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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.
News

blog posts

  • Expect the Unexpected: Saving For Emergencies

    Jan 15, 2015 11:00 am12 views

    Planning for the unexpected can ensure that you are able to weather a financial hardship should you lose your job, have a car repair, or any other unplanned expense. By having savings set aside for emergencies, you decrease the need to rely on credit cards or loans to cover emergency situations. Your college years can be an ideal time to create and build your emergency savings.

  • My Account is in Collections! Now What?

    Jul 26, 2015 12:00 pm37 views

    Tips to help you cope with & resolve accounts in collections.

  • 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?

  • Top Tips for Tax-Filing

    Mar 1, 2017 8:00 am260 views

  • Mobile Wallets: Know the Risks & Rewards

    Dec 15, 2017 1:45 pm297 views

    Mobile wallets are a digital way to keep your financial tools and resources in your mobile device. Learn more about the risks & rewards of mobile wallets so you can best protect your hard-earned money.

  • Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series

    Aug 14, 2018 8:00 am206 views

    The 2018-2019 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy.

  • Defeat the Debt Monster

    Oct 29, 2018 4:00 pm557 views

    Students across the University of Illinois System are needed to Defeat the Debt Monster between October 1 – October 29 for a chance to win one of three $25 gift cards.

    Discover ways to defeat your personal debt monster!

  • International Student Financial Wellness Survey

    Nov 1, 2018 10:00 pm265 views

    The University of Illinois Student Money Management Center developed a survey specifically for international students to learn about your unique financial struggles and habits because of how important you are to the community and enriching diversity for all three of our universities in the University of Illinois System. 

  • Spring 2019 Understand Your Refund Quiz

    Jan 15, 2019 9:45 am112 views

    Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund.

    Learn how to avoid being one of them.

  • University of Illinois Saves 2019

    Feb 1, 2019 8:00 am40 views

    (Re)pledge a savings goal for UISAVES 2019!

  • Finding Funding Opportunities: Insights From a Current PhD Student

    Mar 13, 2019 3:00 pm57 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. 

  • Know What You Owe Challenge

    Jun 15, 2019 11:45 pm97 views

    Over 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.

  • Fall 2019 Understand Your Refund Quiz

    Aug 30, 2019 4:00 pm2799 views

    Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund.

    Learn how to avoid being one of them.

  • How to Add Digital Badges to LinkedIn

    Sep 13, 2019 2:00 pm635 views

    If you have a digital badge from the University of Illinois Digital Badges Program, you may have noticed that there's a new backpack system to use. Since the transition from Mozilla Backpack to Badgr Backpack, there's a new way to create collections that can be placed on LinkedIn. 

    We created a tutorial to help you display your badges on LinkedIn after you've transitioned to using Badgr.

  • Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series

    Sep 18, 2019 8:00 am48 views

    The 2019-2020 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy.

  • Good Food, Good Mood

    Sep 19, 2019 12:30 pm321 views

    Is having to find consistent, affordable food always putting you in a bad mood?  Read our article about ways to fight food insecurity to learn of resources that can help.

  • Completing the FAFSA

    Nov 1, 2019 12:30 pm1161 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.

  • Funding New Year's Festivities

    Dec 10, 2019 2:30 pm22 views

    The best way to manage your finances on New Year’s Eve is to plan ahead and set a defined budget you are comfortable with. Read more tips to save while celebrating.

  • Know What You Owe Challenge

    Dec 15, 2019 11:45 pm130 views

    Over 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.

  • Understand Your Refund Challenge - Spring 2020

    Jan 23, 2020 4:00 pm131 views

    Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund.

    Learn how to avoid being one of them.

  • Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinar Series (Spring 2020)

    Jan 29, 2020 8:00 am117 views

    The Spring 2020 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy.

  • UISAVES 2020 runs February 16 - March 7!

    Feb 13, 2020 12:15 pm106 views

    The overall goal of UISAVES is to create a culture of savings at our three universities – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, and University of Illinois at Springfield. Read on to learn what we're doing for the 2020 campaign!

  • UISAVES Week 1: Goal-setting

    Feb 16, 2020 11:30 am119 views

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

  • UISAVES Week 2: Small Amounts Add Up

    Feb 22, 2020 11:30 am86 views

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

  • UISAVES Week 3: Building Financial Habits

    Feb 29, 2020 11:30 am51 views

    The reality of personal finance is that it is personal and requires behavior change. Learn ways to make behavior changes easier to accomplish your goals.

