrier, I know that if my bank balance is equal to or greater than the plan, I can meet all my financial obligations and look after my family. It’s great peace of mind.
So far, in just this short time, we are paying $149 extra per fortnight off our mortgage. So we are already working towards one of our main goals which is to pay off our mortgage as soon as possible.
Leanne Pion, Bowral NSW
“I surpassed my first saving goals in less than 8 weeks.”
For over a year I’d seen Bright Spenders on FB. I’d click, read and watch the videos. I’ve always been worried about money and always seemed to get by though I always think I could be better off financially. My money worries compounded when my 14-year relationship ended. I chose to buy my partner’s share of the house which increased my mortgage payments considerably. For the past 3 years, I have been constantly worrying about money management and if I have enough. I always scraped though some fortnights by raiding the small savings I would put away and noticed I was going backwards not forwards.
Something just resonated with me, Anthea and Bright Spenders. I called up and joined immediately. I was tired of obsessing about money and my situation and procrastinating by not doing anything about it.
I can’t believe how easy the Spending Planner is. It took a few weeks to get it all sorted, but once done I noticed I was less anxious and not worrying or obsessing. I could see where my money was going and how much I have each week. The big win was when Anthea suggested I put the surplus money from my bills account into savings. I was apprehensive I wouldn’t have enough to pay future bills but Anthea showed me through the planner how all were accounted for. I surpassed my first saving goals in less than 8 weeks. The Spending Planner has allowed me to manage my money to have enough put away for all areas of my life. I haven’t dipped into my savings. It’s shown me how to manage my money as well as shown me about my spending habits. Each week I’m constantly amazed as I’m always looking for the overspend or being in debt and it’s not there. I feel like I have a lot more freedom and choice with my finances.
Christine Denton, Melbourne VIC
“I loved it so much I decided to become a Spending Planner!”
We started with Anthea and Spending Planner when we had a huge drop in our income, and the forward-looking nature of the Spending Planner really allowed us to see what we had to do, what we had to cut out and how we were going to work our way out of that. I loved it so much I became a Spending Planner. Thanks so much to Anthea. Love it!
Lulu Wren – Brisbane, QLD
“I can now see exactly where I have surplus cash each month”
I love this application. I can already see an improvement in my money managing. I thought I had it under control with a simple spreadsheet I have been running for years, but with the Spending Planner I can now see where I have surplus cash that I can divert to important purchases, instead of just frittering it away each month.
This is really exciting because I can now see where I have surplus cash each month. I’ve just set up a small transfer to my Super Fund which I will adjust after my holiday next year. Spring has well and truly hit, and spring cleaning is under way!!
I’m really looking forward now to seeing what I can achieve after selling my house and downsizing with no mortgage. The surplus cash is now staring me right in the face. Never though I could be here at this point in my life, the possibilities are mind boggling. Than you so much, Anthea.
Vivienne Swang, Moss Vale NSW
“You’ve transformed my money attitude and taught me the skill of money awareness.”
“Before discovering Bright Spenders I’d always struggled with how much work it took to keep up with the day to day expenses in my budget; especially keeping track of everything coming out of one account. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the first thing that impressed me was that Bright Spenders teach about bank account structure. This helps to separate the different expenses and makes it so easy to track. I honestly had never thought of having different accounts for different expenses.
The process of setting up the Spending Plan was easy and every step made sense. The Spending Planner software is absolutely great and very easy to use. The Bright Spenders team is great and very supportive. Excellent service and easy to communicate with. Three months into the program I find I can easily stick to the Spending Plan, track my expenses and forecast my cash flow. The main difference is that I have more money awareness. Now I’m a “think before you buy” type of person.
Thank you Amy and Bright Spenders team. You have transformed my money attitude and taught me the skill of money awareness. ”
– Nelly Bolda – Camira, QLD
“Understanding where all the money’s going – It’s probably the biggest key and it’s made me more confident.”
We’ve been dealing with Bright Spenders for the last six months and they’ve been a great asset to us. I run Timber Vision Concept, here on the Gold Coast. I’m a local Tradie, owner-operator. We’ve polished timber floors, for the last 18 years, and it’s been really good. Being the business owner, wearing so many hats, I’m really enjoying knowing that the money I work so hard for I’m putting into places where it’s going to help me in the long run. Anthea’s helped me so much in understanding what needs to be done, checking in, and not being afraid.
Let her in and understand she’s going to help you relieve that pressure. Sometimes I ring her and say ‘I’m having a DM moment’ but she’s always the best at bringing my stress levels down saying, ‘Hey, this is what we need to do. This is how we can make it work’. By planning ahead it makes running my business and family so smooth. Just understanding where all the money’s going – It’s probably the biggest key and it’s made me more confident. Thank you Anthea for everything you’ve done. Still a long way to go, and we learn every day, but thank you. Check them out if you have any questions. Google BrightSpenders.com.au and start chatting to Anthea. She’s the best!
