blog posts Podcast: April 30th Student Loan Deadline Apr 8, 2024 12:00 pm46 views In episode 81 of Making Cents of Money, April 30th Student Loan Deadline, we discuss a critical deadline for FFEL, Perkins, or Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL) borrowers on income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. Podcast: Establishing a Vision for Your Life Jan 20, 2022 12:00 pm47 views In episode 33 of Making Cents of Money, Establishing a Vision for Your Life, Andrea, Nikki, and Jake talk to Donovan Sanchez, CFP and instructor of financial planning at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign about making meaningful money choices that allow you to live life now and make progress towards the future. Podcast: Buying a Home! Mar 16, 2022 12:00 pm47 views In episode 36 of Making Cents of Money, Buying a Home!, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki explain terminology, tools, and the basics steps of buying a home. Podcast: Free Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents Apr 22, 2024 12:00 pm48 views In episode 82 of Making Cents of Money, Free Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents, Maggie Owen from the Illinois State Treasurer's Office joins us to discuss all the financial education programs Illinois has for residents. Creating Your Own Financial Education Plan Apr 19, 2021 4:00 pm51 views Use this guide to identify what modules in the University of Illinois Financial Literacy Badges Program align with your financial education needs and make a learning plan for yourself! Podcast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Dec 22, 2021 12:00 pm51 views In episode 32 of Making Cents of Money, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Andrea, Nikki, and Jake explain Gross Domestic Product as part of an ongoing mini series on economic indicators. Podcast: Banked or Unbanked - Choosing Financial Services for You Sep 23, 2020 12:00 pm56 views Episode 2 of Making Cents of Money, Banked or Unbanked - Choosing Financial Services for You, is all about defining unbanked/underbanked, the differences between banks & credit unions, and how to choose the right financial institution for you. Learn from Illinois' Director of Banking, Chasse Rehwinkel, and Director of Financial Institutions, Francisco Menchaca. UISAVES Week 3: Building Financial Habits Feb 29, 2020 11:30 am57 views The reality of personal finance is that it is personal and requires behavior change. Learn ways to make behavior changes easier to accomplish your goals. How to Support Small Businesses During COVID-19 Mar 31, 2020 1:00 pm57 views Here are ways you can help support small businesses during COVID-19. Budget Hacks - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Oct 21, 2020 1:00 pm57 views Money can be messy - it's not just about numbers, calculators and excel sheets. If you're looking for new ways to manage your money mess, we have the budget hacks for you! Learn how to take what we know about human behavior and choices to build better financial habits. Podcast: Saving Money on Holiday Travel Nov 6, 2024 8:00 am57 views In episode 97 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss a variety of ways to save on travel during the holidays (and beyond)! Podcast: The Financial Impact of Digital Illiteracy Aug 23, 2023 12:00 pm59 views In episode 68 of Making Cents of Money, The Financial Impact of Digital Illiteracy, Andrea and Nikki explore the financial implications of digital Illiteracy in our digital age. Podcast: Financial Socialization Dec 4, 2024 12:00 pm59 views In episode 99 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss financial socialization, how it develops, who contributes to it, and what it means for our relationship with money. Podcast: Cost of Living Sep 24, 2024 12:00 pm64 views In episode 94 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss the cost of living and why it matters when comparing costs and how far your dollars will go if you relocate. Podcast: Stages of Financial Behavior Change Mar 10, 2025 12:00 pm69 views In episode 105 of Making Cents of Money, Emily Harmon, Illinois Extension Family Life Educator, joins Kimber & Andrea to delve into the Transtheoretical Model which can help explain why behavior change relating to finances can be challenging. Podcast: Money and Relationships Feb 14, 2025 12:00 pm70 views In episode 104 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea & Kimber discuss considerations for navigating financial management when it comes to relationships, be them romantic, familial, or with friends and roommates. Food Insecurity Takes on New Meaning in 2020 Sep 25, 2020 1:00 pm71 views As Hunger Action Month comes to a close, we're reflect on how food insecurity has looked different in 2020 than in previous years. Funding a College Education Aug 11, 2023 1:30 pm72 views Funding your education can be a daunting task, but there are many tools to help students and their families cover the cost of a college education. Decreasing Borrowing While in School Aug 14, 2023 1:30 pm73 views Student loans can be a valuable tool for increasing access to higher education, but it does come with a cost. Learn how to limit those costs while in school so you decrease future costs of compounding interest. Financial Aid Notifications: Cost of Attendance is Estimated Aug 9, 2023 1:30 pm74 views Financial aid notifications, or award letters, contain valuable information that help you understand the costs of college. However, it's important to remember that Cost of Attendance is an estimate. Podcast: Choosing a Financial Professional Sep 1, 2021 12:00 pm77 views In episode 25 of Making Cents of Money, Choosing a Financial Professional, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki talk to Kathy Sweedler from University of Illinois Extension about type of financial professionals, credentials, and how to choose one that best meets your needs. Podcast: Wealth Building as a Balancing Act Jan 19, 2023 12:00 pm85 views In episode 55 of Making Cents of Money, Donovan Sanchez from University of Illinois' Financial Planning program talks about wealth building as a balancing act. Podcast: Neurodiversity and Financial Strategies Mar 26, 2025 12:00 pm88 views In episode 106 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss the nuances of neurodiversity as it relates to navigating money management. Let It Go - The Sunk Cost Fallacy and Smarter Spending Aug 25, 2025 5:00 pm93 views Discover why you keep throwing good money after bad