blog posts Financial Literacy Around the World Apr 15, 2022 5:45 pm18567 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. The Power of Financial Education: A Key to Success for College Students Sep 25, 2024 12:30 pm4807 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. Setting Goals for Your Well-being Nov 6, 2020 9:00 am4378 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 pm4075 views This article highlights some of the factors that influence financial knowledge, factors that affect one's appreciation of financial concepts, habits, and decisions. How the Rule of 72 Can Help You Build Wealth—Or Sink Deeper Into Debt Feb 6, 2025 12:30 pm3228 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. Cultural Influences (Socialization) on Financial Literacy and Habits Apr 29, 2022 5:45 pm2075 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. How do people with vision impairments manage money? Jun 16, 2020 12:45 pm667 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 pm611 views Get some idea starters on how to overcome spending temptations, just in time for the shopping season! Seasonal Themes: Get More Done with a Mindset Shift Jan 29, 2021 11:00 am582 views Has Your New Year's Resolution Failed? Try a Seasonal Theme! Podcast: Saving for College with a 529 Savings Plan Feb 10, 2021 12:00 pm512 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. Discover Hidden Treasures: Reclaim Your Unclaimed Property Today! Feb 19, 2025 8:00 am397 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. Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security Mar 18, 2020 11:45 am396 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. Focus Your Spending with Lists Nov 18, 2020 4:00 pm334 views Lists are helpful for all kinds of things, but how can they help you focus your spending? More Than Money: What to Consider in a Job Offer Package May 1, 2025 4:00 pm303 views 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. Virtual Financial Education Mar 18, 2020 1:00 pm273 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. Financial Socialization and Influences of K-12 Financial Education on Adult Financial Decisions Apr 8, 2022 11:30 am267 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. Practicing Self-Advocacy in Your Financial, Professional and Social Life Mar 29, 2021 4:30 pm265 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. Job Search Due Diligence in the U.S. – Avoiding Job Scams Feb 25, 2025 10:30 am218 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. Top 5 Financial Reminders for International Students Jun 1, 2020 5:45 pm177 views Tuition & fees will be due before you know it, so here are the top 5 financial reminders for International Students. Podcast: Paying for College with Scholarships Nov 18, 2022 12:00 pm149 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 Partnership Launching with Illinois Division of Financial & Professional Regulation! Aug 31, 2020 9:15 am141 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 am136 views A strong foundation to any financial plan are goals. Set a goal with #UISAVES to connect with resources to help. universityillinoissaves.org Podcast: Setting & Prioritizing Financial Goals Dec 20, 2023 12:00 pm136 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 Loans Apr 13, 2021 12:00 pm132 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! 6 Considerations for Finding Funding During COVID-19 Oct 2, 2020 4:45 pm132 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. Podcast: Financial Security and Stress Dec 8, 2021 12:00 pm132 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: Budgeting Jun 17, 2021 12:00 pm128 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: Unclaimed Property in Illinois Jan 22, 2025 12:00 pm119 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. Podcast: Federal Student Loan Updates [Involuntary Debt Collection Resumes] May 12, 2025 12:00 pm119 views In episode 110 of Making Cents of Money, Brad Fletcher joins Kimber & Andrea again to discuss the US Department of Education's resumption of involuntary debt collection on defaulted federal student loans. Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining? May 6, 2024 12:00 pm118 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: Understanding Credit Nov 10, 2020 12:00 pm111 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. Podcast: Financial Wellness Concepts Jul 29, 2024 12:00 pm108 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. Podcast: Money Personalities & Financial Well-being Aug 4, 2021 11:00 am102 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 pm98 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. UISAVES Week 2: Small Amounts Add Up Feb 22, 2020 11:30 am96 views An important part of building a savings habit is understanding how small amounts add up. Podcast: Building Wealth After Graduation Mar 25, 2024 12:00 pm92 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. Podcast: Credit Scores Nov 2, 2022 12:00 pm92 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. Saving Up for a Side Hustle May 12, 2023 1:00 pm91 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. Summer 2020 #UIMoney Tweet Chat Series Jun 2, 2020 12:30 pm86 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. Roth vs Traditional Retirement Plans: What’s the Difference? Apr 22, 2025 12:00 pm85 views 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. Podcast: Conscious Consumerism Mar 13, 2023 12:00 pm84 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. Podcast: Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Sep 21, 2022 12:00 pm84 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. Podcast: Conscious Credit Apr 7, 2021 12:00 pm81 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. Let It Go - The Sunk Cost Fallacy and Smarter Spending Aug 25, 2025 5:00 pm81 views 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. Podcast: Wealth Building as a Balancing Act Jan 19, 2023 12:00 pm80 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. Podcast: Revisiting Travel Nov 23, 2022 12:00 pm80 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. Podcast: Neurodiversity and Financial Strategies Mar 26, 2025 12:00 pm79 views In episode 106 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Kimber discuss the nuances of neurodiversity as it relates to navigating money management. Podcast: PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance Sep 10, 2024 12:00 pm79 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. Podcast: Choosing a Financial Professional Sep 1, 2021 12:00 pm77 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: Becoming an Entrepreneur! Oct 19, 2022 12:00 pm73 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.