  • Crow

    Friday the 13th! Financial Planning to Avoid Unlucky Losses

    Mar 13, 2020 10:00 am125 views

    Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, but let's talk about how to improve your luck with personal finance!

  • COVID-19 Update: Changes to SMMC Services

    Mar 13, 2020 3:00 pm50 views

    All financial coaching appointments will be conducted via zoom, and no in-person events or presentations will be available through SMMC until further notice. Read on for details.

  • Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security with Image of Empty Wallet

    Coronavirus Challenges Our Financial Security

    Mar 18, 2020 11:45 am388 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.

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

    Virtual Financial Education

    Mar 18, 2020 1:00 pm266 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.

  • Wellness While Virtual Title over smoothie and fruit ingredients

    How to Support Wellness While Virtual

    Mar 18, 2020 4:15 pm170 views

    Learn ways to enhance your overall wellness in a virtual environment. 

  • How to Support Small Businesses During COVID-19

    Mar 31, 2020 1:00 pm40 views

    Here are ways you can help support small businesses during COVID-19.

  • Publications & Resources Addressing Consumer Needs in U.S. During COVID-19

    Apr 7, 2020 2:00 pm97 views

    We've compiled a list of federal websites & resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic that may be helpful in addressing some of your financial questions.

  • Top 5 Financial Reminders for International Students

    Jun 1, 2020 5:45 pm148 views

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

  • Summer 2020 #UIMoney Tweet Chat Series

    Jun 2, 2020 12:30 pm78 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.

  • Changes to Financial Coaching

    Jun 15, 2020 2:45 pm238 views

    We're restructuring our services to better meet the needs of our stakeholders: students, their families, and employees across the University of Illinois System. Read about what that means for financial coaching!

  • Collection of Several Hundred Dollar Bill Bundles in US Currency

    How do people with vision impairments manage money?

    Jun 16, 2020 12:45 pm499 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.

  • Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff Webinar Series

    Get $avvy - Grow Your Green $tuff Webinars

    Jul 2, 2020 12:00 pm81 views

    The 2020-2021 Get Savvy: Grow Your Green Stuff annual webinar series schedule is out. Register today and #GetSavvy.

  • woman drinking coffee and smiling at a computer with her hand in the air

    Understand Your Refund - Fall 2020

    Aug 28, 2020 1:00 pm719 views

    Hundreds of students end up unable to register every semester because they owe money back to the university, even after receiving a refund.

    Learn how to avoid being one of them.

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

    Aug 31, 2020 9:15 am117 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!

  • Person doing yoga on a beach

    The 5 C's: A Guide to Self-Care on a Budget

    Sep 18, 2020 12:00 pm172 views

    We put together a few tips in an effort to add to your ideas and/or motivate you to start practicing self-care/self-love on a budget! 

  • Podcast: Banked or Unbanked - Choosing Financial Services for You

    Sep 23, 2020 12:00 pm32 views

    Episode 2 of Making Cents of Money, Banked or Unbanked - Choosing Financial Services for You, is all about defining unbanked/underbanked, the differences between banks & credit unions, and how to choose the right financial institution for you. Learn from Illinois' Director of Banking, Chasse Rehwinkel, and Director of Financial Institutions, Francisco Menchaca.

  • Empty grocery store shelves

    Food Insecurity Takes on New Meaning in 2020

    Sep 25, 2020 1:00 pm64 views

    As Hunger Action Month comes to a close, we're reflect on how food insecurity has looked different in 2020 than in previous years. 

  • 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!

  • 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 pm106 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: Technology and Your Money

    Oct 5, 2020 12:00 pm15 views

    Episode 3 of Making Cents of Money, Technology and Your Money, explores how financial technologies are evolving and what that means for keeping our money safe.

  • Budget Hacks Presentation Title Slide with brain icon

    Budget Hacks - Get Savvy Webinar Recording

    Oct 21, 2020 1:00 pm50 views

    Money can be messy - it's not just about numbers, calculators and excel sheets. If you're looking for new ways to manage your money mess, we have the budget hacks for you! Learn how to take what we know about human behavior and choices to build better financial habits.

  • Podcast: Preventing Identity Theft

    Oct 22, 2020 12:00 pm58 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.

  • Setting Goals for Your Well-being

    Nov 6, 2020 9:00 am3837 views

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

  • Podcast: Understanding Credit

    Nov 10, 2020 12:00 pm67 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.

  • 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.