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Picture Book · Debt and cash flow

Where does the money go?

Story pages

A young couple in their thirties sitting on a lounge looking puzzled at an almost empty glass jar of coins on the coffee table
Meet Kim and Luca. Payday comes, and somehow the money's gone before the next one.
A woman pouring coins from several small cups into one large bowl on a kitchen table
Step 1: list all the money coming in: wages, government payments and investment income.
A man laying out household items in rows on a table: a toy house
Step 2: list what goes out. Essentials first, then debt repayments, then the irregular costs like car repairs and annual bills.
A wooden balance scale on a kitchen bench with coins on one side and small household items on the other
Step 3: compare the two. Money left over can be saved. If more is going out than coming in, it's time to find savings.
A woman dropping a single coin into a glass jar labelled with a small drawing of a beach
Step 4: set a savings goal, even a small one. Small amounts add up over time.
The couple smiling together at a laptop at a dining table with cups of tea
Step 5: check in regularly. Bank statements show the subscriptions and small spends that quietly add up.

The end

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General advice warning. This picture book is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not personal advice. Rules and thresholds change. Before acting, consider whether it is right for you, read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide, and seek personal advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Information as at 27 October 2026. Sources:

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