decisions and learn the psychology-backed strategies to break free from the sunk cost trap that's costing you hundreds in subscriptions, investments, and everyday spending choices. Podcast: Building Wealth After Graduation Mar 25, 2024 12:00 pm94 views In episode 80 of Making Cents of Money, Building Wealth After Graduation, Donovan Sanchez returns to talk about how to navigate juggling multiple goals during the transition to life after college. UISAVES Week 2: Small Amounts Add Up Feb 22, 2020 11:30 am97 views An important part of building a savings habit is understanding how small amounts add up. 13 Ways to Avoid Unlucky Losses in 2025 Jun 13, 2025 8:00 am104 views Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with 13 financial planning tips! Podcast: Money Personalities & Financial Well-being Aug 4, 2021 11:00 am104 views In episode 23 of Making Cents of Money, Money Personalities & Financial Well-being, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki discuss several financial personality inventories and the CFPB's financial well-being scale as tools to better understand financial values, habits, and internal feelings around money. Podcast: Unclaimed Property in Illinois Jan 22, 2025 12:00 pm121 views In episode 102 of Making Cents of Money, Treasurer Michael Frerichs joined as a guest to discuss the state of Illinois' process for getting unclaimed property back to the owners. Podcast: Budgeting Jun 17, 2021 12:00 pm128 views In episode 20 of Making Cents of Money, Budgeting, Nikki, Andrea, and Jake cover a few of the most popular budgeting (or spending plan, if you prefer) methods to help you think about building a financial plan. Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining? May 6, 2024 12:00 pm132 views In episode 83 of Making Cents of Money, Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?, DFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. discusses the topic of redlining and how it leads to disparities for generations. Gratitude & Personal Finances Nov 18, 2022 3:45 pm134 views There are so many things to be grateful for in this life. As we go into the holiday season, in this article we will discuss about how gratitude impacts our finances. UISAVES Week 1: Goal-setting Feb 16, 2020 11:30 am136 views A strong foundation to any financial plan are goals. Set a goal with #UISAVES to connect with resources to help. universityillinoissaves.org Podcast: Financial Security and Stress Dec 8, 2021 12:00 pm137 views In episode 31 of Making Cents of Money, Financial Security and Stress, Andrea, Nikki, and Jake talk about statistics related to both financial security and stress and tips to deal with them. Podcast: Setting & Prioritizing Financial Goals Dec 20, 2023 12:00 pm140 views In episode 75 of Making Cents of Money, Setting & Prioritizing Financial Goals, Nikki and Andrea discussed several strategies for setting, prioritizing, and re-prioritizing financial goals... just in time for the new year! Friday the 13th! Financial Planning to Avoid Unlucky Losses Mar 13, 2020 10:00 am160 views Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with personal finance! Top 5 Financial Reminders for International Students Jun 1, 2020 5:45 pm178 views Tuition & fees will be due before you know it, so here are the top 5 financial reminders for International Students. Behavioral Economics: Five Ways to Shift Your Habits Nov 8, 2023 4:00 pm210 views When considering decision-making in terms of your finances, it’s important to understand behavioral economics so we can develop healthier spending habits and save money along the way. The 5 C's: A Guide to Self-Care on a Budget Sep 18, 2020 12:00 pm238 views We put together a few tips in an effort to add to your ideas and/or motivate you to start practicing self-care/self-love on a budget! Opening a Bank Account in the United States Jun 17, 2025 11:15 am261 views Looking to establish a relationship with a financial institution? We've highlighted reasons you might need one and steps to opening a checking or savings account in the U.S. Practicing Self-Advocacy in Your Financial, Professional and Social Life Mar 29, 2021 4:30 pm266 views Self-advocacy is an important skill to practice, particularly right now. Whether it's getting the resources you need to succeed in school or setting boundaries with your loved ones so you can focus on your own well-being, it's important to communicate with others about your needs, wants, and struggles throughout your life. SNAP Disruption: Where to Find Food Now Oct 31, 2025 10:00 am270 views If you or your loved ones experience a disruption in your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds this Saturday, here's where to go to find food. Focus Your Spending with Lists Nov 18, 2020 4:00 pm338 views Lists are helpful for all kinds of things, but how can they help you focus your spending? Shrinkflation Sep 19, 2022 4:15 pm519 views As we get ready for our first Get Savvy webinar of fall 2022, Inflation: When Prices Rise, we wanted to share a little bit about shrinkflation - what it is and how to cope with it as a consumer. Banking Locations Near Each University Jun 14, 2023 9:30 am539 views Looking for a financial institution on campus? Explore our Google Map for locations on or close to each campus in the University of Illinois System. Seasonal Themes: Get More Done with a Mindset Shift Jan 29, 2021 11:00 am584 views Has Your New Year's Resolution Failed? Try a Seasonal Theme! Overcoming Spending Temptations Nov 16, 2020 3:30 pm623 views Get some idea starters on how to overcome spending temptations, just in time for the shopping season! How do people with vision impairments manage money? Jun 16, 2020 12:45 pm673 views Vision impairments can complicate how people manage their money. Learn about ways that people with reduced vision or blindness can be empowered to navigate finances on their own. Refinancing an International Education Loan in the United States Sep 28, 2023 10:00 am799 views Suhas Vetri Annamalai, SMMC Support Specialist and student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business, discusses multiple factors to consider when deciding if refinancing your international student loan in the U.S. is the right choice for you. Breaking a Rental Lease in Illinois Sep 1, 2023 5:15 pm839 views Kwabena Sarfo Adjei, SMMC Support Specialist and LLM student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Law, describes how he was able to get out of his rental lease after finding the rental property did not meet his expectations.
