“I work at Red Dove Cafe in the Uniting Church in Taree but after work I would buy slice from People Cafe. I don’t drink coffee but I have a thing for sweets and it would be an impulse treat.

“I don’t know why I did it when I could easily buy something sweet from work and I realised through the Saver Plus program that it becomes fairly expensive and adds up over a year – I’m usually pretty good with money but that was my saving leak!”

Shauna is taking part in the Mid Coast area Saver Plus program and as she strives to find savings in her low income she is learning money management skills through its Money Minded course. Her goal is to save $500 in 10 months and if successful, Saver Plus will match her savings dollar for dollar to assist her to spend $1000 on an educational resource – for Shauna it will be the purchase of a tablet to assist her with future studies.

“I know the value of money,” explains Shauna. “I grew up with just my mum and brother, my father wasn't in the picture. Money was tight because she was working part-time and we could not afford a lot. We knew we had money troubles.”

“I am really thankful for what I have learned about money. There is so much that I was never taught at school or by my mum, such as the different types of bank accounts that make it easier to save and all the different types of superannuation.”

Shauna feels more confident about managing her money as she plans to continue to develop her career in the hospitality sector. Her two years of volunteer work at Red Dove Cafe enabled her to become a trainee at the cafe while she completed her Cert 3 and 4 qualification in hospitality; today she is employed as an assistant supervisor and helps to train volunteers.

As one of around 270 people in the Mid Coast area who have taken part in Saver Plus in recent years, Shauna “absolutely recommends the program.”

Mid Coast area Saver Plus co-ordinator Kristiana Darling says our participation rate is “comparatively low when you look to statistics from the other 60 areas across Australia.”

It’s a statistic she wants to change and says Saver Plus is for parents who have regular income and hold a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card – it is also open to people aged over 18 years who are attending or returning to vocational education and hold a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. 

To find out more call or SMS your postcode to 1300 610 355 or visit www.bsl.org.au/Saver-Plus