blog navigation

SMMC News & Events Blog
This blog highlights news, events, and informative articles on personal finance from University of Illinois System's Student Money Management Center. Feel free to navigate to different categories with the list of topics on the right or search for a specific topic next to the view all link below.
News

blog posts

  • Before You Give or Take Financial Advice, Read This

    Before You Give or Take Financial Advice, Read This

    Jun 26, 2025 12:30 pm6 views

    Whether we mean to or not, we all do it at some point in our lives--give or take financial advice that may be ill-informed. Read what to watch for when taking financial advice and what risks exist for giving financial advice.

  • Opening a Bank Account in the US with photo of a phone on the calculator screen laying on top of some US bank notes (cash)

    Opening a Bank Account in the United States

    Jun 17, 2025 11:15 am131 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.

  • Black Cat with Yellow Eyes. White Text Says: 13 Ways to Avoid Unlucky Losses in 2025

    13 Ways to Avoid Unlucky Losses in 2025

    Jun 13, 2025 8:00 am19 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!

  • More Than Money: What to Consider in a Job Offer Package

    More Than Money: What to Consider in a Job Offer Package

    May 1, 2025 4:00 pm145 views

    There are more things to consider with a job offer than salary. Read this article to learn how to evaluate the true value of a job position. 

  • Money and Happiness

    Webinar Recording: Money & Happiness

    May 1, 2025 1:00 pm0 views

    Can money buy happiness? Watch our webinar recording from May 1 to explore the relationship between money and happiness. 

  • What Are Out-Of-Pocket [Healthcare] Costs?

    What Are Out-of-Pocket Costs?

    Apr 29, 2025 8:15 pm85 views

    When it comes to healthcare, it's hard to keep track of out-of-pocket costs and how it can impact our overall healthcare expenses in a given year. This article sheds light on this complicated topic so you can make more informed choices for your overall wellbeing and your wallet.

  • A man in a chair in front of some trees with white text that states Roth vs Traditional Retirement Plans: What’s the difference?

    Roth vs Traditional Retirement Plans: What’s the Difference?

    Apr 22, 2025 12:00 pm43 views

    When it comes to retirement-focused investing, understanding the tax treatment and rules of different accounts is essential for long-term financial planning. In the U.S., these typically fall into two main categories: Traditional and Roth accounts.

  • Fact Check Your Debt

    Fact Check Your Debt Challenge - Spring 2025

    Apr 9, 2025 2:00 pm256 views

    There have been a lot of changes recently that impact student loan borrowers. Can you tell myth from fact in the sea of student loan misinformation? Take the Fact Check Your Debt Quiz by May 1, 2025, to find out.

  • Job Opening with SMMC Grad Students at Urbana Apply Now

    SMMC Grad Hourly Job Openings at Urbana

    Apr 7, 2025 10:00 am212 views

    Are you looking for an opportunity to enhance your professional skills while in school as well as your knowledge of personal finance? University Bursar's Student Money Management Center has two job openings at Urbana!

    Apply to be an SMMC Support Specialist!

  • National Financial Capability Month podcast

    Podcast: National Financial Capability Month

    Apr 4, 2025 12:00 pm13 views

    In episode 107 of Making Cents of Money, Kimber and Andrea talk about National Financial Capability Month which runs the entirety of April every year.

  • Money, Stress, and Bad Habits

    Webinar Recording: Money, Stress, & Bad Habits

    Apr 3, 2025 1:00 pm3 views

    Stress impacting your finances? Watch this webinar recording on YouTube to uncover the connection between stress, money, and bad habits. Learn strategies to improve your financial health and overall well-being. 

  • Neurodiversity and Financial Strategies

    Podcast: Neurodiversity and Financial Strategies

    Mar 26, 2025 12:00 pm60 views

    In episode 106 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss the nuances of neurodiversity as it relates to navigating money management.

  • Psychology of Money - Stages of Change

    Webinar Recording: Psychology of Money - Stages of Change

    Mar 13, 2025 1:00 pm3 views

    Transform your financial habits! Explore the Psychology of Money and the Stages of Change. Learn how to achieve lasting financial well-being.

  • Podcast: Stages of Financial Behavior Change

    Mar 10, 2025 12:00 pm62 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.

  • Student Loan Management

    Webinar Recording: Student Loan Management

    Mar 6, 2025 1:00 pm5 views

    There are many things to be aware of when it comes to managing those loans from application to pay-off (or forgiveness). Learn the terms, tips, and tools to make managing your education debt easier.

  • Job Search Due Diligence

    Job Search Due Diligence in the U.S. – Avoiding Job Scams

    Feb 25, 2025 10:30 am205 views

    In this article, Kwabena Sarfo Adjei discusses job search due diligence and how job seekers can navigate the perilous journey of landing a dream job while avoiding becoming a victim of a job scam in this digital age.   

