Blackbullion
Blackbullion is a free learning platform for students, designed to help you take control of your finances and to develop your money management skills.
They’ve got a specific pathway about “Preparing for University“. It’s designed to support you in preparing to manage your money as a university student.
It’s great if you aren’t feeling very confident about managing your finances when you come to university or would like to brush up your knowledge. The learning content is interactive and includes lots of fun pathways and quizzes to test your knowledge.
There’s a whole range of topics available on the platform, including:
- Student life
- How Univeristy fees and funding works
- Budgeting
- Saving
- Investing
- A budget calculator – helps you to understand and plan your finances
- A Student Loan repayment estimator – a tool to help you see the true cost of your student loan and understand how much you will repay after graduation
Sign up and access content
Visit Blackbullion.com and click ‘register’. This will take you to a page where you enter some personal details, such as your name, personal email address and create a password.
Blackbullion will ask if you are a current university student – select ‘no’. It will then direct you to answer a question about your circumstances – select ‘thinking about going to university’. It will also ask what subjects you are thinking of studying and when you are planning on starting university. It does not matter if you do not know all of this information, just answer as best you can.
Blackbullion will ask you what universities you are thinking of going to. Select ‘Sheffield Hallam University’ as this will ensure that you can access the site.
For more tips on managing your money at Sheffield Hallam University and to find out what support is available at the university, please visit the Student Funding Team’s Money Skills Pages
Cost of living support
We’ve pulled together information and resources on support for the Cost of Living into one place to make it easier for you to find.
- The Citizens Advice Bureau Sheffield can advise on money, budgeting and debt. The team created this video so you can get a taste of what they do.
- Money Saving Expert has tips on ways to save money in every area; loans, credit cards, mortgages, income and budgeting, shopping, insurance and travel.
- NHS Low Income scheme – if you have a low income, you may be able to get help with NHS costs like prescriptions.
- Welcome Places are community hubs that are welcome, warm places where you can go locally for support from a friendly face. Voluntary Action Sheffield has created a map of these places.
- Olio Food is an app that connects neighbours and local businesses with each other so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.
- Sheffield Food Banks lists all the places you can access food supplies, and Food Works Sheffield produces and sells cheap meals from surplus food.
- Freecycle advertises pre-loved items offered free in Sheffield.
- Sheffield City Council has put together a Money Support Guide, Worrying About Money leaflet, and Cost of Living Crisis: Advice, Support, and Financial Help guide. These compile loads of resources including wellbeing and community support and advice on accessing financial support packages.