We Started Because Too Many People Were Struggling

Back in 2019, I was sitting in a café talking to a friend who'd just received her tax return. She was thrilled about the unexpected money but had no idea where it should go. Credit card? Emergency fund? That conversation stuck with me.

Around the same time, my partner was helping his parents sort through years of disorganized financial records. They weren't irresponsible people—they just never had a clear system. And honestly? Most Australians don't.

caltriventa was born from real frustration with how budgeting education is taught. We wanted to create something that actually helps people plan their year without needing an accounting degree.

Financial planning workspace with organized documents and budget charts

2019

Started with twelve people in a community centre

2022

Expanded to online programs during lockdowns

2025

Supporting over 3,000 Australians yearly

How We Actually Built This

The first workshop was chaotic. We had twelve attendees, a borrowed projector, and handouts I'd photocopied at the library. But people showed up because they needed help—not generic financial advice, but practical guidance on planning their actual year.

What surprised me was how many questions focused on emotional decisions. Should I save for a house or pay off my car loan? Is it okay to budget for holidays when I have debt? These weren't math problems—they were life decisions that money was entangled with.

"I realized we weren't teaching budgeting. We were teaching people to make intentional choices about their future."

By 2022, when we moved programs online, we'd learned what actually worked. Short modules people could complete during lunch breaks. Real examples from Australian households. Templates that didn't require spreadsheet expertise.

We've made mistakes along the way. Our first online course was too technical. We initially focused too much on cutting expenses instead of building sustainable habits. But each iteration taught us more about what people genuinely need when planning their financial year.

The Person Behind caltriventa

We're not a massive organization—it's mostly me, Callum, along with a few collaborators who help with course materials and program delivery. Here's the reality of who's actually doing this work.

Callum Branagh

Founder & Lead Educator

Former financial advisor who got tired of only helping wealthy clients. Now focused on making annual budgeting accessible to regular Australians trying to get their finances sorted.

Educational materials and curriculum development workspace

Curriculum Design

Program Development

We work with adult education specialists to create learning materials that don't feel like homework. Our content is built around real scenarios and practical application.

Community Support

Participant Guidance

Several part-time facilitators help answer questions and guide participants through exercises. They're people who've completed our programs and wanted to help others do the same.

Reality Over Perfection

We don't promise perfect budgets. Life is messy. Expenses come up. Plans change. Our approach focuses on building habits that adapt when things don't go according to plan—which is most of the time.

Australian Context Matters

Tax systems, superannuation, Medicare, HECS debt—these are specific to Australia. We build content around our actual financial landscape, not generic international advice that doesn't quite fit.

Annual Planning Makes Sense

Most budgeting advice focuses on monthly tracking. But big decisions happen yearly—tax time, insurance renewals, subscription assessments. We teach people to think in twelve-month cycles while managing monthly cash flow.

No Shame, No Judgment

Everyone's starting point is different. Some people come to us with savings and want structure. Others are managing debt and need a path forward. We meet participants where they are without lecturing about past decisions.

Want to Know More About Our Approach?

If you're curious about how we structure our programs or whether annual budgeting education might help you, let's have a conversation. No pressure, no sales pitch—just an honest discussion about what might work for your situation.

Get In Touch