  • Webinar Recording: Investing 102 - Risks & Rewards

    Feb 20, 2025 1:00 pm6 views

    Take your investing knowledge to the next level! Watch Investing 102 to learn advanced concepts and key tips for successful investing.

  • Discover Hidden Treasures: Reclaim Your Unclaimed Property Today!

    Feb 19, 2025 8:00 am188 views

    The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office holds over $5 billion in unclaimed property, and through the I-Cash program, residents can easily search for and reclaim forgotten assets, with nearly $299 million returned in 2024. 

  • Money and Relationships

    Podcast: Money and Relationships

    Feb 14, 2025 12:00 pm38 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.

  • Episode 103 of Making Cents of Money: Economics of Cannabis [in Illinois]

    Podcast: Economics of Cannabis [in Illinois]

    Feb 7, 2025 12:00 pm42 views

    In episode 103 of Making Cents of Money, Vaughn Bentley, Deputy Director of Cannabis Control at IDFPR, joins Kimber and Andrea to discuss the economics of cannabis in Illinois.

  • Webinar Recording: Investing 101 - Wealth Building Basics

    Feb 6, 2025 1:00 pm7 views

    Want to start investing? Watch Investing 101: Wealth Building Basics to learn basic investing terms and concepts to confidently begin your investment journey.

  • How the Rule of 72 Can Help You Build Wealth--Or Sink Deeper Into Debt

    How the Rule of 72 Can Help You Build Wealth—Or Sink Deeper Into Debt

    Feb 6, 2025 12:30 pm586 views

    Whether you are saving for a goal or dealing with debt, the Rule of 72 offers a simple, yet effective way to estimate the time it takes for money to grow or for debt to balloon due to compound interest. 

  • Understand Your Refund Challenge

    Understand Your Refund - Spring 2025

    Jan 29, 2025 10:00 am309 views

    Many students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn answers to frequently asked questions about refunds and get entered to win one of five $50 gift cards.

  • Taxes for International Students

    Webinar Recording: Taxes for International Students

    Jan 23, 2025 1:00 pm3 views

    Are you an international student navigating U.S. taxes? Watch Taxes for International Students January 23, 2025, to learn the key rules to stay compliant.

  • Picture of an old rusty lockbox

    Podcast: Unclaimed Property in Illinois

    Jan 22, 2025 12:00 pm114 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.

  • Tackling Tax Basics

    Webinar Recording: Tackling Tax Basics

    Jan 16, 2025 1:00 pm2 views

    Get ready for tax season! Watch Tackling Tax Basics from January 16, 2025, to learn the basics of tackling taxes. Understand essential concepts to confidently manage your taxes.

  • A notebook on someone's lap with the word "Goals" written on the first page

    Podcast: New Year, New Financial Resolutions

    Dec 28, 2024 12:00 pm22 views

    In episode 101 of Making Cents of Money, join Kimber and Andrea for pointers on pursuing your financial resolutions in the new year.

  • Podcast: The [Episode] with All the Co-Hosts

    Dec 17, 2024 12:00 pm9 views

    In episode 100 of Making Cents of Money, all the co-hosts (past and present) reunite to celebrate the release of the 100th podcast episode.

  • Mastering the Consumer Credit Game

    Webinar Recording: Mastering the Consumer Credit Game

    Dec 5, 2024 1:00 pm4 views

    Watch Mastering the Consumer Credit Game on YouTube to learn how to build, manage, and protect your credit, a crucial financial tool in the game of life. 

  • Financial Socialization

    Podcast: Financial Socialization

    Dec 4, 2024 12:00 pm40 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.

  • Bankruptcy Basics: A Tool for Trouble Finances

    Bankruptcy Basics: A Tool for Troubled Finances

    Nov 26, 2024 12:30 pm39 views

    Bankruptcy is a tool for managing financial responsibilities when circumstances make them more than you can bare. However, understanding the different types of bankruptcy can be tricky, so you can read how they may apply to different situations. 

  • Costs of Car Ownership

    Podcast: Costs of Car Ownership

    Nov 21, 2024 8:00 am16 views

    In episode 98 of Making Cents of Money, Kimber and Andrea talk about the costs of car ownership and what to consider when deciding on if a vehicle is a need or a want for you. 

  • Know What You Owe Challenge

    Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2024

    Nov 15, 2024 8:00 am305 views

    About half of students at the University of Illinois take out loans to fund their degrees. Make sure you're not surprised by the amount of student loans you have taken out when you graduate by taking the Know What You Owe Challenge which runs November 15 - December 15, 2024.

  • Budgeting for a Week white text on photo of printed graphs and charts with a calculator

    Budgeting for a Week: A Realistic Approach

    Nov 8, 2024 4:00 pm997 views

    Budgeting empowers you to work toward reasonable financial goals, keeping you from overspending and accruing debt. Explore steps you can take this week to start building a budgeting habit.

