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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.
Education

blog posts

  • Financial Literacy Around the World

    Apr 15, 2022 5:45 pm17253 views

    Financial education influences financial literacy and financial well-being around the world. This article highlights some statistics on financial literacy around the world, financial inclusion as well as financial resilience.

  • Setting Goals for Your Well-being

    Nov 6, 2020 9:00 am4256 views

    Explore how Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the dimensions of well-being can help you set, prioritize, and manage your SMART goals.

  • Factors Influencing Financial Knowledge

    Apr 22, 2022 10:45 pm3811 views

    This article highlights some of the factors that influence financial knowledge, factors that affect one's appreciation of financial concepts, habits, and decisions.

  • Group of diverse college students with their thumbs up

    The Power of Financial Education: A Key to Success for College Students

    Sep 25, 2024 12:30 pm2047 views

    Financial education is essential for college students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to make informed financial decisions that will not only enhance their college experience but also pave the way for long-term success.

  • Cultural Influences (Socialization) on Financial Literacy and Habits

    Apr 29, 2022 5:45 pm1849 views

    This is the final article in the series for Financial Literacy Month. The article focuses on how cultural influences (socialization) affect financial literacy and habits.

  • Collection of Several Hundred Dollar Bill Bundles in US Currency

    How do people with vision impairments manage money?

    Jun 16, 2020 12:45 pm631 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.

  • Overcoming Spending Temptations

    Nov 16, 2020 3:30 pm582 views

    Get some idea starters on how to overcome spending temptations, just in time for the shopping season! 

  • Two silhouetted people standing in front of a sunrise.

    Seasonal Themes: Get More Done with a Mindset Shift

    Jan 29, 2021 11:00 am573 views

    Has Your New Year's Resolution Failed? Try a Seasonal Theme!

  • 4 college students studying at a table together

    Podcast: Saving for College with a 529 Savings Plan

    Feb 10, 2021 12:00 pm459 views

    Episode 11 of Making Cents of Money, Saving for College with a 529 Savings Plan, explored 529 plans, including how they function, a bit on their history, and how they differ from other savings vehicles. Listen to special guests, Fernando Diaz and John Mitchell, from the Illinois Treasurer's Office to learn more about options in Illinois.

  • Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security with Image of Empty Wallet

    Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security

    Mar 18, 2020 11:45 am392 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.

  • Pair of glasses with "Focus Your spending with Lists" laid over the image

    Focus Your Spending with Lists

    Nov 18, 2020 4:00 pm327 views

    Lists are helpful for all kinds of things, but how can they help you focus your spending?

  • Virtual Financial Education title over woman sitting cross-legged with laptop

    Virtual Financial Education

    Mar 18, 2020 1:00 pm267 views

    We put together a list of ways you can enhance your financial knowledge through virtual means as well as a few tips if you're teaching online for the first time.

  • Image of hand between domino-style blocks - some standing up, others already laying down

    Practicing Self-Advocacy in Your Financial, Professional and Social Life

    Mar 29, 2021 4:30 pm255 views

    Self-advocacy is an important skill to practice, particularly right now. Whether it's getting the resources you need to succeed in school or setting boundaries with your loved ones so you can focus on your own well-being, it's important to communicate with others about your needs, wants, and struggles throughout your life.

  • Financial Socialization and Influences of K-12 Financial Education on Adult Financial Decisions

    Apr 8, 2022 11:30 am241 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.

  • Top 5 Financial Reminders for International Students

    Jun 1, 2020 5:45 pm166 views

    Tuition & fees will be due before you know it, so here are the top 5 financial reminders for International Students.

  • Job Search Due Diligence

    Job Search Due Diligence in the U.S. – Avoiding Job Scams

    Feb 25, 2025 10:30 am163 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.   

  • Podcast Partnership Launching with Illinois Division of Financial & Professional Regulation!

    Aug 31, 2020 9:15 am132 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!

  • UISAVES Week 1: Goal-setting

    Feb 16, 2020 11:30 am131 views

    A strong foundation to any financial plan are goals. Set a goal with #UISAVES to connect with resources to help. universityillinoissaves.org

  • 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 pm123 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!

  • Chair with mortarboard / graduation cap hanging over the edge of the top of the chair with the words "6 Considerations for Finding Funding During COVID-19

    6 Considerations for Finding Funding During COVID-19

    Oct 2, 2020 4:45 pm121 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. 

  • piggy bank with grad cap on money

    Podcast: Paying for College with Scholarships

    Nov 18, 2022 12:00 pm119 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.

  • Podcast: Budgeting

    Jun 17, 2021 12:00 pm117 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.

  • Discover Hidden Treasures: Reclaim Your Unclaimed Property Today!

    Feb 19, 2025 8:00 am113 views

    The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office holds over $5 billion in unclaimed property, and through the I-Cash program, residents can easily search for and reclaim forgotten assets, with nearly $299 million returned in 2024. 

  • Podcast: Understanding Credit

    Nov 10, 2020 12:00 pm106 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.