– Vetea Tiare, TimberVision Concept, Gold Coast QLD
“If you don’t like what you see, you have the choice to change that.”
Both my husband and I work in hospitality. Not great income, but we are making some good progress with the Spending Planner. I had tried other budgeting software and other mentors in the way of financial planning. I wanted something so I could see where I was going and not where I’d been.
I felt like I was stuck. So this looked like the perfect opportunity to get ahead and see where I could finally get out of the hole I’d got myself into.
I’ve been able to pay off some debt a bit more quickly and it’s made me realise that I need to focus more on paying off the debt. It’s changed my focus. I changed my goals because of it. Instead of trying to save for the big holiday, I’m paying off the debt first. That’ll give me more freedom later.
I like being able to see the future – I don’t like mysteries. If there’s something wrong, I’ve got to find the answer, being able to see what I’m doing now and, and if I continued that, what it’s going to look like. It is great. I can budget, but I was always looking for something more that would solve the problems. It’s a great tool to see what you’re doing now and how the future will look. You’ll either like what you see or you won’t, and If you don’t like what you see, then you have the choice to change that.”
– Glenda Tan, Adelaide SA
‘My daughter said she thought you were my guardian angel. I think she’s right.”
For the first time in years I pay all our bills on time and know exactly how much money I will have in the bank on any given day of the year. I keep a close eye on my spending and if my children ask for something I say, ‘I will put you in planner’. It means I can plan for anything that comes my way, even the unexpected stuff.
My daughter said she thought Anthea was my guardian angel. I think she’s right. The last twelve months have been horrible and I woke up every morning with a terrible knot in my stomach.
Once our spending planner was in place, things started to change dramatically. I got a pay rise and some back pay from work (The Universe in action now that I’d decided to sort out our money!). We’ve also been able to pay to go on a holiday at the end of the year with all the bills paid and money in the bank to spend. I arrived home from work today and said to my husband ‘for the first time in years there’s money in the bank at the end of the fortnight’.
Bright Spenders’ Program looked like it would help me get my bills paid on time, credit cards paid off and save some money. I decided to join after having one consultation with Anthea. She was not pushy, explained everything and how it could help. She seemed like a genuine person and someone I could trust. I did think at the time ‘how can we afford yet another payment coming out’ when we were struggling to keep our heads above water.
Once I’d had put all our transactions into the planner I saw first how bad things were but what we needed to do to get ourselves out of the hole. I worked for hours on it but eventually had a plan that was do-able.
If anyone is struggling with their finances definitely give this a go. Thank-you Anthea for all of your patience and for giving me my life back. I wish I had done this in my 20’s.
– Alicia, Adelaide, SA
“Transformational is the first word that comes to mind”
Transformational is the first word that comes to mind following our first month using Bright Spenders. We’ve gained peace of mind in knowing not only where our money is but that we are covering all our bases in terms of expenses without the anxiety of living paycheck to paycheck and stressing about how we are going to pay the bills.
We all need to invest in coaching in our lives and for our financial life this has been the best move we have made and we have tried multiple other methods. As it’s said, if you do the same thing today as yesterday you will yield the same results. We are finally excited about our money and back in control because now we are doing things differently.
Our heartfelt thanks to Lance and Anthea for great training, service and support. We hope you reach way more than 1000 people with this program as it’s a gem that needs to be found!
– Alex & Kristina, Melbourne VIC
“We only wish we’d embarked on this much sooner”
We came across Bright Spenders in 2018 and then 2019. I was intrigued by a lady’s testimonial and her mention of that “special number” in her bank balance on any given day. While I didn’t pursue the info straight away, it definitely had me wondering.
When we finally got speaking to the lovely Anthea in 2020, we were so impressed with what we heard we didn’t hesitate to join. We’d been treading water as far as our finances for many years. Two weeks into the Program, despite having some lingering short term debt, we were excited to finally see our “numbers” and felt a sense of security in knowing how our finances were looking in the short as well as long term.
More importantly, we had a solid plan for the essentials, debt repayment and savings towards our financial goals.
We’ve had the privilege of being mentored by Amy. Wonderful having both these amazing ladies only a phone call or email away. We only wish we’d embarked on this much sooner.
– Natalie. K Central Coast NSW
Bright Spenders Spending Planner Program helps you create the financial future of your dreams by:
- Giving you complete clarity about how to manage your finances like a Pro.
- Creating a debt reduction plan, so that you know exactly when you’ll be debt free.
- Helping you create a clear savings plan and supporting you in following it.
- Helping you set goals and plan how you’re going to achieve them.
- Guiding you every step of the way and keeping you accountable!
Where will you be 10 years from now if you don’t take action today?