Hi Dedicated Business Owners!

Can we have a quick heart-to-heart about something most people either avoid or eye-roll about?

Yes - budgets. 

I'm sure you have already listened to the Podcast at Art of Numbers Podcast about this (If not head to the podcast and check it out!)

Now before you click away, let me just say this:
I love budgets. I know, it sounds wild, but I truly do. Home budgets, business budgets, holiday planning budgets - there’s something so calming about turning a jumbled mess of expenses and income into a clear, empowering plan.

And I’ve seen it time and time again with my clients: once they actually sit down and look at their numbers, they realise they’re doing a lot better than they thought.

So why do budgets get such a bad rap?

It’s that word, isn’t it?
Budget.
It sounds strict, like something that limits your freedom. But when you flip it around and start seeing it for what it really is - a tool to give your money purpose - the whole vibe changes.

A good budget doesn’t restrict you. It supports you.
It says, “Here’s what you need to cover your basics, here’s what you can put aside for the future, and hey, look—you can afford that break in Bali if you shift a few things around.”

What a budget actually does (and why you need one)

Here’s what I help clients do every day:

• Map out their regular income (not just dream numbers—real income).

• List their non-negotiables like wages, rent, tax, and subs.

• Spot areas they can trim, tweak, or restructure.

• Plan for the future, whether that’s a new staff member, van, or just breathing room.

• Build something that makes them feel calm when they open their bank account.

And it’s not some locked-in spreadsheet either. It grows with you. You can change it. You should change it. Life changes, business evolves - your budget should reflect that.

Real talk: Why most of us avoid it

Honestly? It’s fear.
Fear of not having enough. Fear of seeing the numbers clearly.
Fear that we’re not “doing business” the right way.

But here’s what I want you to hear: you’re already doing better than you think.
You just need a little structure around it. And maybe a cup of coffee and someone cheering you on while you figure it out (that’s me, by the way ☕).

August is for Budget Clarity (Half-Price Sessions!)

I know July is a whirlwind - BAS lodgements, tax time, school holidays if you're juggling kids, the lot.

So in August, I’m opening up a handful of half-price budgeting sessions to help you press pause and actually see how your business is tracking.

We’ll sit down together and look at the numbers, build a plan, and turn that budget stress into budget confidence. And who knows, you might even like it.

💬 Let’s Get Started (Without the Overwhelm)

If you’re sitting there thinking, “Okay, but where do I even start?”—you’re not alone.
Here are a few questions I like to ask clients when we’re building their budget together:

🟡 What’s your average monthly income?
Not the best month ever—not the worst either. Just a real, honest average.

🟡 What do you have to pay no matter what?
Think: rent, wages, subscriptions, insurance, loan repayments.

🟡 Where is your money leaking?
Is there a subscription you forgot about? Are you over-ordering stock? Could you plan fuel runs more efficiently?

🟡 What would feel good to plan for?
Is it a family holiday? A tax buffer? Superannuation for yourself? A new laptop or van?

✅ A Simple First Step You Can Take Today

Here’s your challenge:
Set a timer for 20 minutes and answer those four questions in a notebook or Google Doc. That’s it. No spreadsheets, no fancy templates, just your thoughts.

Once you see the answers in front of you, you’ll have a clearer idea of what needs tweaking—and what’s already working well (you’ll surprise yourself!).

👉 Book a session Book a Budget Session 

In case no one’s told you today:

You're not behind.
You're not failing.
You just need a clearer view of what’s really going on—and I can help with that.

Budgeting doesn’t have to be boring. But it does have to exist.
And once it does? Trust me, you’ll never want to go back.

With warmth,
Tara Lieschke
Perth’s Art of Numbers Bookkeeping