  • Picture of an old rusty lockbox

    Podcast: Unclaimed Property in Illinois

    Jan 22, 2025 12:00 pm94 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.

  • UISAVES Week 2: Small Amounts Add Up

    Feb 22, 2020 11:30 am91 views

    An important part of building a savings habit is understanding how small amounts add up. 

  • Podcast: Money Personalities & Financial Well-being

    Aug 4, 2021 11:00 am87 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.

  • Podcast: Preventing Identity Theft

    Oct 22, 2020 12:00 pm84 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: Financial Security and Stress

    Dec 8, 2021 12:00 pm84 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 pm84 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! 

  • Building Wealth After Graduation

    Podcast: Building Wealth After Graduation

    Mar 25, 2024 12:00 pm83 views

    In episode 80 of Making Cents of Money, Building Wealth After Graduation, Donovan Sanchez returns to talk about how to navigate juggling multiple goals during the transition to life after college.

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

    Podcast: Credit Scores

    Nov 2, 2022 12:00 pm81 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.

  • Summer 2020 #UIMoney Tweet Chat Series

    Jun 2, 2020 12:30 pm80 views

    SMMC is hosting several tweet chats this summer to help our students, alumni, and friends prepare for a variety of financial transitions during a time filled with uncertainty.

  • Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    May 6, 2024 12:00 pm79 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: Financial Wellness Concepts

    Jul 29, 2024 12:00 pm78 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.

  • 2 women in a shop looking at an item together with white text: "Conscious Consumerism"

    Podcast: Conscious Consumerism

    Mar 13, 2023 12:00 pm77 views

    In episode 59 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki discuss the meaning of conscious consumerism and how aligning your spending with your values can make an impact.

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

    Podcast: Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

    Sep 21, 2022 12:00 pm76 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.

  • Saving Up for a Side Hustle

    May 12, 2023 1:00 pm75 views

    To complement our Side Hustles & Small Businesses webinar from last fall, we wanted to share some tips on saving up for starting a small business.

  • airplane in sky over palm trees

    Podcast: Revisiting Travel

    Nov 23, 2022 12:00 pm74 views

    In episode 53 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea & Nikki discuss a few updates to consider when traveling before re-airing the Time to Travel podcast from July 2021.

  • Wealth Building as a Balancing Act text over image of hand holding a balanced scale

    Podcast: Wealth Building as a Balancing Act

    Jan 19, 2023 12:00 pm73 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.

  • Conscious Credit text on image of man on bench with headphones in, tablet in one hand and credit card in the other

    Podcast: Conscious Credit

    Apr 7, 2021 12:00 pm71 views

    Episode 15 of Making Cents of Money, Conscious Credit, demystifies parts of the credit system in the United States thanks to our guests, Camaya Wallace Bechard, from University of Illinois Extension, and Natalie Daniels, from DePaul University. 

  • PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Podcast: PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance

    Sep 10, 2024 12:00 pm70 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.

  • How the Rule of 72 Can Help You Build Wealth--Or Sink Deeper Into Debt

    How the Rule of 72 Can Help You Build Wealth—Or Sink Deeper Into Debt

    Feb 6, 2025 12:30 pm64 views

    Whether you are saving for a goal or dealing with debt, the Rule of 72 offers a simple, yet effective way to estimate the time it takes for money to grow or for debt to balloon due to compound interest. 

  • 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 pm63 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.

  • Preparing for Retirement with pink piggy bank smiling

    Podcast: Preparing for Retirement

    Feb 24, 2021 12:00 pm62 views

    Episode 12 of Making Cents of Money, Preparing for Retirement, discussed the retirement savings crisis, the different types of retirement plans that exist, and the Secure Choice plan in Illinois. Listen to special guest, Courtney Eccles, from the Illinois Treasurer's Office to learn more about the Secure Choice program for small businesses in Illinois.

  • Fintech and Digital Assets text on image of hands holding phone with money signs above it

    Podcast: Fintech and Digital Assets

    Feb 1, 2023 12:00 pm61 views

    In episode 56 of Making Cents of Money, David DeCarlo, IDFPR's Regulatory Innovation Officer, discussed what consumers should know about digital assets and regulation in this new era of fintech.

  • Podcast: Choosing a Financial Professional

    Sep 1, 2021 12:00 pm60 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.

  • Finding Funding Opportunities: Insights From a Current PhD Student

    Mar 13, 2019 3:00 pm59 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. 

  • Man in front of chalkboard with "start up" written on it & text: Becoming an Entrepreneur

    Podcast: Becoming an Entrepreneur!

    Oct 19, 2022 12:00 pm56 views

    In episode 50 of Making Cents of Money, Steve Bob from UIC Entrepreneurial Support Program joins Andrea and Nikki to discuss what to think about when it comes to starting your own business.

  • What's a Credit Report Anyway?

    Podcast: What's a Credit Report Anyway?

    Aug 9, 2023 12:00 pm55 views

    In episode 67 of Making Cents of Money, What's a Credit Report Anyway?, Nikki and Andrea discuss what's in your credit reports and how to get them at AnnualCreditReport.com.