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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.
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  • 2 stacks of coins with a graduation cap on one stack. Text reads Biden Student Loan Cancellation & PSLF Limited Waiver

    Biden Student Loan Cancellation & PSLF Limited Waiver

    Sep 15, 2022 1:00 pm260 views

    Not all federal student loan forgiveness programs are the same. We want to draw your attention to an upcoming deadline to be aware of if you work in public service and will still have a balance after the Biden student loan cancellations are processed.

  • 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.

  • Completing the FAFSA

    Nov 1, 2019 12:30 pm1193 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 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.

  • Creating Your Own Financial Education Plan

    Apr 19, 2021 4:00 pm43 views

    Use this guide to identify what modules in the University of Illinois Financial Literacy Badges Program align with your financial education needs and make a learning plan for yourself!

  • Credit Cards and Travel

    Apr 7, 2023 1:00 pm76 views

    Travel credit cards have become very popular, offering a wide range of benefits if you use them wisely. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of using credit cards during travel and strategies for responsible credit card use.

  • Decreasing Borrowing While in School

    Aug 14, 2023 1:30 pm35 views

    Student loans can be a valuable tool for increasing access to higher education, but it does come with a cost. Learn how to limit those costs while in school so you decrease future costs of compounding interest.

  • 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!

  • Facilitator Guide - How to Throw a Webinar Watch Party

    Jun 11, 2024 10:00 am14 views

    We aren't able to accommodate workshops by request, but we have dozens of webinar recordings on YouTube and plan new, live webinars each academic year on different financial topics. You can empower your peers or students with increased financial knowledge by throwing a webinar watch party.

  • Financial Aid Notifications: Cost of Attendance is Estimated

    Aug 9, 2023 1:30 pm51 views

    Financial aid notifications, or award letters, contain valuable information that help you understand the costs of college. However, it's important to remember that Cost of Attendance is an estimate.

  • Funding a College Education

    Aug 11, 2023 1:30 pm37 views

    Funding your education can be a daunting task, but there are many tools to help students and their families cover the cost of a college education.

  • IOUs: There's an App for That!

    Oct 14, 2016 3:30 pm17 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?

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge

    Apr 1, 2021 12:00 pm159 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.

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge

    Nov 15, 2020 12:00 pm116 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.

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2021

    Nov 15, 2021 12:00 pm170 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.

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2022

    Nov 15, 2022 8:00 am64 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, 2022.

  • Know What You Owe Challenge - Fall 2023

    Nov 14, 2023 8:00 am280 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 14 - December 15, 2023.

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge - Spring 2022

    Apr 1, 2022 12:00 pm69 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.

  • Pointer finger with tiny graduation cap on it

    Know What You Owe Challenge - Spring 2023

    Apr 1, 2023 8:00 am346 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, 2023.

  • Know What You Owe Challenge - Spring 2024

    Apr 1, 2024 8:00 am134 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.

  • 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.

  • Podcast: Appraisal Bias

    Jul 15, 2024 12:00 pm12 views

    In episode 87 of Making Cents of Money, IDFPR Deputy Secretary Ericka Johnson breaks down what appraisal bias is, how it affects consumers, and what you can do if you believe you're a victim.

  • Podcast: Back to School - College & Credit

    Aug 12, 2024 12:00 pm19 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.

  • Woman sitting in car smiling and holding up a car key

    Podcast: Buying a Car!

    Jul 21, 2021 12:00 pm18 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.

  • Podcast: Choosing a Financial Professional

    Sep 1, 2021 12:00 pm48 views

    In episode 25 of Making Cents of Money, Choosing a Financial Professional, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki talk to Kathy Sweedler from University of Illinois Extension about type of financial professionals, credentials, and how to choose one that best meets your needs.

  • Podcast: Credit Reports Update

    Nov 29, 2023 12:00 pm35 views

    In episode 74 of Making Cents of Money, Credit Reports Update, we had a Consumer Alert! Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are allowing access to free, weekly credit reports indefinitely now. 

