blog posts #SMMCSharingIsCaring Contest Apr 5, 2021 12:00 pm14 views Share and interact with #SMMCSharingIsCaring tagged posts from SMMC on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook between April 5 - 16, 2021, to get entered to win one of 10+ financial wellness kits in honor of National Financial Capability Month. Podcast: The Community Reinvestment Act Aug 17, 2022 12:00 pm14 views In episode 47 of Making Cents of Money, Chasse Rehwinkel joined Nikki & Andrea to discuss the Community Reinvestment Act and how it is intended to support economic equality. Expect the Unexpected: Saving For Emergencies Jan 15, 2015 11:00 am12 views Planning for the unexpected can ensure that you are able to weather a financial hardship should you lose your job, have a car repair, or any other unplanned expense. By having savings set aside for emergencies, you decrease the need to rely on credit cards or loans to cover emergency situations. Your college years can be an ideal time to create and build your emergency savings. Podcast: Professional Licensure in Illinois May 19, 2021 12:00 pm12 views Episode 18 of Making Cents of Money, Professional Licensure in Illinois, helps us understand the scope of professional licensing in Illinois across many different industries and some protections in place for consumers. Student Loan Updates - Mini Webinar Series for 2023-2024 Jun 16, 2023 12:00 pm12 views SMMC & IDFPR are co-hosting a monthly webinar series between July 2023 - March 2024. Each 15-20 minute webinar will focus on a different topic related to federal student loans as repayment begins again in October 2023. Podcast: Shopping for Appliances Jul 8, 2022 12:00 pm12 views In episode 44 of Making Cents of Money, Nikki and Andrea talk about shopping for appliances, and they've focused on times when it may be a surprise shopping need! Podcast: What's a Credit Report Anyway? Aug 9, 2023 12:00 pm12 views In episode 67 of Making Cents of Money, What's a Credit Report Anyway?, Nikki and Andrea discuss what's in your credit reports and how to get them at AnnualCreditReport.com. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinars for 2022-2023 Aug 22, 2022 12:00 pm12 views The 2022-2023 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Podcast: Free Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents Apr 22, 2024 12:00 pm11 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. Podcast: Password Managers Jul 28, 2023 12:00 pm11 views In episode 66 of Making Cents of Money, Password Managers, we explore what password managers are and how they can be leveraged to protect your important information. Podcast: What Happens When a Bank Fails? Mar 11, 2024 12:00 pm10 views In episode 79 of Making Cents of Money, What Happens When a Bank Fails?, Chicago City Comptroller and former Illinois Director of Banking, Chasse Rehwinkel joins us to discuss recent incidents of bank failure and how these differed from others in history. IDFPR Webinars on Temporary Expanded PSLF Aug 19, 2022 11:45 am10 views IDFPR is hosting 4 webinars between now and October 30th on the temporarily expanded PSLF program for Public School Educators. Inflation: When Prices Rise - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Sep 28, 2022 1:00 pm10 views Learn about how inflation impacts individual consumers by watching this webinar recording from September 28 2022. Podcast: Loan Payments Resumed in October Oct 31, 2023 12:00 pm10 views In episode 73 of Making Cents of Money, Loan Payments Resumed in October, we discussed the "on-ramp" to repayment being implemented by the U.S. Department of Education as millions of borrowers started making payments on their federal loans again in October. Podcast: Tackling Insurance! (Part 2) Nov 3, 2021 12:00 pm10 views In episode 29 of Making Cents of Money, Tackling Insurance! (Part 2), Nikki and Jake talked with Laura Pellikan from the Illinois Department of Insurance about the basics of health insurance and ways you can get covered. Podcast: Gross National Happiness Feb 9, 2022 12:00 pm9 views In episode 34 of Making Cents of Money, Gross National Happiness, Jake and Nikki discuss an alternative metric to Gross Domestic Product that some countries use to help monitor the health of their economies called Gross National Happiness. Podcast: Is Crypto the Wild West? Feb 26, 2024 12:00 pm9 views In episode 78 of Making Cents of Money, Is Crypto the Wild West?, David DeCarlo and Jake Hamilton join us to discuss what regulation does and does not exist for consumers regarding crypto. Student Loan Repayment - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Apr 14, 2021 1:00 pm9 views There are 8 repayment plans for federal student loans, 10 federal student loan servicers, and an abundance of terms, tools, and tips to remember to manage federal, institutional, and private student loans. Watch our Student Loan Repayment webinar recording to learn about your options as a borrower. Podcast: The Impact of Compound Interest Sep 20, 2023 12:00 pm9 views In episode 70 of Making Cents of Money, The Impact of Compound Interest, Andrea and Nikki explore the complicated relationship we can have with compound interest when it comes to accomplishing financial goals. Investing Basics - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Mar 10, 2021 1:00 pm8 views Investing - it's not for the faint of heart, because investing in the stock market involves risk. Knowing and understanding terminology, fees, types of professionals, as well as investment methods can be a whirlwind of terms and confusing concepts. Learn the basics and have a better understanding on how investing works! Podcast: World Investor Week Oct 4, 2023 12:00 pm8 views In episode 71 of Making Cents of Money, World Investor Week, Andrea interviews Alan Sorcher and Anne McKinley from the US Securities & Exchange Commission in honor of World Investor Week on ways investors can learn about securities throughout the year. Podcast: Student Loan Update Oct 6, 2021 12:00 pm8 views In episode 27 of Making Cents of Money, Student Loan Update, Jake and Nikki gave a quick update on the state of federal student loans. Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining? May 6, 2024 12:00 pm7 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. Podcast: Reintroductions Jun 2, 2021 12:00 pm7 views Episode 19 of Making Cents of Money, Reintroductions, lets us learn more about one of the co-hosts, Jake Hamilton, the history behind the podcast, and what's in store for the future of this audio teaching medium. Podcast: What is Crypto Anyway? Jan 29, 2024 12:00 pm6 views In episode 76 of Making Cents of Money, What is Crypto Anyway?, Jake Hamilton, a previous podcast co-host, comes back to provide an overview of how crypto works and what the future looks like for this financial technology. Podcast: Tax Talk Feb 9, 2024 12:00 pm6 views In episode 77 of Making Cents of Money, Tax Talk, Andrea and Nikki talk tax... forms, terms, and more as the April 15 federal tax deadline approaches. Podcast: Help with Utility Bills May 3, 2023 12:00 pm6 views In episode 61 of Making Cents of Money, we learn about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If you're struggling to pay utilities, apply by May 31! Podcast: Help for Renters Jun 21, 2023 12:00 pm6 views In episode 64 of Making Cents of Money, Kari Byer, Director of the APLD & Investigations, joins us again to talk about programs designed to help find and afford renting a place to live. Buying vs Renting a Home - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Apr 13, 2022 1:00 pm5 views Explore the differences between renting & buying and what to consider when deciding what's best for your situation by watching this webinar recording from April 13, 2022. Podcast: Farewell, Jake! May 13, 2022 12:00 pm5 views In episode 40 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki bid farewell to long time co-host, Jake, as he transitions off the podcast and on to the next step in his career! Podcast: Get Covered, Illinois May 22, 2023 12:00 pm5 views In episode 62 of Making Cents of Money, Brian Gorman, Director of Outreach & Engagement for Get Covered Illinois, answers our questions about managing healthcare costs. Podcast: Help for Homeowners Jun 7, 2023 12:00 pm5 views In episode 63 of Making Cents of Money, Kari Byer, Director of the APLD & Investigations, joins us to talk about programs designed to help those who may be struggling with initial and ongoing homeownership costs. Identity Theft & Fraud - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Sep 16, 2021 1:00 pm5 views Find out how to protect yourself from fraud, recognize identity theft, and what to do if you're affected with this webinar recording from September 15, 2021. Student Loans Webinar #8 Recording: Different Types of Student Loans Feb 16, 2024 1:00 pm4 views It's important to know the types of loans that you have in order to understand your repayment and other student loan management options. Student Loans Webinar #2 Recording: Explore Repayment Plans with the Loan Simulator Aug 18, 2023 1:00 pm4 views We explained the many repayment plan options available for federal loans, but the primary action item we wanted you to focus on was using the Loan Simulator to explore repayment plan eligibility. Exit Counseling is Live for Institutional Student Loan Borrowers Oct 1, 2020 4:15 pm4 views If you borrowed institutional loans to pay for school and are graduating or leaving school soon, don't forget to complete your Exit Counseling to avoid a transcript hold! Side Hustles & Small Businesses - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Oct 26, 2022 1:00 pm4 views Learn about side hustles & small businesses by watching this webinar recording from October 26, 2022. Build Credit to Your Advantage - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Nov 9, 2022 1:00 pm4 views Learn about building credit to your advantage by watching this webinar recording from November 9, 2022. Spend Less, Travel More - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Dec 7, 2022 1:00 pm4 views Learn about how to spend less to travel more by watching this webinar recording from December 7, 2022. Webinar Recording: Money, Stress, & Bad Habits May 1, 2024 1:00 pm3 views Understand the connection between money, stress, and bad habits. Learn strategies to manage stress, break free from detrimental financial behaviors, and cultivate a healthier relationship with money. Student Loans Webinar #7 Recording: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Jan 19, 2024 1:00 pm2 views Learn if you can qualify for PSLF as a federal student loan borrower working in public service. Money in Relationships - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Feb 9, 2022 1:00 pm2 views Explore methods of communicating and managing money in relationships by watching this webinar recording from February 8, 2022. Financial Emergency Preparedness - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Mar 30, 2022 1:00 pm2 views Discover tools to help you prepare for dealing with potential financial emergencies by watching this webinar recording from March 30, 2022. Student Loans Webinar #3 Recording: Review Consolidation or Refinancing Sep 15, 2023 1:00 pm2 views We discussed interest and the differences between consolidating and refinancing your student loans. Carefully consider the consequences of using a private refinance loan to pay off federal student loans. Student Loans Webinar #4 Recording: Know Options if You Can't Pay Oct 20, 2023 1:00 pm2 views We focused on what your options are if you can't make a payment, including the differences between deferment and forbearance. Student Loans Webinar #5 Recording: Fresh Start & On-Ramp to Repayment Nov 17, 2023 1:00 pm2 views We discussed both the On-Ramp to Repayment and the Fresh Start Program during this webinar. If you had loans previously in Default, the Fresh Start program may be a good program for you. Student Loans Webinar #6 Recording: Managing PLUS Loans Dec 15, 2023 1:00 pm2 views We explored the unique features of Direct Parent PLUS loans and Graduate PLUS loans. Direct Parent PLUS loans have more unique repayment considerations than all other types of Direct Loans. Webinar Recording: Money In Your Entrepreneurial Pursuit Jan 24, 2024 1:00 pm1 views Master your finances as an entrepreneur. Learn best practices for money management while building your business. Investing Risks & Rewards - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Feb 8, 2023 1:00 pm1 views Discover investing risks & rewards by watching this webinar recording from February 8, 2023. Save Money on Food - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Feb 24, 2021 1:00 pm1 views At the end of a busy day, when you’re hungry and tired, do you go home knowing you’re all set to prepare a tasty, healthy dinner? Are you happy with how much money you spend on food? Would you like to learn some tricks for eating well for less money? If any of these questions resonate with you, then How to Save on Food is the educational opportunity for you!
