Kylie and Scott get back on their feet | MyMoney MyStory podcast

Through heartbreak, hospital stays and financial collapse, Kylie and Scott found the one thing that got them through it all, and still does 18 years later… MyBudget.

For Kylie and Scott, it wasn’t just one financial crisis, it was a series of devastating, emotional and financial challenges that would bring even the strongest to their knees. From Kylie’s multiple hospitalisations and the unfathomable loss of nine pregnancies… to their newborn daughter Abby’s life-threatening condition and months in hospital, they were completely overwhelmed. With no income and no idea how they’d pay the next bill, they sent MyBudget an email saying: “Don’t contact us. Our baby might not make it. We have no money.”

But the MyBudget money experts didn’t walk away, they stepped in.

They contacted their creditors, landlords, and sorted everything so Kylie and Scott could forget the money stress and focus on what mattered: their daughter’s survival.
In this inspiring episode of the MyMoney MyStory podcast, Tammy Barton chats with longtime clients Kylie and Scott about their budgeting journey. 

Their powerful story is one of real hardship, resilience, and the transformation that can happen with the right support system in place.

Juggling more than just money worries

Like many Australians, Scott was working multiple jobs and long hours, but still struggling to stay afloat. Despite doing everything “right,” the money never seemed to stretch far enough.

At the same time, Kylie and Scott had very different upbringings and financial habits. While Scott was cautious with money, Kylie admits she saw it as something to spend. That difference added extra tension to their financial struggles.

Their situation became even more difficult when Kylie faced multiple hospital admissions, followed by the birth of their critically ill daughter Abby, who required major heart surgery. With Kylie unable to work and Scott taking on multiple jobs and working double shifts, they were emotionally and financially exhausted.

“I would wake up at three o’clock in the morning thinking, how the hell am I going to pay this?”

Scott

The turning point: asking for financial help

Everything changed when Scott suggested they try MyBudget. Kylie was hesitant at first. “I thought, ‘We’re doing okay, we don’t need help.’ But deep down, I knew I needed to change the way I thought about money,” she says.

From the very first personal budgeting appointment, they felt supported. “We had savings! It didn’t make sense to me at the time, but somehow it worked,” Scott laughs. For Kylie, it was the start of a complete mindset shift. “Our personal budgeting specialist even helped me quit smoking because I realised we simply couldn’t afford it anymore.”

How MyBudget helped Kylie and Scott get ahead financially

A personalised budget that works in real life

MyBudget created a personalised, flexible budget that accounted for everything – from money for bills, essentials, and even those tricky extras like birthday parties, Christmas and school photos.

Kylie, now a MyBudget team member herself, shares this advice with her clients:

“Don’t just call it ‘savings.’ Give your goals a name. When you label your goal, whether it’s a holiday or your child’s birthday, it becomes real. And that’s when it is more likely to happen.”

Kylie

Managing money (and life’s) curveballs

When their newborn daughter Abby was flown to Melbourne for urgent heart surgery, MyBudget stepped in. “We emailed them saying, ‘Don’t contact us, our baby might not make it, and we have no money,'” Kylie recalls. “But instead of walking away, they supported us. They contacted landlords, creditors, and sorted our bills. We could focus on our daughter.”

Even during their most stressful times, they didn’t have to worry about overdue payments or creditor calls. MyBudget worked with their real-life circumstances to keep them on track.

Finding financial peace of mind

One of the biggest differences Kylie and Scott felt after joining MyBudget was finally being able to relax, knowing everything was under control.

“I don’t even look at our budget anymore,” Scott admits. “Kylie runs it, and I just go to work. But I know everything’s paid, and I can sleep at night.” That sense of calm is something they never had before.

“Being with MyBudget didn’t just help our finances, it changed how we see the world.”

Kylie

The transformation: savings, confidence, and a future to look forward to

Fast-forward to today and life looks very different. They reached their savings goal to buy a house. They’ve taken holidays. They’re even thinking about planning for retirement.

Kylie, now a MyBudget team member herself, felt so deeply impacted by the support she received that she wanted to pay it forward. She says MyBudget didn’t just help her financially, it helped her grow as a person. 

Today, she’s passionate about helping others experience the same transformation from financial chaos to confidence and control.

A MyBudget success story: Kylie & Scott rebuilt their life

Fast forward 18 years, and life looks completely different.

Being with MyBudget didn’t just help Kylie and Scott manage their money, it helped them survive some of the toughest moments of their lives and rebuild a future filled with hope. Some of their achievements include:

• buying their first home
• taking holidays
• budgeting for private school fees
• planning for retirement.

Want to hear Kylie and Scott’s full story?

Listen to Kylie and Scott’s inspiring journey on the MyMoney MyStory podcast, available on your favourite streaming platform now.

How can MyBudget help you?

If you’re living pay to pay, stressed about debt, or just tired of juggling it all, Kylie and Scott’s story proves it’s possible to turn things around.

For over 25 years, MyBudget has helped more than 130,000 Australians take control of their finances and build a brighter future.

Here’s how we can help:

✅ tailored budgets that actually work

✅ pay off debt without the stress

✅ build savings for what matters

✅ we deal with your bills and creditors.

Enquire online now or call us on 1300 300 922 – no obligation, just support.