  • phone with credit score on screen & "Credit Scores" text

    Podcast: Credit Scores

    Nov 2, 2022 12:00 pm45 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: Cryptocurrencies

    Aug 18, 2021 3:00 pm21 views

    In episode 24 of Making Cents of Money, Cryptocurrencies, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki talk to Professor Lamont Black from DePaul University about cryptocurrencies, discussing everything from the blockchain technology behind them to their utility in the world of fintech.

  • flatlay of stethescope, mobile phone, and clipboard with "Federal Student Loan Forgiveness" text

    Podcast: Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

    Sep 21, 2022 12:00 pm72 views

    In episode 48 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki talk about the differences between the federal student loan cancellation in Biden-Harris Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan and the temporary Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver that has a quickly approaching deadline of October 31st.

  • Image of capital building and stethascope with white text that says "Get Covered, Illinois"

    Podcast: Get Covered, Illinois

    May 22, 2023 12:00 pm7 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.

  • Image of wooden family figurines and house with text "Help for Homeowners"

    Podcast: Help for Homeowners

    Jun 7, 2023 12:00 pm15 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.

  • Calendar with date circled that says Pay Rent! next to a roll of money

    Podcast: Help for Renters

    Jun 21, 2023 12:00 pm11 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.

  • sunset with utilities lines and white text that reads "Help with Utilities Bills"

    Podcast: Help with Utility Bills

    May 3, 2023 12:00 pm8 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!

  • Is Crypto the Wild West? with a sunset and silhouettes of saguaro cacti.

    Podcast: Is Crypto the Wild West?

    Feb 26, 2024 12:00 pm11 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.

  • Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    May 6, 2024 12:00 pm36 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: Loan Payments Resumed in October

    Oct 31, 2023 12:00 pm12 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: Money Personalities & Financial Well-being

    Aug 4, 2021 11:00 am49 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.

  • 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 pm36 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.

  • piggy bank with grad cap on money

    Podcast: Paying for College with Scholarships

    Nov 18, 2022 12:00 pm110 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.

  • PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Podcast: PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Sep 10, 2024 12:00 pm27 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.

  • PSLF Transition Update

    Podcast: PSLF Transition Update

    May 20, 2024 12:00 pm9 views

    In episode 84 of Making Cents of Money, Brad Fletcher from IDFPR joins to discuss the current state of transition for borrowers seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

  • Top of graduation cap with money and words overlaid that say "Return to Repayment UPDATE"

    Podcast: Return to Repayment (Student Loans Update)

    Apr 7, 2023 12:00 pm55 views

    In episode 60 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki talk about the current status of federal student loans and how to prepare for the return to repayment which is expected in the next few months.

  • Podcast: Setting & Prioritizing Financial Goals

    Dec 20, 2023 12:00 pm73 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! 

  • Podcast: Student Loan Repayment (update)

    May 25, 2022 12:00 pm43 views

    In episode 41 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki discuss some of the big updates on federal student loans that have occured over the past couple months.

  • Man with over the ear headphones around his neck studying on a laptop. White text reads: Student Loans

    Podcast: Student Loans

    Apr 13, 2021 12:00 pm118 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: Student Loan Update

    Oct 6, 2021 12:00 pm9 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.

  • Episode 77 - Tax Talk with two people speaking to each other over some paperwork.

    Podcast: Tax Talk

    Feb 9, 2024 12:00 pm7 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.

  • Chicago skyline with "Community Reinvestment Act" as text overlay

    Podcast: The Community Reinvestment Act

    Aug 17, 2022 12:00 pm15 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.

  • Podcast: The Federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

    Jun 17, 2024 12:00 pm11 views

    In episode 85 of Making Cents of Money, Ed Hill from IDFPR discusses what the Federal CRA is and a little history on how it works to address disparities in lending for underserved communities.

  • Podcast: The Illinois Community Reinvestment Act

    Jul 1, 2024 12:00 pm14 views

    In episode 86 of Making Cents of Money, Susana Soriano from IDFPR discusses what the recently passed Illinois CRA is and how  it will help Illinois consumers by reducing discrimination and combatting redlining, among other things.