Financial Wellness Center Blog

How to navigate your first year at the U.

As a new semester is starting up and tax season is coming up, it's important to learn how to recognize scams. There has been a lot of scams going around in the last few weeks and we want to help you avoid them. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with the IRS

The holidays are around the corner and we know that means we’re gonna have to stock up on gifts for everyone and anyone. As a broke college student, I can’t afford to budget hundreds of dollars but I want to make sure that my loved ones feel special. Let’s take a look at some unique and frugal places to find gifts.

The first time I went grocery shopping by myself my first year of college, I felt overwhelmed. I come from a family of six which meant that the only experience I had with grocery shopping was helping my mom shop for six people. I had no idea how to shop just for myself. After trial and error, I have created a system for myself that allows me to stick to my budget and eat healthy at the same time. Grocery shopping in college doesn’t have to be scary. Here are a few tips on how to do grocery shopping right to save money:

The Covid-19 Pandemic isn’t over yet, but with vaccines rolling out across the country, the end may be in sight. As states begin to reopen and the world is figuring out what the “new normal” will look like, it’s important to think ahead financially. After long months of lockdown, everyone is eager to go out into the world and enjoy new things, but we need to be wise about our spending habits. As things like travel, dining, and public activities become available to us again, now it’s a great time to look at and update your budget! Here are some steps to do so..

Budgeting is one of the most important concepts of financial literacy. Budgets force people to spend within their means and show where money can be saved. Creating and sticking to a budget can save anyone hundreds of dollars. Creating a budget is fairly easy. There are countless ways to set one up, whether it be through an app, a spreadsheet, or a simple scratch piece of paper. However, sticking to a budget is a different story. Keeping track of how much you spend and what that money is going towards requires a bit of work and discipline. What if there was an app out there that forced you to stick to this budget? Enter Qube Money.

For many college students, heading off to college means leaving the nest and renting your own apartment. It’s a dream come true, your perfect pad, a refuge from the world. But while getting your own place can feel a-ma-zing, it is important that you consider some of the pitfalls of renting, know your rights, and protect your finances when you sign a lease. Here are some tips to being a savvy renter!

You’ve stayed up until midnight, watched the ball drop, and said a great big “Bye Felicia!” to 2020. A new year can feel so refreshing. It's a great time to ditch bad habits and set new goals. Perhaps you’re going to level up that fitness game, read more, set healthy boundaries, or (fingers crossed) travel more. While you’re swearing off procrastination and vowing to declutter closets, consider adding a few financial resolutions to your list too.

Due to the recent pandemic, the Financial Wellness Center feels like it is a great time to talk about emergencies and how we can prepare for them financially. It is so important to save for a rainy day, but it’s also important to know how much you should strive to save.