Everyday money: Australia.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada.

Moraph for Good · Fluent

Everyday money: Australia

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/everyday-money

This sheet goes with the Everyday money session. It is general information, not advice about your own situation.

A budget that survives a real month

Write down what comes in and the date it arrives.
List the bills that can’t move, next to their due dates, and match each to a payday.
Add up the costs that don’t come every month, divide by 12, and set that aside monthly.
Check once a week, so a bad week can be fixed before the month is lost.

When income goes up and down

Plan on a lower month, not an average one.
Keep a holding pot and pay yourself a steady amount from it.
Pay housing, power, food and getting to work first, and call before you miss a payment.

Starting an emergency fund

Start small and make it automatic on payday.
Keep it separate from everyday spending, somewhere protected.
Use it for real emergencies, then refill it.

If the month doesn’t add up

Free, confidential help with bills and debt exists; see below.
Nobody needs to charge you to deal with your creditors or apply for help.
Ask companies about hardship plans before you fall behind.

In Australia

Budget planner. Moneysmart, from ASIC, has a budget planner that helps you work out where your money is going. It saves your data on your own device, so it may be lost if you change device or clear your browser.
Casual and irregular income. Moneysmart has a guide to managing money on a casual income, with suggestions to smooth out the highs and lows.
Building an emergency fund. Moneysmart suggests a separate savings account for an emergency fund and an automatic transfer from the account your pay goes into, or asking your payroll to pay part of your wage straight into it.
Free financial counselling. Financial counselling is a free and confidential service from not-for-profit community organisations. The National Debt Helpline is 1800 007 007, open 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Protected savings. Under the Financial Claims Scheme, deposits are protected up to $250,000 for each account holder at each bank, building society and credit union incorporated in Australia and authorised by APRA.

Official places to check:

Moneysmart (ASIC): moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/budget-planner
Moneysmart (ASIC): moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/managing-on-a-casual-income
Moneysmart (ASIC): moneysmart.gov.au/saving/save-for-an-emergency-fund
Moneysmart (ASIC): moneysmart.gov.au/managing-debt/financial-counselling
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority: www.apra.gov.au/financial-claims-scheme-banks-building-societies-and-credit-unions

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 19 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/everyday-money