Our Independence
Why we built a financial literacy course that schools haven't offered — and what we believe young people in Croatia deserve to know before they face real financial decisions.
The gap nobody was filling
There's a strange gap in Croatian education. Young people study history, chemistry, and literature for years. But the basics of money — how a salary actually works, what a credit card costs you, why saving early matters — these are left to chance. Some families talk about money openly. Many don't.
We created this programme because that gap has real consequences. Young adults take on debt they don't fully understand. They're surprised by what their first payslip actually shows. They make financial decisions based on guesswork rather than knowledge.
The name "Our Independence" reflects what we're working toward: financial independence as a genuine possibility for young people, not just a concept for people who already have money.
Our approach to financial education
We've made deliberate choices about how this programme works — and why.
No judgment, no assumptions
Participants come from different financial backgrounds. Some have parents who discuss money openly; others have never heard the word "interest" explained. We meet everyone where they are, without making anyone feel behind.
Learning through doing
The Zagreb simulation is the centrepiece of the programme. Participants don't just hear about budgeting — they do it. The choices feel real because the numbers are real, pulled from actual Zagreb costs.
Grounded in Croatian reality
We don't use American financial examples or generic European averages. Croatian tax brackets, Croatian pension contributions, Zagreb rent ranges, ZET monthly passes. The specificity matters — it makes the learning immediately applicable.
Building habits, not just knowledge
Knowing that you should save is different from actually saving. We focus on the behavioural side of money — why we make the financial decisions we do, and how to build habits that work with human psychology rather than against it.
A month in Zagreb you'll never forget
Session three is the heart of the programme. Each participant receives a fictional salary — drawn from realistic entry-level income ranges in Croatia — and must navigate an entire month of Zagreb life.
The costs are real: current average rents in the city, actual ZET monthly pass prices, supermarket prices from Zagreb stores. Participants make every decision: how much to spend on food, whether to use a credit card for a shortfall, whether going out on Friday is worth cutting back elsewhere.
Some participants end the month in the black. Some don't. Both outcomes generate important conversations.
Available for schools and organisations
The programme can be delivered as a group booking for secondary schools, universities, youth organisations, and companies with young employee cohorts. If you're interested in bringing the programme to your institution, get in touch to discuss how it could work for your group.
Get in touch