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Embarrassed about your money?

Introducing the 12-week financial fitness challenge

Michelle Hutchison, Money Expert, finder.com.au

  • Do you worry about splitting the bill at a restaurant?
  • Not prepared for unexpected bills?
  • Sick of borrowing money from your parents?

Say goodbye to money worries with 12 weeks of step-by-step "How tos" that will give you money confidence!

Learn how to create a realistic budget you'll actually stick to with tips your bank won't tell you.

The 12 Week Financial fitness is closed.

But you can still find out how you can save up to $12,000 with our financial bootcamp.

What is the 12WFFC?

  • A simple strategy that will make a difference in your finances every time
  • We’ll teach you how to identify your financial weaknesses and turn them into strengths
  • Every week you’ll be presented with a module which includes reading materials, exercises and checklists to keep you on track

Learn more

Why do the 12WFFC?

  • Say goodbye to money worries
  • Achieve your personal goals faster
  • Prevent unexpected events from effecting your future
  • Stop borrowing money from your friends
  • No more yo-yo budgeting

Learn more

How to Join the 12WFFC?

The 12 Week Financial Fitness Challenge is now closed.

Check out our financial bootcamp instead and find out how you can save up to $12,000.

Learn more

Join Jen on the 12WFFC

Jen Ryall, a journalist from news.com.au, is doing the 12 Week Financial Fitness Challenge together with you. Follow Jen's journey on her blog!

Follow Jen's blog

Common stories and questions we hear

How can I manage to save on interest and bring down my debt fast?

Ben

My wife had lost her job. Bills are starting to pile up and we struggle to make the repayments on a single income.

Abdul

I have a personal super fund but I find I am losing financially because of it. What can I do?

Pam

View a free preview from the 12-week program

Get a short preview of some of the great content you will receive on the program. Sign-up for our newsletter


Reveal your free tip now

The finder.com.au money experts will guide you every step of the way through your 12-week program

Before I started budgeting I had no idea how much money I was actually wasting. Let me teach you the tips I learned along the way.

Marc, finder.com.au finance expert

What is the 12-week financial fitness challenge?

The Weekly Schedule

  • Week 1

    Be your own personal accountantCreate a budget planner, identify your top expenses, how much your income actually is and make a budget spreadsheet

  • Week 2

    Understand your debtsAnalyse what you spend your money on, review your statements for your basic financial products

  • Week 3

    Be a money hustlerGet money back off people who owe you, ask for a pay rise, work out a second income, do a garage sale and sell your unwanted things

  • Week 4-5

    Frugal is sexyGeneral debt reduction techniques, how interest works - is it better to pay off a credit card debt or open a high interest savings account? And saving money when shopping.

  • Week 6

    How to be savvy with your credit cardOverdraft, personal loans, focus on how these products work and their features like cash advances, interest free days

  • Week 7

    Be the household bossHow to get a discount off your rent, use airbnb and other cheap tricks when travelling. If you're living at home: how to save for a deposit, household bills and mortgage repayments

    Google+ Hangout - Review and revise weeks 1 to 7

    Money experts answer your questions and help you with your situation along with a Google+ Hangout with money experts

  • Week 8

    It's time to break upMortgage, credit cards, savings accounts breakup tears this week!

  • Week 9

    Insurance: pet, car, home and contentsFind out how much you currently pay. Understand whether your lifestyle and the nature of your usage has changed. Compare quotes from other providers and know what to look for

  • Week 10

    Insurance: life and healthFind out how much you pay for your premiums currently, shop around and enquire for cost with the other insurers. Compare quotes from other providers and know what to look for

  • Week 11

    Protect your future with SuperannuationWhat the hell is a SMSF? Look for lost super, compare your super accounts, think about tax and superannuation (if you're old enough), consider voluntary contributions, read your super statements.

  • Week 12

    Empower your wealthIt's time to build wealth with high interest savings accounts, term deposits, property investment and capital gains tax.

Why do the 12-week financial fitness challenge?

Top Reasons

  • No more money worries. By caring about your finances, you can take control of your future and feel more secure about your finances - no more sleepless nights stressing about money.
  • Achieve your personal goals faster. The 12-week challenge can help you get to your personal goals faster. By developing a positive attitude towards money and financial plan, an overseas holiday or the deposit for your first home won’t look so far away.
  • Prevent unexpected events from effecting your future. Often things don’t go according to plan. Having a contingency plan for when things go financially wrong can really help you get by when the going gets tough.
  • To be financially independent. If you want to start being financially responsible, this program is going to help you get on the right path. Long gone are the days of having to borrow money from your friends or family.
  • Say goodbye to yo-yo budgeting. It takes at least three weeks for a habit to stick. If you have been yo-yo budgeting in the past, the 12 week challenge can give you the right tools to help form the right saving habits.

FAQs

Frequent Question

  • What if I do not have a stable income ie. shift work? The program teaches you to manage your own finances, and as such is suitable for any type of financial situation. You can look at budgeting week to week based on the amount you will be earning that week.
  • I am looking to invest in property. Will this program help me with this? The program is designed to give you a better understanding of your finances, decrease your debt and increase your savings. You will not be provided with specific advice regarding your own investment decision, however in the final weeks we will be talking about building your wealth through investments.
  • I do not have a savings account or any debts, is this program suitable for me? The program aims to teach you financial lessons which can be used for every stage of life. By completing this course at an early stage in your financial life you can start managing your money in a smart way, and can use what you've learned when you are ready to get a credit card or even a mortgage. And it's never too early to start saving.

