A free, simple, effective money skills course

to help you navigate everyday life

 

FACE TO FACE COURSES

Join us for a light meal and discover practical, everyday money skills with like-minded people at one of our face-to-face courses.

Featured
The Money Course Live
Nov 17
Evening, Richmond upon Thames
Evening, Richmond upon Thames

Mon 18 Nov, 25 Nov and 02 Dec
7 PM - 9 PM

Mortlake Hall, 30 Mullins Path, SW14 8EZ

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Evening, Richmond upon Thames

ONLINE COURSES

Our next online Money Course will be in February 2024.

Self Led Course

A simple, effective budgeting course which you can complete at your own pace.

Cost of Living Toolkit

A free 90-minute workshop aimed at anyone affected by the rising cost of living: we look at what’s happening currently, what help is available, and some tips for money-saving ‘quick wins’.

Featured
Cost of Living Toolkit
Nov 20
Evening, Ipswich
Evening, Ipswich

Wed 20 Nov,
6 - 7:30 PM

River Church, Ipswich, IP4 1BZ

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Evening, Ipswich
Cost of Living Toolkit
Nov 26
Daytime, Online
Daytime, Online

Tues 26 Nov,
1:00 - 2:30 PM

Online via Teams

REGISTER

Daytime, Online

How will the The Money Course help me?

You’ll discover lots of practical, real-life money skills which you will be able to apply to your own situation and which will help you manage your money day-to-day

You’ll get some ideas of ways to make savings and avoid going into the red

You’ll learn how to create a simple household budget to help you to take control

You’ll hear about ways to prioritise the things that are most important to you, and develop simple techniques to help you stay on top your bills

You’ll learn how to avoid getting into difficulty with debt, and what to do if you are struggling with problem debt

You’ll learn more about your relationship with money and how to deal with the anxiety it sometimes brings

You’ll get support from a Budget Coach if you need to speak to someone one-to-one after the course

“It was very useful. I particularly enjoyed learning about budgeting and piggy banking….the videos were great and the small groups were helpful.”
— Money Course Participant

This is your moment to take control of your money. 

What’s inside the course... 

 
Featured
Session 1
Session 1

Understanding our relationship with money

It might seem like a strange place to start for a money skills course, but our relationship with money actually affects how we handle it. So we start at the very beginning and discuss our earliest money experiences, as well as the importance of our emotions when thinking about our finances .

Session 2
Session 2

Creating a budget

Yes, we know it doesn’t sound very exciting - but having a simple household budget that actually works for you can transform the way you manage your money day-to-day and can help you stay in control. And the good news is, it’s not as hard as you may think.

Session 3
Session 3

Earning, spending & saving

This where the rubber meets the road! Budgets are all well and good, but how do they work in the real world, and how can we get them to balance? We look at how to prioritise the things that are most important to us, plus how to make savings if we need to. We also think a little about how to start putting some money aside for a rainy day or an emergency.

Session 4
Session 4

Thinking about debt

Debt can affect any of us, and getting into debt can be quite frightening. We think about situations when using credit or taking on debt might be sensible, and how to avoid it when it’s not. Plus we discuss what to do if you or someone you know is struggling with debt at the moment.

Session 5
Session 5

Piggy Banking!

Piggy what? Well in spite of the cryptic name, piggy banking is a simple but radical way of giving us control over our money day to day, and most importantly, helping us stay on top of our bills. Many guests tell us this is the most useful part of the whole course.

Session 6
Session 6

Your financial mental wellbeing

We know that money affects more than just the practical stuff; it can also cause anxiety and stress. So as well as thinking about the next steps that we can take practically, in this last session we also look at the effect money has on our mental health, and explore some ways to improve our well-being in relation to money.

Choose how you'd like to take part

  • You are not alone! We understand it can sometimes feel like you’re the only person who’s struggling with money, and that feeling can be very isolating.

    However, you are certainly not – many other people are in the same boat, and getting together in small groups allows us to hear others’ experiences and realise that financial difficulties are more common than we may think.

