Money Real Talk with Temasek Polytechnic: Building Financial Emotional Resilience with Over 130 Students

Aug 7
On 6 August 2025, over 130 students from Temasek Polytechnic (TP) joined us for a special AMA session titled “Money Real Talk: Budgeting for the Life You Actually Want.”

The conversation was raw, relevant, and refreshing. It wasn’t about complex investment terms or high achievers' financial goals. It was about helping students understand how to manage money in a way that aligns with who they are, how they feel, and what they truly value.

Meeting Students Where They Are

The AMA was hosted by Audrey Tan,PlayMoolah’s CEO and Co-founder, and Horng Bor Goh,PlayMoolah’s CTO and an alumnus of Temasek Polytechnic School of Informatics & IT. In this session, Horng Bor also shared his own personal stories of navigating financial decisions as a student

“It’s a really wholesome and full-circle moment for me,” Horng Bor shared during the session. “Coming back to speak with current TP students, as someone who once sat where they are now, makes me feel proud and hopeful. I want to share honestly about the financial lessons I've learned, both the wins and the mistakes, so that they know it’s okay to be figuring things out.”

Audrey opened up about how budgeting and financial planning isn’t about deprivation. It’s about clarity, intentional choices, and building confidence.
“We wanted to create a space where students could ask anything. No judgement, no jargon, just real talk about money and what it means in their lives,” said Audrey.

Going Beyond Budgeting

The heart of the session focused on Financial Emotional Resilience® (FER), PlayMoolah’s signature framework that helps individuals build a healthy, grounded relationship with money.

Rather than approaching budgeting as a purely logical or restrictive exercise, FER invites students to consider how money is connected to every part of their lives. The framework is represented as a three-part model:

  • Head – How do you think about money

  • Heart – How you feel about money

  • Hand – What you do with your money

These elements are interconnected. When students understand the thoughts driving their spending, the emotions influencing their decisions, and the habits shaping their outcomes, they gain more control and confidence. FER is about making meaning out of money, and using that clarity to take intentional action.

“Money is a tool for a flourishing life, having money issue is not a burden, it’s a call to action” said Horng Bor. “It’s about understanding your priorities and making peace with the choices you make.”

To help students put this learning into action, we introduced FERLYN, PlayMoolah’s free online financial coach designed specifically for young adults. FERLYN provides us with financial guidance related to budgeting and expense tracking, saving strategies, debt management, and other financial areas related to emotional money support. FERLYN serves as a companion for those wanting to make real changes and free from financial anxiety.

Tools and Takeaways

We believe learning should be practical and actionable. That’s why we shared tools and techniques that students can use right away, including:

  • The 5 pillars of money management (earn, spend, give, save, and invest)
  • Rules of thumb to build emergency savings (The 60/30/10 and 60/20/10/10 budgeting frameworks)
  • Tips on planning for both everyday spending and future goals
  • Student-friendly apps like GoodWhale, Buddy, and our own financial coach, FERLYN, which can be found on PlayMoolah’s website

Students were also encouraged to think ahead, plan for life’s trade-offs, and embrace guilt-free spending when it aligns with their values.

What Students Told Us

The feedback was inspiring. Many shared that they had never heard money talked about in this way before.

“I used to think budgeting was about restriction, but now I see it as a tool for freedom.”

“I found out I’m a Competitive Achiever—budgeting feels like a game now, and I want to win at it.”

“This made me feel seen. I never thought about the emotional side of money before.”

A Reflection from the Team

One of our PlayMoolah interns also shared their takeaway from the session:

“I think the main idea is money is a tool for a flourishing life. Like TP alumnus Horng Bor said, ‘Money issues are not a burden, but a call for action.’

In today’s AMA, we had the chance to connect with TP students and offer practical tips. I believe it’s meaningful to start exploring budgeting at 17 or 18.

We can all learn to craft a powerful and healthy money narrative. I’m inspired by Audrey’s message that financial stability doesn’t just come from income. It comes from how we budget and manage our expenses.”

This reflection reminds us that learning happens on all sides, through conversation, shared experience, and meaningful engagement.

Why We Do This

At PlayMoolah, we are committed to helping young people build healthier relationships with money. Our work is grounded in research and real-world application, and our programs have been adopted by leading universities, government agencies, and financial institutions across Asia.

Through Financial Emotional Resilience®, we equip individuals not just with knowledge, but with the clarity and confidence to take meaningful action in their lives.

This AMA with TP was a small glimpse into what’s possible when we bring heart and head together in financial education.

About PlayMoolah

PlayMoolah is a Singapore-based company dedicated to advancing Financial Emotional Resilience® through evidence-based educational programs. Our work combines emotional intelligence, behavioural science, and financial literacy to empower individuals and organisations in building lasting financial wellbeing.

We are part of The Moolah Group, a collective of ventures advancing financial wellness in the region. Our academic and certification arm, the Wealth Resilience Institute (WRI), provides research and credentials for those looking to deepen their understanding of FER.

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