Build Real Spreadsheet Skills That Actually Work
Most people think spreadsheets are boring. They're wrong. When you understand how to structure financial data properly, you stop fighting with formulas and start making decisions faster.
Our autumn 2025 program focuses on practical applications – budgeting systems you'll use next week, not theoretical exercises you'll forget tomorrow. We work with small groups because teaching spreadsheet logic requires real conversation, not lecture halls.
This isn't about becoming a data scientist. It's about building financial models that help you understand where money actually goes and why your numbers never seem to add up at month's end.
What You'll Actually Learn
Six modules spread across twelve weeks. Each session builds on what came before, so you're not constantly backtracking to remember how that formula worked.
Budget Framework Design
Creating structures that adapt when life changes. Fixed expenses, variable costs, and the annoying category that never fits anywhere.
Formula Logic
Understanding why formulas break and how to fix them without starting over. VLOOKUP alternatives that actually make sense.
Cash Flow Tracking
Building systems that show money movement clearly. Where it comes from, where it disappears, and when gaps appear.
Visual Data Display
Charts that communicate instead of confuse. Choosing the right format so people understand your point immediately.
Scenario Planning
Testing different outcomes before committing. What happens if income drops or unexpected costs appear.
Template Systems
Creating reusable frameworks that save hours of setup. Monthly reports that update themselves with fresh data.
Petra Caldwell
Financial Systems Instructor
Spent fifteen years building budgeting frameworks for small businesses before realizing most people struggle with the same fundamental concepts. The problem isn't intelligence – it's that nobody ever explained why spreadsheets are organized the way they are.
Petra started teaching workshops in 2019 after friends kept asking for help untangling their financial tracking systems. What began as casual tutoring sessions evolved into structured programs when she noticed patterns in what actually helped people improve.
Her approach strips away unnecessary complexity. You won't learn 200 functions you'll never use. Instead, you'll master the twenty that solve 90% of real situations. Each session includes practical exercises based on actual scenarios from Australian households and businesses.
Classes stay small intentionally. When someone's formula breaks, Petra needs to see their screen and talk through the logic together. That doesn't work with fifty people.
Program Timeline
Foundation Month
September 2025
Basic structure principles and understanding how data relationships work. Building your first functional budget template from scratch. Weekly sessions run Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Formula Development
October 2025
Moving beyond simple calculations into logic that adapts. Conditional formatting, error handling, and making spreadsheets that don't break when you add new rows.
Advanced Applications
November 2025
Cash flow projection, scenario modeling, and creating systems that update automatically. This is where everything clicks together and you start building tools specific to your needs.
Registration Opens July 2025
Classes are limited to twelve participants per session. We run two groups – one Tuesday evenings, one Saturday mornings – starting first week of September. Course fee covers all twelve sessions plus template access and ongoing support through our group forum.
If you're tired of fighting with spreadsheets that never quite work right, this program might help. No prerequisites except basic computer skills and willingness to practice between sessions.
Get Program Details