Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access my account?

Once you've registered for a course on our website you will be redirected to the Money Course Player where you will be able to start your course.

If you have already created an account and want to login, you can do so via the login page.

Can I share a login?

Please don’t share your log-in details with anyone – it is free and easy to sign up for the Money Course, so please encourage anyone wanting to take part to signup. 

It helps us to know how many people are using our course and to plan for future improvements if everyone taking part signs up separately. 

The exception to this is for the Money Course Budget Builder – if you have a partner who you want to add to your account and who is going to be using the tool alongside you, you are welcome to create and use joint log-in details so that you can both access the joint Budget Builder account. 

I forgot my password. How do I reset it?

If you have forgotten your password and are locked out of your account, you can trigger a reset password email from the sign in page!

• Go to the login page and select Forgot Password

• Enter the email address you used to create your account

• Click Submit

• Check your email inbox for a password reset email with further instructions

How do I change my password, email address or other details on my account?

If you are logged into your Money Course account and want to change your password or email address:

• On a desktop, select your profile icon in the top right hand corner; on mobile, click on the three horizontal lines in the top right

• Select My Account

• There you will see an option to change your account details as well as your password. Use the left-hand menu to navigate on desktop. On a mobile device scroll down for options.

• Remember to save your changes!

What should I do if I’m not receiving course emails?

Once you’ve enrolled in a course, you should get regular emails about the Money Course and your progress through it – if you find you’re not receiving emails from us, please: 

• Check your spam folder 

• Add lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org to your safe senders list or address book 

• If you are still having trouble, contact lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org 

Is there a time limit for accessing the online resources?

Yes there is – once you sign up for a course (live online, face-to-face, or self-led), access is set for 90 days (approximately 3 months), which we hope is ample time to go through the whole course as well as follow up with the suggested actions, download any resources you’d like to keep, etc.   

If you require an extension to your access period, please email info@themoneycourse.org 

Our Resources page is available on our website and is open to all for as long as you like, with no sign-in required – you can find additional information on many of the topics covered in the Money Course there as well as other budgeting and money-saving tips and tools, and we are always adding new content.  

Is there a Money Course app?

No – there's not a Money Course app at the moment. If we produce one in the future, we will certainly let you know! 

I don’t have a smartphone – can I still access the Budget Builder?

Yes you certainly can – our Budget Builder is available online so you can access it via PC, laptop or tablet.

How do I delete my account and details from the Money Course website?

If you've decided that the Money Course is not for you, you can delete your account by emailing info@themoneycourse.org.

Once your account is deleted your access to the Course Player, including all courses, will be removed.

Is the Money Course available for those with accessibility needs?

We are working on making the Money Course and the Money Course Player more accessible.  

If you use assistive technologies or have other accessibility needs then we'd love to hear your feedback on ways we could improve further - email lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org 

Do your course videos have subtitles or transcripts available?

Yes they do - please ask your facilitator if these are not showing in the course you attend.

What are the technical requirements to enable me to take part in the Money Course live online, or the self-led course?

No special software is needed to take part in the Money Course. Our materials are designed to be accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop. All you need is a up to date web browser and an internet connection.

Our live online courses are run using Zoom – please see their website for details of technical requirements

How much does it cost to do the Money Course?

Nothing at all! The Money Course is totally free to everyone, whether participating in the live online course, face-to-face sessions, or the self-led course online.   

At Crosslight, we believe in the importance of money education and financial capability for all.  Therefore we have decided to offer the Money Course free of charge so that there are no cost barriers to anyone accessing the materials.   

For guests on the face-to-face course, there will be an opportunity to make a discretionary donation towards the running costs of the sessions e.g. using the premises, providing refreshments etc, but this is totally optional and no-one should feel under any pressure to contribute if they are not able to afford to do so.

For all other users, you are welcome to make a donation to Crosslight’s work if you would like to - please visit www.crosslightadvice.org/give - and thank you in advance!

What’s the difference between the ‘live online’ and ‘self-led’ courses?

With the live online course, sessions are scheduled once a week for three weeks.

The self-led course is different in that there are no set timings; you can cover the materials at your own pace, and go as fast or as slowly as you like (although remember that you have access to the site for 90 days, which should be more than enough time!).  The materials from each session are broken down into ‘micro-units’ which may comprise a video, exercise, resources or pause for reflection. 

How can I join a course?

Crosslight Advice runs the Money Course live online (via Zoom video-call) and face to face in our branches, and it is also available as a self-led course online. Visit Join to find out more and to sign up. We’d love to see you on a course!

I’d like to make a donation towards the running costs of the Money Course

We really appreciate any donations towards the costs of running the Money Course – please visit our ‘Give’ page for more details of ways to do this. Thank you so much for your support!

