Financial Wellness is balancing your needs with your resources without stressing other areas of your life. A financially fit person may not be wealthy but has learned to finance the lifestyle they desire. 

Strategies to enhance Financial Wellness:

Access resources to grow financial literacy skills 

• Sign up for GradReady  

• Use financial planning and financial counseling services 

• Establish a financial relationship with a bank or credit union 

Create a budget  

• Record every bill and purchase  

• Develop financial goals and make a plan to meet them  

• Know the difference between “needs” and “wants”  

• Save for your wants  

Understand credit and use wisely 

• If you use credit cards, pay them off monthly  

• Only borrow what you can comfortably repay  

• Sign up for Credit Karma or another app to track your credit score and get tips 

Find areas to cut costs  

• Shop at thrift stores and buy other used items  

• Only buy on sale  

• Use coupons and promotions 

• Negotiate prices whenever possible  

• Access financial assistance programs 

Plan for the long-term future 

• Buy insurance  

• Start/maintain an emergency savings account 

• Save and plan for retirement early  

Resources:

• Financial Aid
• Emergency Funding: Beam, Emergency Loans, Basic Needs Emergency Grant
• Resource Navigator
• FDLTCC Money Management Info
• GradReady
• Scholarships
• WorkStudy
• SNAP
• AEOA
• Salvation Army
• Lutheran Social Services
• Thrift Stores
• Housing Assistance
• Food Pantries
  • Second Harvest Northland
  • Ruby’s Pantry
• Community Ed Courses

Campus Activities:

• TRIO Financial Literacy Events 
• Financial Aid Presentation with Seek to Learn Academy Groups
• Financial Aid Classroom Talks
• Financial Aid Presentations during Tours and Campus Visit Days
• Financial Aid Counseling on Student Budgets and Loans
• Human Resources for New Employees