Getting Your Financial Foundation Ready
Smart cost management starts with proper preparation. Whether you're tackling personal budgets or business expenses, having the right tools and mindset makes all the difference. Here's what you'll need to gather and prepare before diving into our comprehensive cost management programme starting September 2025.
Essential Resources
Financial Records & Documentation
Gather 12 months of bank statements, receipts, and expense records. Digital copies work perfectly—we'll show you how to organise them efficiently during week one.
Spreadsheet Software Access
Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc will do. We provide templates, but you'll need basic editing capabilities to customise your tracking systems.
Mobile Banking Apps
Most UK banks offer transaction export features. Download your banking app and familiarise yourself with statement downloads—it'll save time later.
Notebook or Digital Notes
Choose your preferred method for jotting down insights during sessions. Physical notebooks or apps like Notion work equally well for tracking your progress.
Senna Hartwell
Financial Planning Specialist
The students who prepare their documentation beforehand always get the most from our cost management modules. It's like having your ingredients ready before cooking—everything flows so much better.
Three-Month Preparation Schedule
Our structured approach helps you build momentum gradually. Each phase prepares you for deeper financial insights during the actual course.
Documentation Phase (Month One)
Start collecting and digitising your financial records. This isn't about perfect organisation yet—just gathering everything in one place so you can see the full picture.
Analysis Practice (Month Two)
Begin identifying patterns in your spending. You don't need sophisticated tools—even basic categorisation reveals surprising insights about where money actually goes versus where you think it goes.
System Testing (Month Three)
Experiment with different tracking methods and find what actually works for your lifestyle. By September, you'll know which approaches feel natural and which ones you'll abandon after two weeks.