blog posts Behavioral Economics: Five Ways to Shift Your Habits Nov 8, 2023 4:00 pm238 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. Job Search Due Diligence in the U.S. – Avoiding Job Scams Feb 25, 2025 10:30 am236 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. SMMC Grad Hourly Job Openings at Urbana Apr 7, 2025 10:00 am235 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! Understand Your Refund - Fall 2022 Sep 1, 2022 1:00 pm234 views Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn how to avoid being one of them. What Are Out-of-Pocket Costs? Apr 29, 2025 8:15 pm225 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. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series Aug 14, 2018 8:00 am222 views The 2018-2019 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Searching for Part-Time Jobs as a Student Sep 30, 2024 5:00 pm217 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. ESG: Investing in Values to Make the World a Better Place Oct 4, 2022 4:30 pm212 views Investing has become more than just seeking financial returns. It can be a means to support organizations, projects, and companies that align with your values. Read on to learn more about ESG and what it means to consumer influence. Podcast: Student Loan Repayment in 2025 Nov 6, 2025 12:00 pm212 views In episode 118 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea & Kimber summarize the last 5 years of student loan policy shifts and highlight recent changes impacting borrowers' options for managing their federal (and private) student loans. Understand Your Refund - Fall 2024 Aug 29, 2024 7:00 am200 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: Why Regulation Matters Oct 20, 2025 12:00 pm196 views In episode 117 of Making Cents of Money, IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. joins Kimber & Andrea to explain the importance of regulatory initatives that protect consumers and how Illinois is leading the nation in instituting and enhancing consumer protections. How to Support Wellness While Virtual Mar 18, 2020 4:15 pm180 views Learn ways to enhance your overall wellness in a virtual environment. 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. Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2021 Nov 15, 2021 12:00 pm178 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, 2021. Understand Your Refund - Spring 2023 Feb 1, 2023 1:00 pm177 views Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn how to avoid being one of them. Roth vs Traditional Retirement Plans: What’s the Difference? Apr 22, 2025 12:00 pm177 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. Know What You Owe Challenge Apr 1, 2021 12:00 pm173 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 April 1 - May 1, 2021. Podcast: Paying for College with Scholarships Nov 18, 2022 12:00 pm170 views In episode 52 of Making Cents of Money, Nikki and Andrea talk to special guest, Kara Holloway, Director of Scholarships at UIC, about paying for college with scholarships. Friday the 13th! Financial Planning to Avoid Unlucky Losses Mar 13, 2020 10:00 am161 views Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with personal finance! Know What You Owe Challenge - Spring 2024 Apr 1, 2024 8:00 am154 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 April 1 - May 1, 2024. Podcast Partnership Launching with Illinois Division of Financial & Professional Regulation! Aug 31, 2020 9:15 am149 views A new podcast launched today, Making Cents of Money, co-hosted by our very own Andrea Pellegrini and Illinois Division of Financial & Professional Regulation's Nikki Giancola-Shanks! Podcast: Financial Security and Stress Dec 8, 2021 12:00 pm147 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 pm144 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! Understand Your Refund Challenge - Spring 2020 Jan 23, 2020 4:00 pm143 views Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn how to avoid being one of them. 6 Considerations for Finding Funding During COVID-19 Oct 2, 2020 4:45 pm138 views Finding money for your education, especially grad school, can be more difficult now. Read the 6 considerations for finding funding during COVID-19 to learn about searching for fellowships. UISAVES Week 1: Goal-setting Feb 16, 2020 11:30 am137 views A strong foundation to any financial plan are goals. Set a goal with #UISAVES to connect with resources to help. universityillinoissaves.org Know What You Owe Challenge Dec 15, 2019 11:45 pm137 views Over 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. Gratitude & Personal Finances Nov 18, 2022 3:45 pm136 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. Podcast: Student Loans Apr 13, 2021 12:00 pm135 views Episode 16 of Making Cents of Money, Student Loans, lays out some student loan statistics, considerations, and protections for borrowers in preparation for our webinar on Student Loan Repayment tomorrow! Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining? May 6, 2024 12:00 pm135 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: Budgeting Jun 17, 2021 12:00 pm133 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. Understand Your Refund - Fall 2023 Sep 1, 2023 1:00 pm131 views Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn how to avoid being one of them. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series (Spring 2020) Jan 29, 2020 8:00 am130 views The Spring 2020 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Let It Go - The Sunk Cost Fallacy and Smarter Spending Aug 25, 2025 5:00 pm129 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: Unclaimed Property in Illinois Jan 22, 2025 12:00 pm125 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. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinars for 2021-2022 Jun 29, 2021 12:00 pm125 views The 2021-2022 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Know What You Owe Challenge Nov 15, 2020 12:00 pm123 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. Podcast: Financial Wellness Concepts Jul 29, 2024 12:00 pm120 views In episode 88 of Making Cents of Money, Financial Wellness Concepts, Nikki and Andrea discuss several terms that are often used interchangeably related to financial wellness and their definitions. Spring 2019 Understand Your Refund Quiz Jan 15, 2019 9:45 am119 views Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund. Learn how to avoid being one of them. Podcast: Understanding Credit Nov 10, 2020 12:00 pm116 views Episode 5 of Making Cents of Money, Understanding Credit, explores the complicated world of credit to help demystify things like scores, reports, and credit management. Podcast: Money Personalities & Financial Well-being Aug 4, 2021 11:00 am114 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. Understand Your Refund - Spring 2024 Feb 1, 2024 7:00 am113 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. UISAVES 2020 runs February 16 - March 7! Feb 13, 2020 12:15 pm113 views The overall goal of UISAVES is to create a culture of savings at our three universities – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, and University of Illinois at Springfield. Read on to learn what we're doing for the 2020 campaign! Travel Planning Templates Jul 6, 2021 3:45 pm111 views Getting excited to travel? You can use these templates to help get your planning started for your next trip! Podcast: Preventing Identity Theft Oct 22, 2020 12:00 pm110 views Episode 4 of Making Cents of Money, Preventing Identity Theft, looks at identity theft and fraud statistics as well as how we can protect our money from potential theft. Podcast: Credit Scores Nov 2, 2022 12:00 pm110 views In episode 51 of Making Cents of Money, Nikki and Andrea discuss some of the ins and outs of credit scores, the credit ecosystem, and building credit to your advantage. Podcast: Wealth Building as a Balancing Act Jan 19, 2023 12:00 pm109 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. Publications & Resources Addressing Consumer Needs in U.S. During COVID-19 Apr 7, 2020 2:00 pm107 views We've compiled a list of federal websites & resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic that may be helpful in addressing some of your financial questions. 13 Ways to Avoid Unlucky Losses in 2025 Jun 13, 2025 8:00 am107 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: Neurodiversity and Financial Strategies Mar 26, 2025 12:00 pm105 views In episode 106 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss the nuances of neurodiversity as it relates to navigating money management.
