We make a small plan feel large enough
A two-income household asked us to explain why a strong year still ended with nothing set aside. The accounts were fine. The calendar was not.
| Client | Two-income household |
|---|---|
| Category | Personal finance |
| Focus | Spending calendar |
| Length | Six weeks |
| Outcome | Buffer funded |
| Year | 2026 |
The challenging part
Bonuses were doing three jobs at once, and the ordinary month was quietly overspending the plan they thought they had.
Best implementation
We rebuilt the month around payday, gave annual costs a monthly seat, and capped the “we deserve it” category instead of banning it.
Design made for them
The design matched their real table: shared dinners, help for a parent, and one trip they refused to give up.
Finished process
They left with a one-page plan, a buffer target in weeks of spending, and a rule for the next bonus.
What we watched after
Ninety days later the buffer existed and the argument about groceries had become a smaller argument. That was the point.
