Money Doesn't Have to Be Mysterious
We started Jasterina because too many people felt locked out of financial conversations. The jargon. The assumptions. The feeling that you need an economics degree just to plan your grocery budget.
Based in Singapore since 2019, we've spent the last five years teaching practical budgeting to people who just want their money to make sense. Not fancy investment strategies—just real skills for everyday life.
How We Got Here
Started With a Kitchen Table
Our founder, Priya Menon, was helping a neighbor figure out why her paycheck disappeared three days after arriving. Sitting at that kitchen table with receipts spread everywhere, Priya realized something—most people aren't bad with money. They just never learned a system that actually works.
That neighbor became our first student. Then her sister joined. Then a coworker. By 2020, we had moved from Priya's apartment to a small office near Ubi, teaching evening classes to anyone who walked in.
We've grown, but we still teach the same straightforward methods that worked at that kitchen table.
What We Actually Do
Teaching Money Skills That Stick
Our courses don't promise you'll retire at 35 or buy a condo next year. We teach you how to track where your money goes, plan for actual expenses, and stop feeling stressed every time you check your bank balance.
Classes meet twice a week for eight weeks. You'll learn to build a budget that fits your life—not some textbook version that assumes you never eat out or need new shoes. We cover emergency funds, dealing with debt, and how to save without feeling deprived.
Most importantly, you'll work with real numbers. Your numbers. Because a budget that works for someone else might be completely wrong for you.
What Makes Our Approach Different
We're not financial advisors, and we don't sell investment products. We're teachers who care about one thing: helping you feel confident about your money decisions.
Real Scenarios, Not Theory
Every lesson uses actual situations our students face. Splitting bills with roommates. Managing irregular income. Handling family obligations while trying to save.
You won't find generic examples about hypothetical people. We work through the messy, complicated stuff that happens in real life.
What Students Practice:
- Building monthly budgets with variable income
- Planning for annual expenses like insurance
- Creating spending categories that make sense
- Adjusting plans when life changes
Small Classes, Actual Support
We cap classes at twelve people. That's not arbitrary—it's how many students one instructor can actually know by name and help individually.
You'll have the same instructor for the full eight weeks. They'll remember your situation, answer your questions without judgment, and help troubleshoot when your budget hits a snag.
Class Structure:
- Two 90-minute sessions per week
- Individual budget reviews included
- Optional weekend workshops
- Access to materials after completion
No Upselling, Ever
We don't earn commissions. We don't have premium tiers. You pay for the course, and that's it.
This matters because it means we can give you honest advice—even when that advice is "you don't need to spend more money right now."
Course Includes:
- All learning materials and worksheets
- Budget templates you can reuse
- Email support during the course
- Alumni session every quarter
Taught by People Who Get It
Our instructors aren't career bankers. They're teachers who've dealt with their own money struggles and figured out what actually helps.
Lena, one of our senior instructors, spent three years digging out of credit card debt. Marcus worked two jobs while supporting family overseas. They teach from experience, not textbooks.
Instructor Background:
- Certified in financial education methods
- Experience with diverse financial situations
- Regular training on current challenges
- Commit to judgment-free teaching
Ready to Feel Less Stressed About Money?
Our next course starts in late summer. Classes fill up, so reach out soon if you're interested.
Get Course Information