Six structured phases take learners from first principles to a working 12-month forecast — at their own pace, with live instructor support available throughout.
Before any spreadsheet opens, learners map 30 consecutive days of actual spending. This single exercise reveals where money goes without any theory applied yet.
Income is split into 4 categories: fixed committed, fixed discretionary, variable essential, and variable lifestyle. Each category is treated differently in the budget that follows.
2 weeksThree methods are examined across 3 live group sessions: envelope budgeting, zero-based allocation, and the 50/30/20 percentage split.
Each method suits a different income structure. Salaried learners often find zero-based straightforward; freelancers typically need envelope mechanics adapted for variable months.
2 weeksLearners construct a working budget using their own figures — not sample data. Category limits are set, then actuals are tracked against plan across a full 4-week cycle.
A private instructor session at the end of the cycle reviews where variance appeared and why. Most learners find 2–3 categories that need rebalancing after the first real month.
4 weeksWhen monthly income shifts by more than 15%, a standard budget breaks down. This phase covers sinking fund mechanics and quarterly expense smoothing.
Learners build a separate sinking fund tracker for annual and semi-annual costs — car insurance, subscriptions, seasonal bills — and integrate it into the monthly view.
A 6-point checklist structures each end-of-month review. Variance causes are identified — not just noted — and category allocations are adjusted based on 3 months of accumulated data.
The review habit is the part most people skip. This phase makes it a fixed routine with a clear time limit: the full process takes under 40 minutes once the format is familiar.
1 weekThe monthly budget is extended into a rolling 12-month forecast. Annual goals are integrated, and scenario modelling is used to stress-test the plan against 3 income or expense shocks.
Learners leave with a working forecast file and a clear method for updating it each month. The file is built during sessions, not handed over as a template.
1 weekThe full roadmap runs across 12 weeks of structured learning, combining group sessions with individual instructor time.
Learners across Ireland participate in the same cohort regardless of county. Sessions run live online, and recordings are available for 14 days after each one.
All 6 phases are available as group cohort sessions. Phases 3 and 4 include optional private instructor calls for learners whose financial situation needs a more tailored approach.
Individual sessions can be scheduled independently of the group cohort — contact the team at contact@sysyzoi.info to discuss timing.