🔥The 9th Round of Easy Loan, Earn $40 Reward is in progress❗️ ⏰ Promotion Period: January 15th - Feburary 15th, 2025 👉 Register now and check more details at gate.io/campaigns/358

Happy Juneteenth! The University is closed, but you can still learn about personal finance while celebrating the complete emancipation of African Americans who were enslaved in the US. Visit studentmoney.uillinois.edu. #Juneteenth #EmancipationProclamation #EmancipationDay

🌞 Happy Summer Solstice! 🌞 Today’s the longest day of 2025—shine light on your financial goals! ✨Summer Money Tips: • Create a budget • Explore jobs • Start an emergency fund Check our webinars (Cash at College) or podcast (Making Cents of Money) for more! #UImoney

New Making Cents of Money podcast episode Tackling Tariffs is out! Check it out on: Our Blog: blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/6772… Soundcloud: on.soundcloud.com/IdXuaTFPa0GrLx… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3BPCDJ… Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epi…

Whether we mean to or not, we all do it at some point in our lives--give or take financial advice that may be ill-informed. Read our newest blog post to learn what to watch for when taking financial advice and what risks exist for giving it to others. blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/8628…

Have a safe and happy Independence Day weekend! And don't forget University Bursar's offices, including the Student Money Management Center, are closed on July 4th. You can still explore financial education resources at studentmoney.uillinois.edu though!

Know the difference between financial literacy & capability? 🧠 Financial Literacy = Knowledge you gain from financial education 💪 Financial Capability = How you USE that knowledge with your existing resources Both are important! Which one are you working on today? #UImoney

🎯Budgeting isn't about restriction – it's about empowering yourself to reach your goals! Key steps: ✅ Collect financial info ✅ Prioritize: needs > wants ✅ Set SMART goals ✅ Track progress ✅ Re-evaluate regularly Budgeting requires practice, not perfection! #UImoney

💰 Your Income is More Than Your Paycheck - Federal, state, & local aid programs - Public transportation options - Library services - Community resources - Financial aid and family support Take inventory of ALL your resources to create a comprehensive financial plan! #UImoney

📊 Know Your Expenses 🔒 Fixed Expenses: Set amounts (rent, insurance, loan payments) 📈 Flexible Expenses: Variable amounts (utilities, groceries) 📅 Occasional Expenses: Irregular timing (car maintenance, textbooks) Pro tip: Budget for surprise expenses before they happen!

🤔 The Tricky Balance: Needs and wants differ from person to person and can change over time! A need is something that could jeopardize your health, safety, or livelihood if you went without it. A "need" today might be a want later as your situation changes. That's normal!

🎯 Use the SMART framework for goal-setting success: *Specific* - Be clear about what you want *Measurable* - Track your progress with numbers *Agreed Upon* - Get buy-in from those who'll help *Realistic* - Match your current resources and time *Timely* - Set a target date

Find Your Expense Tracking Style: 📱 Apps - Automated categorization & alerts 💻 Online Banking - Built-in tracking tools 📅 Calendar Method - Color-code expenses by date 📦 Shoebox Method - Collect & tally receipts 📓 Notebooks - Good old pen and paper studentmoney.uillinois.edu

⚖️ Financial crimes are crimes — and justice includes fighting scams, fraud, and identity theft worldwide. On World Day for International Justice, learn how financial regulation protects you: 🔗 blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1191… #WorldDayForInternationalJustice #FinancialJustice

Stress is part of life, but it doesn't control you! 🌟 Watch our 'Money, Stress, & Bad Habits' webinar to conquer financial stress and transform habits. Let's master money together! 💪💰😊 Check it out: youtube.com/ilstudentmoney

Curious about financial wellness, literacy, & capability? We cover those concepts & more on episode 88 of Making Cents of Money on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, or Spotify! Check out the resources on our blog: blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/9709…. #UImoney #FinLit

🍦✨ Happy National Ice Cream Day, everyone! 🎉 What's your favorite sweet treat spot near your campus?🍨❤️ #NationalIceCreamDay #ScoopOfJoy

Going to college this fall? Unlock affordable education! 🎓 Check out episode 52, 'Paying for College with Scholarships' for funding insights: blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1987…. #Scholarships #UIMONEY #MakingCentsPodcast

📚🎓 Heading back to college? Explore credit cards and financing options for students in episode 90 of Making Cents of Money. 🎧 Listen now: blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1987….

Cash at College: Spending, Saving and Student Loans is for all students headed to college this fall. This free webinar will cover the basics of budgeting, banking, credit and more. Register at go.uillinois.edu/cashatcollege for: 7/28 @ 3 PM CT 8/26 @ 12 PM CT

Don't forget! We have e-newsletters that go out every 2 weeks on different financial topics. The next enewsletter goes out this Wednesday! Subscribe at the link in our bio: studentmoney.uillinois.edu/contact/subscr…. #Enewsletters #Subscribe #UImoney #UISedu #UIC #IllinoisWelcome