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.

Explore with us how job benefits can add up to big dollars. Walk into your new job ready to make informed choices that can significantly increase your net worth. 

Unlock the power of financial tools! Explore the best services for your goals, safety, and cost-efficiency.

Are you an international student navigating U.S. taxes? Watch Taxes for International Students January 23, 2025, to learn the key rules to stay compliant.

Get ready for tax season! Watch Tackling Tax Basics from January 16, 2025, to learn the basics of tackling taxes. Understand essential concepts to confidently manage your taxes.

There are many things to be aware of when it comes to managing those loans from application to pay-off (or forgiveness). Learn the terms, tips, and tools to make managing your education debt easier.

Learn how to navigate your student loan journey. Understand crucial terms, tips, and tools for managing your education debt.

Ready to start investing? Learn investing basics and explore new trends in securities. 

Discover spending motivations and find money management tools that work for you to face your financial fears.

Turn your passion into profit! Explore the world of Side Hustles and Small Businesses on YouTube to learn how to start, manage, and grow your entrepreneurial ventures.

Hungry for savings? Uncover tricks for affordable dining. Say goodbye to overspending and hello to tasty savings. 

Get savvy about renting & leasing! Understand your rights & responsibilities when it comes to renting a place to live. 

Transform your financial habits! Explore the Psychology of Money and the Stages of Change. Learn how to achieve lasting financial well-being.

Stress impacting your finances? Watch this webinar recording on YouTube to uncover the connection between stress, money, and bad habits. Learn strategies to improve your financial health and overall well-being. 

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.

Master your finances as an entrepreneur. Learn best practices for money management while building your business.

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

Watch Mastering the Consumer Credit Game on YouTube to learn how to build, manage, and protect your credit, a crucial financial tool in the game of life. 

Take your investing knowledge to the next level! Watch Investing 102 to learn advanced concepts and key tips for successful investing.

Want to start investing? Watch Investing 101: Wealth Building Basics to learn basic investing terms and concepts to confidently begin your investment journey.

Stay one step ahead of scams and fraud! Learn ways to protect yourself, recognize identity theft, and take action if affected.  

Unlock the secrets of financial aid. Learn how to maximize your financial aid package and ease the burden of tuition. Join us to navigate the complex world of financial aid with confidence. 

Discover how spending, saving, and student loans impact your college experience.

Plan your legacy with confidence. Watch Building, Protecting, & Leaving Your Nest Egg to learn essential concepts of asset management across the life span. Build, protect, and leave your nest egg for future generations.

Ready to save more and spend smarter? Discover practical tips and tricks to make your money go further and achieve your financial goals by watching Budget Hacks on YouTube.

Taxes are complicated, whether you’re a first time filer or have been filing for years. How do you know if you’re required to file? What are deductions and credits? Why are there so many forms, and what are they for? Join us as we walk you through the basics of taxes and provide resources to help you file for free.

It's important to know the types of loans that you have in order to understand your repayment and other student loan management options.

Learn if you can qualify for PSLF as a federal student loan borrower working in public service.

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.

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. 

We focused on what your options are if you can't make a payment, including the differences between deferment and forbearance. 

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.

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.  

We discussed many aspects of returning to repayment during this webinar, but the primary action item we focused on was updating your contact info in your FSA account.

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.

Learn about managing student loan repayment once it restarts and the limited time PSLF waiver by watching this webinar recording from May 18, 2022.

Explore methods of student loan management by watching this webinar recording from May 3, 2023.

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.

Learn more advanced concepts to take steps to investing from this webinar recording from January 26, 2022.

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.

Learn about how to spend less to travel more by watching this webinar recording from December 7, 2022.

Learn about side hustles & small businesses by watching this webinar recording from October 26, 2022.

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!

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.

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.

Learn about tools you can use in estate planning, like power of attorney, wills, and more, from this webinar recording from December 8, 2021.

Explore methods of communicating and managing money in relationships by watching this webinar recording from February 8, 2022.

Learn about money memes, digital assets, and more by watching this webinar recording from January 25, 2023.

Learn about new financial technologies as well as considerations and protections that may be helpful in choosing fintech for navigating your financial journey.

Discover investing risks & rewards by watching this webinar recording from February 8, 2023.

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!