We're Here Because Saving Money Shouldn't Feel Impossible

Back in 2019, a group of us sat around a kitchen table in Canberra, frustrated. We'd all tried following generic financial advice that never quite fit our actual lives. Bills kept arriving, groceries got more expensive, and those "simple saving tricks" everyone talked about? They weren't working.

That's when Cruelrix started. Not with a business plan, but with a conversation about what real people actually need when they're trying to get their finances sorted.

How We Actually Got Started

The first thing we did was stop pretending we had all the answers. Instead, we spent months talking to people about their money habits. Not just what they thought they should be doing, but what actually happened when the electricity bill came in or when the car needed repairs.

What we found was pretty eye-opening. Most people knew the basics of budgeting. They just couldn't make it stick because life kept getting in the way. So we started building something different — practical education that works around real life, not some idealized version of it.

By mid-2020, we'd developed our first proper program. It wasn't fancy. But it helped people understand where their money was actually going and how to redirect some of it without feeling deprived.

Financial planning workspace with budgeting materials and calculation tools

What Makes Our Approach Different

We're not going to claim we've reinvented personal finance. But we have spent five years figuring out what actually helps people change their financial habits for good.

Real Scenarios Only

Every module we teach is built around actual situations people face. Unexpected car repairs, managing irregular income, dealing with holiday spending. We don't waste time on theoretical examples that don't match reality.

Flexibility Built In

Your budget shouldn't break when life happens. We teach systems that bend without breaking, so you can adjust when circumstances change without feeling like you've failed.

No Judgement Zone

Made some questionable financial decisions? Join the club. We start from where you are now, not where some textbook says you should be. Progress matters more than perfection.

How Our Programs Actually Work

Foundation Phase

Understanding Your Current Reality

Before you can change anything, you need to know exactly where you stand. We spend the first few weeks helping you track your actual spending patterns — not what you think they are, but what they really are. Most people are surprised by what they discover.

Comprehensive spending analysis
Identifying hidden money leaks
Setting realistic baseline targets
Creating your initial framework

Building Phase

Creating Systems That Stick

This is where things get practical. You'll build a personalized savings system that works with your income pattern, spending habits, and life circumstances. We focus on automation and simplicity because complicated systems fail.

Automated savings triggers
Emergency fund strategies
Bill management systems
Adjustable spending categories

Optimization Phase

Finding Extra Capacity

Once your basic system is running smoothly, we look at opportunities to increase your savings rate without making life miserable. This might involve subscription audits, better banking arrangements, or strategic timing of purchases.

Banking product optimization
Subscription management
Strategic purchasing timing
Income allocation refinement

Advanced Phase

Long-Term Growth Planning

With solid foundations in place, we explore longer-term strategies. This includes planning for larger goals, understanding different savings vehicles, and building financial resilience that lasts beyond the program.

Goal-based saving structures
Risk management basics
Multi-account strategies
Sustained behavior reinforcement

The People Behind the Programs

We're a small team, which is intentional. It means we can stay close to what's actually working and what isn't. Everyone here has their own money story, including mistakes we've learned from.

Porter Ashcroft

Lead Program Developer

Porter spent seven years working in retail banking before joining us in 2021. He got tired of seeing the same financial problems over and over without being able to offer real solutions. Now he designs the core curriculum and tests everything with real participants before it goes live.

Bellamy Kirkwood

Student Support Coordinator

Bellamy joined us in early 2023 after working in community education. She's the person who makes sure nobody gets left behind when concepts get tricky. She also runs our quarterly review sessions where past participants share what's still working for them months later.

What Actually Happens After the Program

Progress tracking charts showing systematic financial improvement

The Emergency Fund Project

One participant came to us in September 2024 with zero emergency savings and a credit card that was getting more use than she wanted. She worked irregular hours, which made traditional budgeting nearly impossible.

We built a system around her variable income, setting up automatic transfers that adjusted based on her pay periods. By March 2025, she had her first proper emergency fund and hadn't touched the credit card in months.

Key Outcome:

The system survived a sudden car repair in February without derailing her progress. That's when she knew it was actually working.

Financial documentation and planning materials organized systematically

The Subscription Cleanup

A couple joined our program in late 2024 knowing they were spending too much but couldn't pinpoint where. The tracking phase revealed they were paying for eleven different subscriptions, only four of which they actively used.

Beyond the obvious cancellations, we helped them restructure their entertainment spending and set up a shared account system that worked for both their spending styles.

Key Outcome:

They redirected the saved money into a holiday fund and actually took their first proper vacation in three years by June 2025.

Strategic financial planning session with detailed notes and calculations

The Income Shift Challenge

A tradesperson joined us in January 2025 after switching from employed work to contracting. His income had increased on paper, but managing irregular payments and setting aside tax money was causing stress.

We created a multi-account system that separated operating money, tax obligations, and personal income. The structure took about a month to feel natural, but once it clicked, his financial stress dropped significantly.

Key Outcome:

When tax time arrived in April, he had everything set aside and ready. No scrambling, no payment plans needed.

Our Next Program Starts September 2025

We keep group sizes small so everyone gets proper attention. If you're interested in joining, it's worth reaching out soon. We typically fill spots about six weeks before we start.

Get Program Details