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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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  • Budgeting for a Week white text on photo of printed graphs and charts with a calculator

    Budgeting for a Week: A Realistic Approach

    Nov 8, 2024 4:00 pm59 views

    Budgeting empowers you to work toward reasonable financial goals, keeping you from overspending and accruing debt. Explore steps you can take this week to start building a budgeting habit.

  • Podcast episode 91: Retirement Savings in Illinois

    Podcast: Retirement Savings in Illinois

    Aug 26, 2024 12:00 pm23 views

    In episode 91 of Making Cents of Money, Retirement Savings in Illinois, Christine Cheng from the Illinois Treasurer's office discusses how Illinois is addressing barriers to planning for retirement and helping small businesses provide retirement benefits to their employees.

  • Facilitator Guide - How to Throw a Webinar Watch Party

    Jun 11, 2024 10:00 am16 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.

  • Mutual Funds vs Exchange Traded Funds

    May 29, 2024 9:00 am639 views

    Curious about automatically diversified investment options? Learn the key differences between Mutual Funds and ETFs, and find out which might be the best fit for your situation and financial goals.

  • Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    Podcast: Lines of Injustice: What is Redlining?

    May 6, 2024 12:00 pm63 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. 

  • Money, Stress, and Bad Habits

    Webinar Recording: Money, Stress, & Bad Habits

    May 1, 2024 1:00 pm4 views

    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.

  • Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents

    Podcast: Free Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents

    Apr 22, 2024 12:00 pm26 views

    In episode 82 of Making Cents of Money, Free Financial Education Resources for Illinois Residents, Maggie Owen from the Illinois State Treasurer's Office joins us to discuss all the financial education programs Illinois has for residents. 

  • April 30th Student Loan Deadline

    Podcast: April 30th Student Loan Deadline

    Apr 8, 2024 12:00 pm33 views

    In episode 81 of Making Cents of Money, April 30th Student Loan Deadline, we discuss a critical deadline for FFEL, Perkins, or Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL) borrowers on income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. 

  • Student Loan Management

    Webinar Recording: Student Loan Management

    Apr 3, 2024 1:00 pm2 views

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

  • Building Wealth After Graduation

    Podcast: Building Wealth After Graduation

    Mar 25, 2024 12:00 pm73 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.

  • What happens when a bank fails? in white text over picture of piggy bank sinking in water

    Podcast: What Happens When a Bank Fails?

    Mar 11, 2024 12:00 pm13 views

    In episode 79 of Making Cents of Money, What Happens When a Bank Fails?, Chicago City Comptroller and former Illinois Director of Banking, Chasse Rehwinkel joins us to discuss recent incidents of bank failure and how these differed from others in history.

  • Save Money on Food

    Webinar Recording: Save Money on Food

    Mar 6, 2024 1:00 pm0 views

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

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

    Podcast: Is Crypto the Wild West?

    Feb 26, 2024 12:00 pm13 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.

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

    Podcast: Tax Talk

    Feb 9, 2024 12:00 pm9 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.

  • Steps to Investing: What to Know Now

    Webinar Recording: Steps to Investing - What to Know Now

    Feb 7, 2024 1:00 pm1 views

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

  • Podcast: What is Crypto Anyway?

    Jan 29, 2024 12:00 pm14 views

    In episode 76 of Making Cents of Money, What is Crypto Anyway?, Jake Hamilton, a previous podcast co-host, comes back to provide an overview of how crypto works and what the future looks like for this financial technology.

  • Podcast: Setting & Prioritizing Financial Goals

    Dec 20, 2023 12:00 pm78 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! 

  • Image with line chart and graph behind white text that reads World Investor Week

    Podcast: World Investor Week

    Oct 4, 2023 12:00 pm25 views

    In episode 71 of Making Cents of Money, World Investor Week, Andrea interviews Alan Sorcher and Anne McKinley from the US Securities & Exchange Commission in honor of World Investor Week on ways investors can learn about securities throughout the year.

  • Magnifying glass over newspaper focusing on Interest Rates with white text that reads "The Impact of Compound Interest"

    Podcast: The Impact of Compound Interest

    Sep 20, 2023 12:00 pm17 views

    In episode 70 of Making Cents of Money, The Impact of Compound Interest, Andrea and Nikki explore the complicated relationship we can have with compound interest when it comes to accomplishing financial goals.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Podcast: Financial Planner vs AI

    Jul 12, 2023 12:00 pm29 views

    In episode 65 of Making Cents of Money, Financial Planner vs AI, we discuss the pros and cons of using Artificial Intelligence language model, ChatGPT, to answer financial planning questions with the help of Donovan Sanchez, CFP®.

  • Screenshot of google map for financial institutions created by SMMC with white text: Financial Institutions Map

    Banking Locations Near Each University

    Jun 14, 2023 9:30 am332 views

    Looking for a financial institution on campus? Explore our Google Map for locations on or close to each campus in the University of Illinois System.

  • Saving Up for a Side Hustle

    May 12, 2023 1:00 pm48 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.

  • Image of earth from space with "How Your Spending Can Change the World" in white text

    How Your Spending Can Change the World - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Mar 29, 2023 1:00 pm0 views

    Explore how your spending can change the world by watching this webinar recording from March 29, 2023.

