Media Kit

• Brief Bio
• Facts About Us
• Our Five Step System To Get Out Of Debt
• Suggested Interview Questions
• Request A Free Book
• Contact Details

Brief Bio

My name is Adam Goulding and my story is quite simple. Six years ago my bank balance was so low paying rent was a big problem. March 15th 2005 was the day rock-bottom was hit emotionally and financially for me. The term completely broke and debt-ridden sums it up nicely. This was the result of a "she will be right" attitude.

Spending my money like a drunken sailor, never saving for a rainy day. Credit Cards were used as if they were my own cash. Struggling to survive and living pay cheque to pay cheque. Desperate is not a strong enough word to sum up my money issues. How could a somewhat intelligent person like me be so wrong about money and my spending ways?

Yes, basically "messing up" is the phrase coming to mind!

Then like a flash of lightning, a thought so extremely simple, yet a powerful realisation hit me. Whatever happened in my life with money up to March 15th 2005 wasn't working! Most decisions about my money to then were wrong. This one true realisation changed my life... who could show me a way out of financial danger? Not changing was not an option, as things would only get worse as time went by.

Then my girlfriend, Renee (now my wife) let me in on her system for growing money. Knowing Renee was much better at handling money than me, I knew she could help. She told me secret number one of keeping more money in my bank account. This was the KISS principle, Kiss simply stands for "Keep It Simple Stupid".

Renee started to show me how easy and quick killing my debt could be. Stop my spending ways and get back on the right path with my money. Due to working with Renee, I'm very proudly announcing our goal of "becoming financially independent".

Guess what, over the last few years, our life has become one which previously seemed like a fantasy. Our wealth has grown out of sight and our debt has become easy to handle. Fear, anger and worry no longer enter into our minds when thinking about bills and expenses. Each passing day our financial position gets a little bit stronger. Our friends, family and co-workers have all noticed a huge change in our lifestyle and personalities.

One key aspect of this system, is tracking our spending by keeping all receipts from every purchase. Even if buying a $1.50 pack of gum, asking for a receipt is a must! There is nothing about where our money is being spent which we are not tracking. How important is it to know where every single dollar you spend is going?

In fact between January 1st 2007 and January 31st 2012, my wife and I have collected 4561 individual receipts (and counting).

This pure passion about money has forced me to write a book to share our secrets. Because of this system, in five short years my money problems have vanished without a trace. All we have done is take our foolproof system and put it to paper. Not to toot my own horn however, our system is really easy and hassle free. The Book is Called "How to cut your debt to zero in 5 simple steps, the keep it simple stupid home budget."

Now we also run the website www.MrHomeBudget.com.au which is 100% free and includes such things as:

Articles from Mr Home Budget (Aka Adam Goulding) and The Thrift Chick (Aka Renee Goulding)

Book Reviews on other budgeting books

Cheap Recipes

A Monthly Newsletter

Budgeting News, taken from television shows such as Sunrise

Free Savings Tips, Over 45,000 words of free savings tips

Inspirational Interviews with budgeting experts from all over the world

For more information please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Facts About Us 

Family Members
Adam Goulding DAD
- Born, Raised and Lives In Adelaide, South Australia
- Nickname Mr Home Budget
- Author "How to cut your debt to zero in 5 simple steps, the keep it simple stupid home budget"
- Co Publishes MrHomeBudget.com.au
- Date Of Birth 02/12/1980
- Hobbies: Watching AFL, playing Nintendo and reading

Renee Goulding MUM
- Born, Raised and Lives In Adelaide, South Australia
- Nickname The Thrift Chick
- Co Publishes MrHomeBudget.com.au
- Date Of Birth 30/06/1984
- Hobbies: Movies, reading and trying new recipes

Charlie Goulding SON
- Born, Raised and Lives In Adelaide, South Australia
- Date Of Birth 13/04/2010
- Hobbies: Dribbling, playing with his toys and watching Play School

