Budget Literacy: Foundations to Fluency
A practical eight-month program that helps you understand where your money goes, why it matters, and what you can actually do about it.
Request Program DetailsWhat You'll Work Through
Six core modules spread across fall and winter. Each builds on what came before, but we adjust pacing based on how the group moves through material.
Money Mapping
Track where your money actually goes for four weeks. Not where you think it goes or where it should go—where it really ends up.
Weeks 1–4Spending Patterns
Look at the data you collected and figure out what it's telling you. Some surprises are inevitable here.
Weeks 5–9Building Structure
Create a budget that fits how you actually live, not some theoretical ideal. Flexible enough to work long-term.
Weeks 10–14Debt Navigation
Understand interest rates, payment strategies, and how to approach different types of debt with realistic plans.
Weeks 15–19Emergency Planning
Build a buffer between you and financial chaos. Start small and grow it over time.
Weeks 20–24Forward Thinking
Introduction to saving strategies and basic investment concepts. Nothing complicated—just solid foundations for later.
Weeks 25–30
Dermot Finch
Lead Instructor
Spent twelve years helping people fix their finances at credit counseling centers across Ontario before switching to education full-time in 2019.
Leandra Voss
Workshop Facilitator
Former bank manager who got tired of selling products people didn't need. Now teaches practical financial skills to folks who need them most.
Who Actually Teaches This
Our instructors come from financial counseling backgrounds, not sales. They've seen thousands of real budgets and worked with people through actual money problems.
Classes run Tuesday evenings from 7–9 PM Eastern, with recordings available if you miss one. We keep groups under 30 people so there's room for questions.
- Live Q&A during each session with follow-up support between classes
- Private discussion forum where participants share challenges and solutions
- Monthly one-on-one reviews to check your progress and adjust strategies
- Budget templates and tracking tools you can adapt to your situation
What Changes After Eight Months
Results vary based on where you start and what you put into it. But most participants report these shifts by the end of April.
Understanding Your Numbers
You'll know exactly how much you need each month, where flexibility exists, and which expenses actually matter versus which ones are just habitual.
Working System
A budget structure that fits your life well enough that you actually use it. Not perfect, but functional and adaptable when circumstances shift.
Response Capability
When unexpected expenses hit, you'll have strategies beyond panic or credit cards. Could be small savings, could be adjusted priorities—depends on your situation.
Clearer Decisions
Whether to take that job, lease that apartment, or buy that car becomes less about guesswork and more about actual numbers you understand.
Next Cohort: Fall 2025
Application period opens June 2025 for the September intake. Priority goes to Windsor and Essex County residents, but we accept participants from across Ontario when space allows.
Program fee is 0 for the full eight months, with payment plans available. Materials and digital tools included.
Applications Open
June 3, 2025
Program Starts
September 9, 2025
Completion
April 28, 2026