Four Pillars That Ground Everything
We spent years figuring out why some people get comfortable with money while others stay stressed. These four areas kept coming up.
Start With Your Actual Situation
No generic budgets here. We look at your income, your bills, your habits. Then build something that fits your life instead of some textbook example.
Break Down Money Anxiety
Most people avoid their finances because it feels overwhelming. We turn big scary numbers into smaller, manageable pieces that make sense.
Build Skills That Stick
You won't remember everything from one session. We space things out, repeat what matters, and give you tools you'll actually use months later.
Practice With Real Scenarios
Car breaks down. Rent increases. Got a bonus at work. We run through situations that happen in real life so you're ready when they do.
Building Understanding Step By Step
People come to us at different starting points. Some haven't looked at their bank balance in months. Others track every dollar but feel stuck.
We don't dump everything on you at once. Each session builds on the last one. You learn something, try it out for a week or two, then we talk about how it went.
- Month one covers tracking and awareness without judgment
- Month two introduces goals that match your values
- Month three tackles debt strategies that don't feel suffocating
- Month four builds saving habits that actually work for you
- Months five and six focus on maintaining what you've built
Who Guides This Process
These three have been teaching financial awareness across Darwin for years. They've seen what works and what doesn't.
Brynn Tessler
Program Director
Spent eight years in community banking before switching to education. Knows how real people handle money because she's watched thousands do it.
Vaughn Quillen
Curriculum Designer
Former teacher who got tired of abstract lessons. Built our entire program around conversations he's had with people struggling with debt and savings.
Seren Gladwell
Lead Facilitator
Runs our group sessions and one-on-one support. Has this gift for making complicated financial stuff make sense in plain language.
What Actually Happens When You Join
Here's how people typically move through the program. Your pace might be different—that's fine.
Getting Clear On Where You Are
First thing we do is figure out your starting point. Income, expenses, debts, savings—all of it. No shame, just facts. Most people find this part harder than expected but also strangely relieving.
Building Your Foundation System
Now we create a tracking method that fits how you think. Some people love spreadsheets. Others need apps. A few still prefer notebooks. Whatever works for you is what we use.
Tackling Problem Areas
This is where we dig into whatever's been holding you back. Credit card debt. Not saving anything. Overspending on stuff you don't need. We work on one thing at a time until you see progress.
Growing Your Confidence
By now you've got basics down. We start looking at bigger goals. Saving for something meaningful. Paying off that loan early. Building emergency funds that let you sleep better.
Making It Stick Long Term
Last stretch focuses on maintenance. How to handle setbacks without falling apart. When to adjust your plan. How to keep improving without obsessing. Setting yourself up to keep going after the program ends.
Next Program Starts September 2025
We're taking applications for our autumn cohort now. Space is limited because we keep groups small—better conversations that way.
See Program Details