We Started with a Kitchen Table and Too Many Spreadsheets
Back in early 2017, rumisesora began as three mates trying to figure out why our paychecks seemed to vanish faster than we could track. We weren't financial advisors. Just regular people frustrated with confusing advice that never quite fit real life.
What started as casual conversations about bill stress and savings goals turned into something bigger. We realized lots of folks felt the same way—capable people who just needed straightforward guidance without the jargon or judgment.
From Personal Struggle to Shared Solutions
None of us came from finance backgrounds. One was a teacher, another worked in hospitality, and the third dabbled in graphic design. But we all shared the same problem—money felt like it controlled us instead of the other way around.
We spent months testing different approaches on ourselves. What actually helped? What was just noise? By late 2018, we'd built a simple framework that made sense for everyday Australians dealing with everyday expenses.
Friends started asking questions. Then friends of friends. Eventually, we launched a small workshop series in Brisbane. Twelve people showed up to the first one. Now, thousands have gone through our programs across Queensland and beyond.
Key Moments That Shaped Us
Kitchen Table Beginnings
Three friends started comparing budgets over coffee. Discovered we weren't alone in feeling overwhelmed by standard financial advice that assumed everyone had predictable income and simple expenses.
First Community Workshops
Launched evening sessions at a community center in West End. Expected maybe eight people. Got forty-seven. Realized there was genuine hunger for budget guidance that felt human rather than corporate.
Pandemic Pivot
When lockdowns hit, we moved everything online within three weeks. Learned that digital delivery could reach people across regional areas who'd never had access to practical financial education before.
Expanded Team
Brought on educators and support coordinators who shared our philosophy. Not financial advisors promising miracles, just people who understand the daily challenges of managing money with authenticity and patience.
New Learning Formats
Launching flexible program options this autumn. Same practical approach, more ways to participate—whether you prefer self-paced study or structured group sessions starting September 2025.
What We Actually Stand For
These aren't corporate values we stuck on a wall. They're the principles that guide every workshop, every resource, and every conversation we have with participants.
No Fake Promises
We won't tell you our program guarantees financial freedom or doubles your savings. What we offer is practical education that may help you make more informed decisions about your own money.
Real-World Focus
Everything we teach comes from actual experiences managing household budgets, not theoretical frameworks. If a strategy didn't work for real people with real expenses, we don't include it.
Judgment-Free Space
Money mistakes happen. We've all made them. Our approach focuses on moving forward rather than dwelling on past decisions or making anyone feel inadequate about their current situation.
Meet One of Our Program Coordinators
Rivka Thornfield
Program Coordinator & Workshop Facilitator
Rivka joined us in 2022 after spending six years teaching adult education courses in Toowoomba. She understands that learning about money management feels different at forty-five than it does at twenty-two.
Before rumisesora, she facilitated community programs on everything from resume writing to small business basics. What drew her to financial education was watching participants struggle with similar questions—how do you budget when your income varies? What does "emergency fund" actually mean when you're already stretched thin?
Rivka coordinates our group workshops and helps develop materials that respect people's intelligence while acknowledging that financial literacy isn't taught in most schools. She's particularly passionate about making resources accessible for folks who didn't grow up talking openly about money.
