Financial Literacy

Personal Financial Literacy & Money Management

What is Personal Financial Literacy? Possessing the knowledge and skills to make responsible decisions and manage financial matters efficiently for a lifetime of well-being.

It’s more than just being able to balance a checkbook, compare prices or get a job. You need to learn how to pay your bills, how to borrow and save responsibly, and how and why to invest.

The decisions you make now, from choosing which student loan to borrow to how you use a credit card, will affect you for years after you graduate.

Stay on top of your finances. “Your life, Your Money”

Budgeting Basics
Creating and maintaining a spending plan is one of the most basic aspects of staying on top of your finances. Without following a budget, it’s difficult to hold yourself accountable on where your money is coming from or going toward. Use this interactive worksheet to help maintain a spending plan.

The Impact of Interest
Understanding the ins and outs of interest and fees can impact your finances more than you realize. Why? It can make the difference between borrowing a small amount and paying back much more. If you receive a federal student loan you will be required to repay the loan with interest. Make sure you understand how interest is calculated and the fees associated with your loan. Both of these factors will impact the amount you will be required to repay.

Credit-Debt Roller Coaster
It’s much easier to lose credit than gain it and many students don’t realize how easy it is to ruin their credit – and how difficult it can be to regain credit – before it’s too late. That’s why it’s crucial to provide knowledge on debt earlier than later. Monitor your credit history and safeguard against identity theft. Lots of sites promise credit reports for free. AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY official site explicitly directed by Federal law to provide them.

Preparing for Life After Graduation

Student Loan Checklist
Use this checklist to see what you can do now before graduation

GCOP Grad Fair Repayment Presentation
Life After College - getting ready for repayment

Student Loan Repayment
When it comes to repaying your federal student loan, there’s a lot to consider. Understanding the details of repayment can save you time and money. Find out more about:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Application & Forms
How and when to apply

Financial Managment and Managing Student Loan Debt Resources

Monthly Budget Worksheet

Use this worksheet to create a budget and check how you’re doing each month compared with your budget goal.

Student Loan & Financial Planning Checklist
Use this checklist and spreadsheet to help you keep track of what you need to know about each of your loans.

Free Annual Credit Report

Get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company.

Dave Ramsey Tools & Resources
Free tools and calculators

Useful Links