Building Better Budget Habits Since 2019
We started mercalorix because too many Australians were struggling with monthly finances—not because they didn't earn enough, but because tracking expenses felt overwhelming.
Our approach strips away complexity. We teach practical budgeting methods that actually stick, helping families and individuals gain real clarity about where their money goes each month.
How We Actually Help
Most financial education feels too abstract. We noticed people needed concrete systems—not just advice about "spending less."
Our monthly budgeting framework breaks down into weekly check-ins. You'll learn to categorize expenses in ways that make sense for your household, spot patterns before they become problems, and adjust without guilt when life changes.
We don't promise you'll suddenly love budgeting. But you will understand exactly what's happening with your money, and that understanding creates options you didn't know you had.
The Australian cost of living keeps rising. Rent, groceries, utilities—they all add up differently for everyone. Our education programs adapt to your specific situation, whether you're managing student debt in Brisbane or raising kids in regional Queensland.
Since 2019, we've worked with over 2,800 individuals and families. Some came to us drowning in credit card debt. Others just wanted better visibility. What they share now is confidence about their monthly cash flow.
What Makes Our Method Different
We've refined our approach through hundreds of real-world budgeting cases. These three principles guide everything we teach.
Real Numbers, Real Context
We work with your actual income and expenses—not theoretical scenarios. Every exercise uses your real data so the learning translates immediately to your daily life.
Flexible Systems That Adapt
Life changes. Your budget method should too. We teach adjustment strategies that work when you get a raise, lose hours, or face unexpected costs.
Practical Weekly Habits
Monthly budgets fail when you only check once. Our system includes simple weekly reviews that take under 15 minutes but catch issues early.
Kira Veltman
Kira spent eight years in consumer banking before joining mercalorix in 2021. She saw firsthand how even financially stable clients struggled with monthly tracking. Her workshops focus on building systems that feel natural rather than restrictive.
Outside of budget education, Kira volunteers with community financial literacy programs across regional Queensland. She's passionate about making money management accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point.
Our Journey in Financial Education
From local workshops to comprehensive online programs, here's how we've grown.
Started with Community Workshops
We began hosting free monthly budgeting workshops at local community centers in Bundaberg. Twenty-three people showed up to the first one—by month six, we were regularly seeing 80+ attendees.
Launched Structured Programs
Community demand led us to develop our first eight-week budget mastery program. We kept groups small—never more than 15 participants—so everyone could get personalized attention.
Expanded Online Learning
Post-pandemic, we adapted our in-person content for online delivery. The transition taught us new ways to make budgeting education accessible to people across regional Australia who couldn't attend physical workshops.
Building Long-Term Support
This year we're focusing on extended follow-up programs. Budgeting skills need reinforcement, so we're developing six-month and twelve-month continuation courses that launch in September 2025.
Ready to Take Control of Your Budget?
Our next program intake begins October 2025. Spaces are limited to maintain quality instruction and personalized guidance.
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