  • Tax Filing 101: Forms & Facts You Need to Know

    Mar 10, 2023 5:00 pm673 views

    As we get closer to the tax filing deadline for the United States, it is important to knwo the intricacies and important forms for filing taxes.

  • Balance board with risks and rewards blocks on each end & "Investing Risks & Rewards" text overlaid

    Investing Risks & Rewards - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Feb 8, 2023 1:00 pm2 views

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

  • Image of cat in background with "Memes & Money: What are the Facts?" text overlaid

    Memes & Money: What are the Facts? - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Jan 25, 2023 1:00 pm0 views

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

  • 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 pm49 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.

  • Financial Resolutions white text over image of a 2023 flatlay with notebook and coffee

    Podcast: Financial Resolutions!

    Dec 14, 2022 12:00 pm25 views

    In episode 54 of Making Cents of Money, Nikki & Andrea talk about some recent changes in setting new years resolutions and how to make finances part of your goals for 2023.

  • Spend Less, Travel More - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Dec 7, 2022 1:00 pm4 views

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

  • airplane in sky over palm trees

    Podcast: Revisiting Travel

    Nov 23, 2022 12:00 pm72 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.

  • Quote from Oprah Winfrey: “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

    Gratitude & Personal Finances

    Nov 18, 2022 3:45 pm107 views

    There are so many things to be grateful for in this life. As we go into the holiday season, in this article we will discuss about how gratitude impacts our finances. 

  • piggy bank with grad cap on money

    Podcast: Paying for College with Scholarships

    Nov 18, 2022 12:00 pm115 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.

  • ESG: Investing in Values to Make the World a Better Place

    Oct 4, 2022 4:30 pm151 views

    Investing has become more than just seeking financial returns. It can be a means to support organizations, projects, and companies that align with your values. Read on to learn more about ESG and what it means to consumer influence.

  • Podcast: Selling a Home

    Jul 20, 2022 12:00 pm19 views

    In episode 45 of Making Cents of Money, Andrea and Nikki discuss many aspects of selling a home so you can make more informed choices when it comes time to sell your own home.

  • Podcast: Shopping for Appliances

    Jul 8, 2022 12:00 pm15 views

    In episode 44 of Making Cents of Money, Nikki and Andrea talk about shopping for appliances, and they've focused on times when it may be a surprise shopping need!

  • Podcast: Protecting Pets

    May 10, 2022 12:00 pm30 views

    In episode 39 of Making Cents of Money, Protecting Pets, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki discuss pet insurance and other ways to handle the financial risk of vet bills for our pets with Presley Fee, Digital Financial Planning Program Coordinator at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

  • Podcast: Mortgages

    Apr 14, 2022 12:00 pm24 views

    In episode 38 of Making Cents of Money, Renting!, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki interview IDFPR's Anti-Predatory Lending Database Director, Kari Beyer, about the ins and outs of mortgages.

  • Podcast: Renting!

    Mar 30, 2022 12:00 pm17 views

    In episode 37 of Making Cents of Money, Renting!, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki discuss the basic steps and what to watch for when renting a place to live.

  • Podcast: Buying a Home!

    Mar 16, 2022 12:00 pm32 views

    In episode 36 of Making Cents of Money, Buying a Home!, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki explain terminology, tools, and the basics steps of buying a home.

  • Podcast: Employment

    Feb 23, 2022 12:00 pm22 views

    In episode 35 of Making Cents of Money, Employment, Andrea, Jake, and Nikki continue the podcast series on economic indicators by discussing metrics related to employment.

  • 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: Gross National Happiness

    Feb 9, 2022 12:00 pm12 views

    In episode 34 of Making Cents of Money, Gross National Happiness, Jake and Nikki discuss an alternative metric to Gross Domestic Product that some countries use to help monitor the health of their economies called Gross National Happiness.

  • Steps to Investing - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Jan 26, 2022 1:00 pm0 views

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

  • Podcast: Establishing a Vision for Your Life

    Jan 20, 2022 12:00 pm37 views

    In episode 33 of Making Cents of Money, Establishing a Vision for Your Life, Andrea, Nikki, and Jake talk to Donovan Sanchez, CFP and instructor of financial planning at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign about making meaningful money choices that allow you to live life now and make progress towards the future.

  • Podcast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

    Dec 22, 2021 12:00 pm29 views

    In episode 32 of Making Cents of Money, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Andrea, Nikki, and Jake explain Gross Domestic Product as part of an ongoing mini series on economic indicators. 

  • Podcast: Financial Security and Stress

    Dec 8, 2021 12:00 pm74 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: Inflation

    Nov 17, 2021 12:00 pm17 views

    In episode 30 of Making Cents of Money, Inflation, Jake, Nikki, and Andrea discuss what inflation is as one of many metrics to gauge how an economy is doing and how it impacts our spending power as consumers.

  • Podcast: Emergency Funds

    Sep 16, 2021 12:00 pm31 views

    In episode 26 of Making Cents of Money, Emergency Funds, Jake, Nikki, and Andrea discuss the value of building emergency funds and a few ways to get started.