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

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42 Responses

  1. Default Gravatar
    MeganApril 29, 2015

    Hi
    I signed up with the 12 week challenge and it wont let me access it. It says my email is invalid. I don’t have my Receipt Number, but i have the pay pal transaction number?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MattApril 29, 2015Staff

      Hi Megan,

      I have checked and updated your access levels. Please try logging in again to your account to access the 12 Week Financial Fitness pages.

      Cheers
      Matt

      Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      meganApril 29, 2015

      Hi i still cant log on. And i cant reset my password either

      Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MattApril 30, 2015Staff

      Hi Megan,

      Sorry for the issues – I have emailed you with further instructions.

      Cheers
      Matt

      Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    NicJuly 8, 2014

    Evening.

    I signed up for the 12 week challenge yesterday however It wont let me access it as it says I am not registered. My Receipt Number is: 4183-5379-4609-3400

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ShirleyJuly 9, 2014Staff

      Hi Nic,

      Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. We’ve fixed up your access to the 12wffc – please try again and let us know if there are anymore issues.

      Cheers,
      Shirley

      Reply
  3. Default Gravatar
    annieApril 12, 2014

    If I join up now….do I receive the info weekly even though you are already in week 8 …..ot do I get it all in one go??

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MarcApril 14, 2014Staff

      Hi Annie,
      thanks for the question!

      You’ll still get access to all the previous week’s challenges when you sign up! Each module is available from the challenge homepage, meaning you can complete them at your own leisure.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc.

      Reply
  4. Default Gravatar
    AngelaApril 9, 2014

    Is there an alternative way to pay other than cc/PayPal. I’m uncomfortable with putting my details online

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MattApril 9, 2014Staff

      Hi Angela,

      Thanks for your message – if you’d like to pay with using alternative method i.e. money order or cheque, please visit our contact us page and get in touch.

      Cheers
      Matt

      Reply
  5. Default Gravatar
    GreerApril 8, 2014

    Hi,

    When will the next Financial Challenge start? Would love to start from scratch!
    Greer

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MattApril 8, 2014Staff

      Hi Greer,

      Thanks for your comment. There will be a second round announced after this round is completed. If you signed up now you could still complete the modules within the given time frame.

      If you are signed up to our email mailing list you will be able to find out about the next challenge.

      Cheers
      Matt

      Reply
  6. Default Gravatar
    AokChrisFebruary 28, 2014

    ANZ offer a similar service for free so why should I pay the $36 to do yours when I could be saving that money or paying of debt as you are trying to encourage people to do?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MarcMarch 3, 2014Staff

      Hi AokChris,

      Thanks for the question.

      ANZ run a great program too and it’s definitely worth checking out.

      Our course is quite different as we are a comparison website and our experts have developed unique and compelling content from our perspective to help people improve their financial literacy.

      Some unique things to look out for in this course include our Google Hangouts for our users to post questions which will be answered by money experts from a range of different institutions and companies, as well as our usual finder.com.au customer service via live chat, email or phone calls.

      If you’re looking for an alternative, we also publish a huge range of free information regarding budgeting and debt reduction, so if the entry fee is an issue I can help locate some of these pages for you.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc.

      Reply
  7. Default Gravatar
    NatalieFebruary 25, 2014

    Hi, is there an option for me to pay weekly?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MarcFebruary 26, 2014Staff

      Hi Natalie,
      thanks for the question.

      Unfortunately at this time there’s no weekly payment option.

      Cheers,
      Marc.

      Reply
  8. Default Gravatar
    KTFebruary 21, 2014

    Hi,

    Just wondering how much longer registrations for this will be open?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MarcFebruary 21, 2014Staff

      Hi KT,
      thanks for the question.

      At this stage registrations will remain open for a little while longer. We will let you know with plenty of time before they are closed!

      Cheers,
      Marc.

      Reply
  9. Default Gravatar
    LawsyFebruary 12, 2014

    Hi,
    How long will the challenge entries be open till – I am encouraging some friends to do it with me…

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MattFebruary 12, 2014Staff

      Hi There,

      Thanks for the message and we’re glad to hear you’re encouraging others to join on this financial journey with you.

      At this point in time registrations are still open and previous weeks will be available to catch up on.

      We’ll post a message when registrations will close.

      We hope to see you and your friends on board in the 12WFCC members area soon.

      Cheers
      Matt

      Reply
  10. Default Gravatar
    BrookeFebruary 12, 2014

    Will this course be relevant to people living overseas for example the UK?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MarcFebruary 12, 2014Staff

      Hi Brooke,
      thanks for the question.

      Most of the tips and tasks are relevant for all adults managing their money, regardless of the country. One week runs through superannuation, which may not apply to all international users depending on what country they are living in, so we will organise alternative tasks for this week which talk about retirement planning.

      I hope this helps,
      Marc.

      Reply
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