blog posts 6 Considerations for Finding Funding During COVID-19 Oct 2, 2020 4:45 pm72 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. Budget Hacks - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Oct 21, 2020 1:00 pm47 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. Buying vs Renting a Home - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Apr 13, 2022 1:00 pm0 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. Changes to Financial Coaching Jun 15, 2020 2:45 pm203 views We're restructuring our services to better meet the needs of our stakeholders: students, their families, and employees across the University of Illinois System. Read about what that means for financial coaching! Completing the FAFSA Nov 1, 2019 12:30 pm666 views The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as FAFSA, is “the largest source of financial aid to pay for college”. Read about important dates, tips & reminders for filing. Conscious Consumerism - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Nov 11, 2021 1:00 pm0 views Learn how you can align your own behaviors with your personal values and goals with this webinar recording from November 10, 2021. Conscious Credit - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Nov 11, 2020 1:00 pm0 views In the ever-changing credit market, how do you reconcile what you hear about credit to find accurate, credible information to help you make ethical and conscious borrowing decisions? This webinar explored the role of a responsible borrower, myths and facts about credit, and how building a positive credit profile can have lasting impacts on your overall financial well-being. Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security Mar 18, 2020 11:45 am380 views We have defined a few financial terms to make it easier to stay up-to-date on how COVID-19 is impacting our finances. COVID-19 Update: Changes to SMMC Services Mar 13, 2020 3:00 pm49 views All financial coaching appointments will be conducted via zoom, and no in-person events or presentations will be available through SMMC until further notice. Read on for details. Defeat the Debt Monster Oct 29, 2018 4:00 pm512 views Students across the University of Illinois System are needed to Defeat the Debt Monster between October 1 – October 29 for a chance to win one of three $25 gift cards. Discover ways to defeat your personal debt monster! 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! Expect the Unexpected: Saving For Emergencies Jan 15, 2015 11:00 am10 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. Factors Influencing Financial Knowledge Apr 22, 2022 10:45 pm14 views This article highlights some of the factors that influence financial knowledge, factors that affect one's appreciation of financial concepts, habits, and decisions. Fall 2019 Understand Your Refund Quiz Aug 30, 2019 4:00 pm2797 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. Financial Emergency Preparedness - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Mar 30, 2022 1:00 pm0 views Discover tools to help you prepare for dealing with potential financial emergencies by watching this webinar recording from March 30, 2022. Financial Socialization and Influences of K-12 Financial Education on Adult Financial Decisions Apr 8, 2022 11:30 am30 views Financial socialization, as well as formal financial education in the early stages of life, do influence adult attitudes, habits, and decisions concerning money. Looking at what state legislation exists in promoting K-12 financial education as well as resources for policymakers and parents in providing spaces for early exposure to financial education may help. Finding Funding Opportunities: Insights From a Current PhD Student Mar 13, 2019 3:00 pm54 views Funding is one of the biggest factors in determining what kind of financial decisions you make as a graduate student. Taking on federal student loans, using your employment to fund your degree, using your savings, getting help from family members, etc. We all want to make decisions that will benefit us most--and while the above are all good options depending on your individual situation, nothing beats “free money” like fellowships, assistantships, grants and scholarships. Focus Your Spending with Lists Nov 18, 2020 4:00 pm82 views Lists are helpful for all kinds of things, but how can they help you focus your spending? Food Insecurity Takes on New Meaning in 2020 Sep 25, 2020 1:00 pm50 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. Friday the 13th! Financial Planning to Avoid Unlucky Losses Mar 13, 2020 10:00 am118 views Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with personal finance! Funding New Year's Festivities Dec 10, 2019 2:30 pm20 views The best way to manage your finances on New Year’s Eve is to plan ahead and set a defined budget you are comfortable with. Read more tips to save while celebrating. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinars Jul 2, 2020 12:00 pm75 views The 2020-2021 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series Aug 14, 2018 8:00 am202 views The 2018-2019 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series Sep 18, 2019 8:00 am48 views The 2019-2020 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series (Spring 2020) Jan 29, 2020 8:00 am115 views The Spring 2020 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinars for 2021-2022 Jun 29, 2021 12:00 pm93 views The 2021-2022 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy. Good Food, Good Mood Sep 19, 2019 12:30 pm311 views Is having to find consistent, affordable food always putting you in a bad mood? Read our article about ways to fight food insecurity to learn of resources that can help. How do people with vision impairments manage money? Jun 16, 2020 12:45 pm60 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. How to Add Digital Badges to LinkedIn Sep 13, 2019 2:00 pm531 views If you have a digital badge from the University of Illinois Digital Badges Program, you may have noticed that there's a new backpack system to use. Since the transition from Mozilla Backpack to Badgr Backpack, there's a new way to create collections that can be placed on LinkedIn. We created a tutorial to help you display your badges on LinkedIn after you've transitioned to using Badgr. How to Support Small Businesses During COVID-19 Mar 31, 2020 1:00 pm39 views Here are ways you can help support small businesses during COVID-19. How to Support Wellness While Virtual Mar 18, 2020 4:15 pm162 views Learn ways to enhance your overall wellness in a virtual environment. Identity Theft & Fraud - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Sep 16, 2021 1:00 pm0 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. International Student Financial Wellness Survey Nov 1, 2018 10:00 pm265 views The University of Illinois Student Money Management Center developed a survey specifically for international students to learn about your unique financial struggles and habits because of how important you are to the community and enriching diversity for all three of our universities in the University of Illinois System. 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! IOUs: There's an App for That! Oct 14, 2016 3:30 pm16 views Have you heard of Venmo? Squarecash? These are just a few of the apps that allow you to send money to anyone, anywhere, anytime. From a convenience standpoint, these advances are amazing—but what are the costs of convenience? Know What You Owe Challenge Apr 1, 2021 12:00 pm149 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. Know What You Owe Challenge Jun 15, 2019 11:45 pm96 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. Know What You Owe Challenge Nov 15, 2020 12:00 pm104 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. Know What You Owe Challenge Dec 15, 2019 11:45 pm130 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. Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2021 Nov 15, 2021 12:00 pm165 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. Know What You Owe Challenge - Spring 2022 Apr 1, 2022 12:00 pm32 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, 2022. Leveraging FinTech - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Aug 19, 2021 1:00 pm0 views Learn about new financial technologies as well as considerations and protections that may be helpful in choosing fintech for navigating your financial journey. Mobile Wallets: Know the Risks & Rewards Dec 15, 2017 1:45 pm219 views Mobile wallets are a digital way to keep your financial tools and resources in your mobile device. Learn more about the risks & rewards of mobile wallets so you can best protect your hard-earned money. 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. My Account is in Collections! Now What? Jul 26, 2015 12:00 pm35 views Tips to help you cope with & resolve accounts in collections. Overcoming Spending Temptations Nov 16, 2020 3:30 pm224 views Get some idea starters on how to overcome spending temptations, just in time for the shopping season! Planning for the Unforeseen - Get Savvy Webinar Recording Dec 8, 2021 1:00 pm0 views Learn about tools you can use in estate planning, like power of attorney, wills, and more, from this webinar recording from December 8, 2021. Podcast: Banked or Unbanked - Choosing Financial Services for You Sep 23, 2020 12:00 pm18 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. Podcast: Budgeting Jun 17, 2021 12:00 pm45 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: Buying a Car! Jul 21, 2021 12:00 pm9 views In episode 22 of Making Cents of Money, Buying a Car!, Nikki, Andrea, and Jake explain the true costs of car ownership as well as the terms and tools to know about before you buy your next vehicle.