Do you have plans for any other courses besides the Money Course?

We would like to make other courses available in time – ideas include financial education courses for school-age children, students, those on benefits, and the self-employed. If you have suggestions or requests for topics to be added to the list, please let us know!

How can I give you my feedback on the Money Course?

Learners are asked to give us their feedback when they finish the Money Course (whether face-to-face, live online or self-led). However, if you would like to tell us your thoughts at any other stage, please do get in touch – we'd love to hear from you! Email lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org.uk.

Is a certificate available for completing the course?

Yes, a digital certificate is issued automatically once you have completed the course, and can be saved for future reference.

You need to have worked through all the units in the Money Course Player to receive the certificate - be sure to click ‘complete and continue’ as you go.

Once activated, your certificate will be available on your account dashboard, and by clicking on the ‘get my certificate’ at the top left of the course in the Money Course Player

What steps are you taking to protect against the transmission of Covid?

Face-to-face courses will comply with the latest COVID-secure guidance.

I’m nervous about taking part in a group course – help!

It’s totally normal to be nervous, and we understand that many guests feel this way before joining.  Hopefully once the course starts you will feel more at ease – our facilitators are really friendly and engaging, and the other guests on the courses are there for the same reasons you are, so everyone is in the same boat. 

We try our best to make everyone feel welcome and relaxed during the courses, and we are always available for questions after the course or in between sessions. 

Please also read the information in the emails we send you before the course so you understand how things will work and feel prepared to take part as far as you feel comfortable. 

If you’d like to chat to someone about taking the Money Course and discuss any worries you may have, please contact on lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org to arrange a time to speak.

Do I have to have my camera on or speak if I join an online Money Course?

We will never insist that you switch on your camera or take part in the sessions in any way.  However, we will certainly encourage you to, as it enables you to engage with the other participants and with our facilitators more effectively, and everyone gets more out of the course if they can see each other and are able to get to know other guests and the facilitation team.   

In the small group exercises, it is absolutely your decision whether you participate in discussions or not – however you should be reassured to know that we will never be asking you for personal details about your finances or circumstances, but rather asking for suggestions and experiences so that we can discuss ideas and tips and consider some practical solutions to some of the common problems that people have with managing their money.  

What happens if I miss a session of the Money Course?

Don’t worry if you have a clash with one of the session dates, or something unexpected like illness or childcare crops up at the time you’re meant to be attending the course. 

You can catch up via the Money Course Player. You’ll receive an access link after each live session – this will allow you to access an online version of the session you missed, where you can watch the video clips from the course, undertake the exercises and access any additional information or resources that were covered. 

Should I check that I can work Zoom OK before the course begins?

Yes, this is a great idea, to ensure that everything runs smoothly when you join the first session, and you’re not delayed in taking part.   

We suggest that you visit this page to familiarise yourself with how to join a scheduled Zoom meeting. 

If you still have any worries or would like to run a test ahead of time, please contact Crosslight’s Advice Services team who would be happy to help with this – tel. 0300 373 1180 or email appointments@crosslightadvice.org

What should I expect when I sign up for a face-to-face course?

Our face-to-face courses run out of the majority of our Crosslight branches, once per term on average. 

Once you book onto a course, we will send you confirmation details of your booking via email (or in the post if you prefer).   

We’ll remind you nearer the time about your first upcoming face-to-face session, and will make sure you know where you are going and what to look for when you arrive! 

At the venue, our friendly facilitation team will welcome you and ensure you are comfortable and are clear on how the course will run. Refreshments will be available (depending on the specific venue) and your course leader will explain practicalities such as toilets and emergency exits.

The course takes place in a relaxed setting and we hope that you will find it a helpful environment to enjoy learning more about managing your finances and getting to grips with your money. 

What should I expect when I sign up for a live online course?

When you sign up for a live online course, we will send you confirmation details of the course you’ll be joining.   

We’ll remind you nearer the time about your first upcoming session, and will make sure you know how to join the call, using Zoom. You’re welcome to contact Crosslight to test your device and your Zoom connection beforehand if you’d like (please contact us on 0300 373 1180 or appointments@crosslightadvice.org if so)

On the day, our friendly facilitation team will welcome you as you join the call online – we'll encourage you to have your camera on and to use your microphone to take part in discussions etc, but we will totally understand if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.   

The online course is relaxed and friendly, and we hope that you will find it a helpful environment to enjoy learning more about managing your finances and getting to grips with your money. 

How long will it take me to do the course?

The live online course is made up of either 3 x 1 hr 30min sessions (these are closer to two hours when the course is running face-to-face). 