Our Quick Facts
- We have tracked every single dollar we have spent since Jan 1st 2007. We have done this by keeping receipts for every single purchase. From Jan 1st 2007 to Oct 31st 2011 we have collected 4351 receipts.
- Saving money is our passion, we have written 45,000 words on our website in quick saving tips. This does not include the additional 100,000 words on our website in additional articles, budget book reviews and cheap recipes. Or the 85,000 words in our home budgeting book.
- We hate debt of almost all kinds. And we try to educate people about the dangers of getting into debt as much as we can. In Oct 2010 we ran a credit card funeral. We did a eulogy about credit cards and then got people in the audience to throw their cards into a makeshift coffin.
- Keeping our supermarket budget down is a key aspect of what we do. On our website we have over 100 cheap recipes for people to try. Plus we have our make it from scratch series. This is where we give recipes on things you can make from the ground up, including:

Jam
Cordial (Yes, you can make your own cordial)
Chips (Hot, like from a chip and chicken shop, and cold like Twisties)
Tomato Sauce
Apple Pies
Marshmallows
And Much More

- On our website we have reviewed over 50 budget books. Giving advice to readers on which ones they should buy now, and which ones they should avoid with a ten foot pole.

- We have interviewed over 40 budgeting experts on our website; authors, experts, TV personalities and people who have found their way out of debt. All this expert advice is free.

Our Five Step System To Get Out Of Debt

Mr HOME BUDGET & THE THRIFT CHICK (AKA ADAM GOULDING & RENEE GOULDING) authors of The Keep It Simple Stupid Home Budget and owners of the savings website, www.mrhomebudget.com.au

1. Don't Change Anything About The Way You Spend Money For Three Months. OK, this is an unusual one, because the way you spent money is the reason why you are in debt in the first place. But to know where you want to go you have to study where you have come from. You should keep your spending pattern 100% the same. However, this time each time you buy anything, keep a receipt. At the end of each month, tally them all up into categories. Now, at the end of three months, go from category to category to see where the savings are.

2. Save $2500 in a standby fund. You need to insure yourself from small bad-luck incidents. Naturally, monthly debts and bills should be taken care of. Each month, save whatever is left over and increase you standby account until it's at $2500.

3. Write a full list of all debts (excluding your home loan). Now start paying them off one at a time by only paying minimum payments on each debt except the one debt which you want to crush, kill, and destroy. Once this targeted debt is paid off in full, close the account. Now use the money you were paying each month to attack the next on the list. Each time a debt is closed, it gives you more money to attack the remaining debts.

4. Increase your standby fund from $2500 to $10,000. Save an additional $7500 to insure yourself against further bad-luck problems. A job loss, a temporary illness or having a white-goods appliance blowing up can be a pain in the backside. Sooth the pain by having this standby fund money ready.

5. Kill the home loan. Let's not wait the full 25-year term to pay the home loan down to zero. We can cut this time dramatically by not wasting money on personal debt or overspending on the house budget. To make this goal easier chunk it down in $10,000 amounts. Each time you pay off a further $10,000 of the balance, reward yourself with a treat.

Suggested Interview Questions

SUGGESTED interview questions for  Mr home budget & the thrift chick (AKA Adam Goulding & Renee Goulding) authors of The Keep It Simple Stupid Home Budget and Owners of the savings website www.mrhomebudget.com.au

1. Why do couples need to track every dollar?

2. Most people think their house is the biggest asset, however you guys take a different approach. Why?

3. Doesn't everybody need credit cards? Why are they so bad?

4. What is an emergency standby fund and why do people need it?

5. What is a safe level of debt to have compared to how much you are earning?

6. Can you give us some examples of mistakes people make with their money and home budget?

7. What are the five steps to getting out of debt, once and for all?

8. Why do most people put off money conversations with their loved ones?

9. Schools in Australia don't have home budgeting courses, but in New Zealand they do. Do you think we need them here?

10. The Inflation rate: why is it so important to know and use it in your own home budget?

11. Cars are expensive, but do you have some figures that really highlight the problem?

12. At what age should children start to learn how to budget?

13. Without giving away their name, is there someone you have helped with their home budget, an interesting story you could tell us?

14. If a couple are really, truly drowning in debt, what is the first thing they should do?

15. Can you tell people the top 3 ways to save money at the supermarket?

16. Can you tell people the top 3 ways to reduce their utility costs?

Request A Free Book

Want to read our book prior to writing a story on our website/us. No problems just email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your contact details and the media outlet you are from. Then we will send one out in the post right away.

Contact Details

If you would like to organise an interview please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us on 0433653511.