Here Is My Article – Featured in Logan Local Magazine

Hi — Jackie here, and I still can’t wipe the smile off my face from seeing my story in print in Logan Local Magazine. I wanted to share a reflection blog to say thank you and to bridge to the original piece Rowan Anderson wrote.

You can read the magazine online anytime here: 👉 https://myloganlocal.com.au/read-magazine-online/

When I looked at the headline — “Budgeting, But Make It Friendly” — I felt excited. That’s exactly what I’ve believed for years: money skills should feel approachable, not like an exam you can fail.

So here’s my article.

My Journey With Money – and With People

For more than a decade I worked in financial planning. I loved the industry and learnt so much, but the conversations I was having at kitchen tables across Queensland were very different from the conversations inside boardrooms. My friends, family, and even people I’d just met were asking simple questions about pay, bills, GST, and rent. They didn’t need complicated strategies. They needed space.

A calm space.
A friendly spreadsheet.
Someone who could sit beside them without judgment.

That realisation became the turning point of my career and the starting point of The Simple Budget.

A No-Jargon Zone

In the Logan Local article I said that I never want to overwhelm anyone. Whether in a library workshop or a one-on-one session, I’m there to create a no-jargon zone — tea, calm, and calculators welcome. Budgets are not about punishment.

They’re about intention:

If you can afford the coffee you love, keep it.
If you can’t, adjust it gently.
Tiny habits, big wins.

That’s the heart of what I teach and what Rowan wrote about.

The Myths I Like Busting

People hear the word “budget” and imagine cutting everything out. That myth stops more people than debt ever does. A good budget shouldn’t make you feel restricted — it should give you permission to enjoy things guilt-free. You don’t need perfection, only a plan you can actually stick to and room to adjust when life changes.

Why January Should Be Gentle

Managing money doesn’t need to be dramatic. The best first month is simply about getting familiar with your numbers. Small wins build confidence, and once you have that confidence, the bigger goals feel possible again.

My Message for 2026

Seeing this article in Logan Local reminded me why I started: to help everyday Australians feel better about money. My message this year is the same as it’s always been:

Know your numbers.
Make small choices that feel doable.
Give yourself room to adjust.

Thank you Rowan Anderson and thank you Logan Local for telling my story so kindly.