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.

Watch this recorded webinar to make informed housing decisions by learning to calculate true ownership costs beyond mortgage payments, evaluate market conditions, and assess your personal financial situation.

In episode 126 of Making Cents of Money, Zach Smith from AccessLex joins to discuss upcoming shifts related to federal student loans in the coming 2026-2027 academic year after a series of legislative changes. 

Learn how to spot social engineering traps, protect your bank accounts, and recover from modern fraud, with practical strategies for slowing down under pressure, verifying familiar brands, and securing your identity before a scam costs you.

Thinking about content creation as a career or side hustle? The creator economy is worth $250 billion but the financial reality is more complicated than it looks. Our newest blog covers what you actually need to know: income volatility, emergency funds, FTC disclosure rules, business structure, and self-employment taxes. Go in with clear eyes.

Watch this recorded webinar to master effective strategies for managing student loan debt by learning about repayment options, forgiveness programs, refinancing considerations, and techniques to pay off loans faster.

 In episode 125 of Making Cents of Money, Jake Hamilton returns as a guest to tell us about a new resource for consumers and businesses regarding digital assets (e.g., cryptocurrencies). 

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 until May 1.

Generative AI was used to repurpose a Decision Tree created by Access Lex into an interactive tool to help Federal student loan borrowers understand their repayment options during the implementation transition of OBBBA legislative changes to loans.

In episode 124 of Making Cents of Money, Corbin McGhee joins us again to continue our conversation on insurance from Part 1 published in early February.

Learn how to stretch your money, protect your mental health, and build a financial safety net during the post-graduation gap, with practical strategies for survival budgeting, bridge jobs, and managing student loans before your first payment hits.

Watch this recorded webinar to learn how insurance protects your financial security by exploring different coverage types including health, auto, renters, and life insurance to get the best value for your protection dollars.

In episode 123 of Making Cents of Money, Brad Fletcher joins to discuss an upcoming deadline for anyone who is considering a Direct Consolidation Loan for their currently held federal loans. If you want the flexibility of current Income-Driven Repayment plans, listen in. 

Watch this recorded webinar to advance your investment knowledge with strategies for protecting your investments, diversification techniques, performance evaluation tools, and risk management to optimize long-term results.

Not sure where to begin with investing? This post breaks it down into six manageable steps — from building a financial foundation and figuring out how much you can contribute, to choosing the right platform for your goals. Wherever you're starting from, there's an approach that fits your situation. 

Watch this recorded webinar to start your wealth-building journey by learning fundamental investing concepts, exploring different investment options, understanding risk and return, and creating a simple investment strategy.

Making Cents of Money is partnering with the Illinois Department of Insurance’s Corbin Mcghee for a two-part series about Managing Risk with Insurance. In Part 1, learn why insurance is important and how the coverage you select impacts your wallet and your peace of mind.  

This article compares stocks and cryptocurrency as investment options, focusing on risk management for new investors. Stocks offer established regulatory protections, proven diversification strategies, and centuries of historical data, while crypto represents a newer asset class with extreme volatility, limited oversight, and minimal performance history. The key message is that both require informed decision-making, but they serve different risk tolerances and investment goals.

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.

There are many measures we can use to track our personal finances. Typically, we talk about the subjective measures of financial well-being in the Student Money Management Center, because we're focused on helping our learners understand the nuance of financial decisions. However, traditional, objective financial measures, like net worth, can also be helpful in tracking our progress towards financial goals and gaining confidence.

Watch this recorded webinar to master financial aid applications by learning to navigate FAFSA forms confidently, understand different types of aid, identify scholarship opportunities, and avoid costly mistakes.

In this post, we cover financial foundations you need before investing—emergency savings, managing high-interest debt, and setting clear goals. Plus: how diversification and time horizons work, understanding the risk-return spectrum, and red flags to watch for.

Private student loans currently make up less than 10% of outstanding student loan debt in the United States. However, with the impending changes to federal student loan options for students, more students and families may be onsidering private loans to accomplish their educational goals. Here's what to consider when comparing alternative loan options.

A college degree is a significant investment, often funded through a cornucopia of funding types. This article describes how to increase the overall return on investment in a college degree, including short- and long-term strategies. Since the majority of students borrow to pay for school, we pay particular attention to student loan management methods that can save students and alumni money.

It’s a new year, and with that comes a slew of advice on financial topics to tie into your resolutions. But before you listen to that influencer, click that link, or even take guidance from a family member, there are important factors to consider. In this episode, Making Cents of Money dives deep into the topic of using caution before giving or receiving financial advice.

Learn what neobanks are, how deposit insurance really works with these services, and the key differences between them and traditional banks. Essential reading before you move your money to a digital-only platform.

Transform your financial goals into achievable plans while learning about compound interest through our research study combining goal-setting with visualizations.

Can money really buy happiness? On this episode of Making Cents of Money, we unwrap the science behind money and joy with Donovan Sanchez who returns to discuss his primary research interest. From hedonic adaptation to pro-social spending, learn ways to boost well-being without breaking the bank. 

Your data in AI tools goes further than you think—stored indefinitely, used for training, aggregated across conversations. In our new blog, we discuss what happens to the data you feed to LLMs, and how to protect yourself while still using AI effectively.

Watch this recorded webinar to protect your wallet and personal data during holiday activities by learning essential cybersecurity tips, spotting common scams, and handling holiday hacks if they happen. 

In episode 119 of Making Cents of Money, Kimber & Andrea discuss the value and importance of using your paid time off benefits. Don't let the benefits you've earned slip away, especially during the season of spending time with family & friends.

A quick guide on why a rainy day fund matters and how even a small savings buffer can reduce stress, prevent crisis decisions, and help you handle unexpected expenses with confidence.

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 until December 15.

Watch this recorded webinar to navigate career transitions and economic uncertainty by learning how to create backup plans, evaluate compensation packages, and budget for extended job searches.

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.

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.

Watch this recorded webinar to overcome budgeting fears with this Halloween-themed approach to creating realistic spending plans that stick, tracking expenses effectively, and transforming financial stress into confidence.

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.

In episode 116 of Making Cents of Money, Mark Smith from Gies College of Business who teaches Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign discusses what to consider when buying a business.

Watch this recorded webinar to discover practical meal planning techniques and smart shopping strategies that may help you reduce your grocery expenses and costs of food away from home while maximizing nutrition for any household size.

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.

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.

Watch this recorded webinar to learn how to estimate your tax liability and make strategic decisions about pre-paying taxes or adjusting withholdings to avoid penalties and unexpected tax bills, especially for students earning income or receiving fellowships, scholarships, and grants.

The 2025-2026 'Get Savvy - Grow Your Green Stuff' webinar schedule is now live! Topics include tax-planning for students, saving money on food, budgeting, career planning, and more. Register today!

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.

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.

Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with 13 financial planning tips!

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. 

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

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.

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.