  • Building, Protecting, and Leaving Your Nest Egg

    Webinar Recording: Building, Protecting, & Leaving Your Nest Egg

    Nov 7, 2024 1:00 pm4 views

    Plan your legacy with confidence. Watch Building, Protecting, & Leaving Your Nest Egg to learn essential concepts of asset management across the life span. Build, protect, and leave your nest egg for future generations.

  • Saving Money on Holiday Travel text over photo of a toy plane and gift on pink table

    Podcast: Saving Money on Holiday Travel

    Nov 6, 2024 8:00 am47 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)! 

  • Zombie Properties & Mortgages

    Podcast: Zombie Properties & Mortgages

    Oct 22, 2024 12:00 pm15 views

    In episode 96 of Making Cents of Money, Kari Beyer from IDFPR's Division of Banking is back to discuss the dangers of zombie mortgages and zombie properties in this special halloween-themed edition. 

  • Basic Needs & Needs Insecurity

    Podcast: Basic Needs & Needs Insecurity

    Oct 7, 2024 12:00 pm14 views

    In episode 95 of Making Cents of Money, basic needs and needs security and some adjacent terms, like financial fragility, are discussed by our co-hosts, Kimber and Andrea.

  • Side Hustles & Small Business

    Webinar Recording: Side Hustles & Small Business

    Oct 3, 2024 1:00 pm3 views

    Turn your passion into profit! Explore the world of Side Hustles and Small Businesses on YouTube to learn how to start, manage, and grow your entrepreneurial ventures.

  • Searching for Part-Time Jobs as a Student

    Sep 30, 2024 5:00 pm82 views

    Searching for part-time work? In order to land that side hustle, it helps to know where to go, how to prepare your application materials, and what to ask when it comes to the interviewing process.

  • Group of diverse college students with their thumbs up

    The Power of Financial Education: A Key to Success for College Students

    Sep 25, 2024 12:30 pm3435 views

    Financial education is essential for college students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to make informed financial decisions that will not only enhance their college experience but also pave the way for long-term success.

  • Podcast: Cost of Living

    Sep 24, 2024 12:00 pm51 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.

  • On Ramp to Repayment Ends September 30 for Federal Student Loan Borrowers

    Podcast: On Ramp to Repayment Ends 9/30 for Federal Loan Borrowers

    Sep 16, 2024 12:00 pm43 views

    In episode 93 of Making Cents of Money, Brad Fletcher joins us yet again to talk about the On Ramp to Repayment ending on September 30, 2024, and what that means for borrowers currently in repayment.

  • Budget Hacks

    Webinar Recording: Budget Hacks

    Sep 12, 2024 1:00 pm5 views

    Ready to save more and spend smarter? Discover practical tips and tricks to make your money go further and achieve your financial goals by watching Budget Hacks on YouTube.

  • PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Podcast: PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Sep 10, 2024 12:00 pm74 views

    In episode 92 of Making Cents of Money, Brad Fletcher joins us again to talk about the current state of student loans on the SAVE repayment plan and the PSLF Buyback program for borrowers nearing completion of their PSLF requirements.

  • Understand Your Refund Quiz

    Understand Your Refund - Fall 2024

    Aug 29, 2024 7:00 am194 views

    Many students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn answers to frequently asked questions about refunds and get entered to win one of five $50 gift cards.

  • Podcast episode 91: Retirement Savings in Illinois

    Podcast: Retirement Savings in Illinois

    Aug 26, 2024 12:00 pm40 views

    In episode 91 of Making Cents of Money, Retirement Savings in Illinois, Christine Cheng from the Illinois Treasurer's office discusses how Illinois is addressing barriers to planning for retirement and helping small businesses provide retirement benefits to their employees.

  • Rabbit in a hat with white text stating "Demystifying the financial aid process"

    Webinar Recording: Demystifying the Financial Aid Process

    Aug 22, 2024 1:00 pm22 views

    Unlock the secrets of financial aid. Learn how to maximize your financial aid package and ease the burden of tuition. Join us to navigate the complex world of financial aid with confidence. 

  • Podcast: Back to School - College & Credit

    Aug 12, 2024 12:00 pm42 views

    In episode 90 of Making Cents of Money, Back to School: College & Credit, Kimber & Andrea discuss credit cards and financing options for students and families, including the different tools and their short and long-term impacts.

  • Podcast: Goodbye Nikki, Hello Kimber!

    Aug 12, 2024 10:00 am37 views

    In episode 89 of Making Cents of Money, Goodbye Nikki, Hello Kimber!, we have a bitter sweet send-off to long-time host, Nikki Giancola-Shanks but welcome a new voice, Kimber Beckler, to the show.