    Live courses (either online or in person) offer a relaxed, engaging experience, allowing you to participate in discussions, ask questions and get to know others in your small group. No-one will ask you to share anything personal that you’re not comfortable with, and you can take part as much or as little as you like.

    Come along and join in – what have you got to lose?

  • The self-led course gives you the freedom to work through the Money Course materials at your own pace, at a time (and from a place) that suits you. The system saves your progress and you can pick up where you left off whenever you like. But we’re not leaving you all alone - our facilitators are just an email away if you get stuck or have any questions.

    Sign up now and get started right away!

When you sign up for any of our free courses, you get:

  • Details of how to take part in the course (self-led guidance or joining instructions for your live course)

  • Access to the ‘Money Course Player’ which contains all the course materials, videos, exercises and resources

  • Support from our Money Course facilitators throughout the course

  • A downloadable copy of our Guest Handbook

  • Access to the Budget Builder online tool

  • The Money Fitness plan to help you put what you’ve learned into action

  • The option to take part in our one-to-one Budget Coaching programme once you have completed the course

Meet a few of our facilitators

  • “ I enjoy seeing how the money course can help guests to feel more confident and in control of a key area of their lives. ”

    Susannah Steele

  • “Being a money course facilitator allows me to meet people from diverse backgrounds who share similar financial issues - I help them by providing the materials and tools required to address their money issues. No two sessions are the same and I enjoy the variety!”

    Nicole Belfon

  • “I enjoy helping people become more confident with their money and seeing them feeling less anxious.”

    Stephen Innis

  • “I love meeting all the guests who come on our courses – there’s always a good atmosphere in the sessions, and it’s really rewarding to help people get to grips with their money in practical ways.”

    Lorelei Freeman

  • “The course is such a good way to meet people from all walks of life and to share ideas.”

    Valerie Merson

  • “I really enjoy meeting the participants on the course and - hopefully - helping them to make more sense of their financial affairs.”

    Nigel Stevenson

  • “The Money Course is practical and fun. I enjoy encouraging guests to get what is most helpful for them from the course.”

    Carol Redford

  • “ I really fancy the idea that the Money Course can buy people time or wiggle room in the event of a life disruption by having well organised finances - whatever their income level. It is very important but often overlooked.”

    Lola

FAQs

how long is the money course?

The Money Course normally runs over three weeks, with sessions taking place at the same time each week.

Online sessions last for approximately 1.5 hours, and face-to-face for 2 hours (including refreshments).

What if I can’t attend all the dates listed for a course?

Once you sign up to take part in a Money Course, you will get access to the Money Course Player, which will enable you to catch up on the videos for any session you missed, as well as complete the exercises and get access to any of the resources mentioned in the session.

How much do your courses cost?

Nothing at all! At Crosslight we believe so strongly in the importance of money education and financial capability that we have designed this course to be accessible to everyone, without the barrier of having to pay in order to take part.

Is there a physical handbook for the course?

Yes there is – the Guest Handbook is available as both a downloadable .pdf (for free) and to order as a hard copy (at a cost). Further details can be found here.

I can’t make any of the dates on your website!

Sorry to hear this! We post details of the next available dates as soon as sign-ups close for the previous course; however if attending a live course is proving challenging for you, you may prefer our self-led option where you can work through the sessions at your own pace.

Do you run any face-to-face courses?

Yes we do! We run a course per term at the majority of our branches, and upcoming dates and locations for courses can be found on our website.

Can I watch the videos or do the exercises again after the session ends?

Yes you can – you will have access to all the elements included in a session the day after the live session has run. You can log into our online ‘Money Course Player here.

Is there any support for guests after the end of the course?

Yes, everyone who attends a Money Course is eligible to sign up for Crosslight’s Budget Coaching programme. This is a series of one-to-one sessions with a Budget Coach to help guests put into practice the tools and tips the Money Course covers, looking at their own situation in particular. Details of the Budget Coaching programme are shared with participants at the end of the course.

“Thank you for the quality of the videos and for the handbook - all EXCELLENT!”
— Money Course Participant

Learn to budget, manage your day-to-day spending and start saving.