Undertaking ‘homework’ or suggested tasks in between each session will obviously add more time onto this total, but this is totally at your discretion

What should I expect when I sign up for the self-led course online?

When you sign up for the self-led course, we’ll send you a welcome email explaining how the course works, and how you can access all the materials from anywhere with an internet connection, at any time that suits you. 

You’ll then be free to work through the materials at your own pace and to pause to carry out some of the actions we suggest at the appropriate times. 

You won’t be alone, although you’re working independently – if you have questions at any time, you can contact us at info@themoneycourse.org  

You’ll have 90 days to take the course in your own time (if you need an extension, just let us know) - once you’ve completed the Money Course, you’ll still be able to access our Resources page on the Money Course website at any time to find information and links to lots of useful topics linked to budgeting, saving, debt, bank accounts and your financial mental wellbeing.  

How long will it take me to do the course?

The self-led option takes approximately three hours plus whatever time you choose to dedicate to our suggested actions at the end of each session.

How do I know how much of the course I’ve completed?

Courses are broken down into a number of units. Each unit is weighted equally towards the progress percentage.

Once you complete a unit, select the ‘complete and continue’ button below the course player. This will capture that unit as completed and you will see a tick mark next to the unit title in the course menu.

Above the menu you will also see an overall course completion percentage so you can see how far along in the course you are.

I’m interested in running the Money Course for a group

That’s great to hear – you can find further details of our Leaders’ Hub (our portal containing all the information & resources you need to prepare for and run the Money Course) at www.themoneycourse.org/run.

I’m interested in discussing bespoke courses for my company or organisation

We’d be very happy to discuss this with you – find out more about how you can work with us, or contact Lorelei Freeman, our Financial Capability Lead, directly on lorelei.freeman@crosslightadvice.org

What is the Guest Handbook and how do I get a copy?

The Guest Handbook is an invaluable companion to the Money Course and we recommend that all guests have a copy, either as an electronic version or as a printed booklet. 

The Handbook is split into three parts: section one contains all the exercises covered on the course, and has space to jot down answers or make notes if required.  

The second section is for use in between sessions or after the course – it goes into more detail about the topics covered and gives useful resources and links for further information. 

And the third section contains our Money Fitness Plan - a four-week programme to help you implement the ideas and tools covered in the Money Course

You can download the Guest Handbook for free, or purchase an A5 printed copy.

What is the Money Fitness Plan?

The Money Fitness Plan is a four-week programme to help guests implement the ideas and tools that are covered during the Money Course. It suggests practical steps that guests can take to get to grips with their money, and is a great follow-up to the Money Course itself.

The Money Fitness Plan can be found on the middle pages of the Guest Hanbook.

What support is there for me as a learner outside of the course itself?

The Money Course is a comprehensive programme of sessions covering the basics of money management – we hope you find it useful in itself.   

However we appreciate that there is a lot to take in, that the course only touches briefly on some topics which will be of further interest to some learners, and that everyone’s circumstances are different and can raise specific questions.  Therefore we have various elements of support available to learners undertaking the Money Course, both during and after their time on the course: 

• For live courses (face-to-face and online), there is dedicated time at the end of every session for guests to ask questions, both in a group setting and individually if they feel more comfortable 

• Please check these FAQs as a first port of call for any questions – if your issue is not covered here, please contact us on info@themoneycourse.org

• Anyone who has completed a Crosslight-run Money Course (live online, face-to-face or self-led) is invited to take part in Crosslight’s Budget Coaching programme - details of this will be provided at the end of the course

• Various additional resources are available to those undertaking the Money Course, and these are not affected by the 90-day access period to the course: 

• The Guest Handbook is a really useful accompaniment to the course and has additional information on all the topics covered, as well as details of the Money Fitness Plan, helping learners to implement the steps discussed in the course. 

• The Money Tips section on the Money Course website has lots of useful articles about the main topics covered on the Money Course as well as other issues relating to budgeting and money management – it's regularly updated.

• The Budget Builder tool is available free of charge online – please visit budgetbuilder.themoneycourse.org for more information and to sign up for the Budget Builder online.  

How can I get a one-to-one Budget Coach?

Crosslight’s Budget Coaching programme is available to anyone who has completed a Money Course run by Crosslight, either via the live sessions or by undertaking the self-led version.  Once you have completed all the sessions, you will be offered the chance to take part in the Budget Coaching programme and will be asked to complete a short form to register your interest. 

Once we’ve received that, you'll be matched with a Budget Coach with a view to meting either online or face-to-face (depending on location and preferences) for a series of four one-to-one Budget Coaching sessions.

The purpose of the programme is to support anyone who has completed the ‘foundation stage’ of the Money Course with putting into actions the tips and tools they covered during the sessions in the context of their own circumstances.