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'Literacy' Week To Help Students Thrive Financially

Feb. 19, 2014
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

 

The Sam Houston State University Student Money Management Center will teach students how to thrive financially with the help of an extreme coupon-er, a woman who found success in the Dave Ramsey method, and a series of events to tackle students’ most pressing money matters.

The sixth annual Financial Literacy Week, Feb. 24-27, will include 14 workshops and presentations over a four-day period that will address issues such as financial aid and scholarships, budgeting and even investing.

“Financial Literacy Week is the cornerstone of the SMMC marketing and education plan,” said Patsy Collins, SMMC director. “The SMMC wants to help the students and graduates of Sam Houston State University learn that they don’t need to exist by living paycheck to paycheck. Students need to understand the basic elements of financial planning that will teach them to not just survive, but thrive.”

Activities will begin on Monday, when Tiffany Ivanovsky, of Extreme Couponing fame, will return to campus for a FLW kick-off event and presentation.

During the kick-off event, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area, Ivanovsky and her husband Paul will promote her afternoon presentation by showing students how to effectively utilize coupons.

“Paul will be the ‘cashier’ for the event and Tiffany will work with students to show them how to work with coupons,” Collins said. “As the mother of seven children, Tiffany has developed unique and thoughtful shopping techniques that have proven to be helpful to reigning in and helping to balance her family’s budget.”

At 1 p.m., Ivanovsky will move into LSC Room 320 for more extreme couponing lessons, sharing with students tips on weekly planning, understanding grocery store sale cycles and inventory management.

At 3 p.m., Home Depot employees Corey Bateman and Adam Bell, an SHSU student who also works at the SMMC, will show students how to save money by “Doing it Yourself,” in LSC Room 320.

“They will take a list of items and show how students can conserve their money by making some basic pieces of furniture,” Collins said. “The DIY items will utilize similar building materials, tools and techniques, so that students can see how purchasing a few supplies will let them build and customize their furniture while staying within their budget.”

Monday’s workshops will end with a presentation for SHSU’s veteran population. “Veterans and Finances” will begin at 5 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

On Tuesday, SHSU financial aid counselor Amanda Briggs will talk about obtaining financial aid on campus, including the frequency and timing of applications and how to determine the types and estimated amounts of financial aid eligibilities. The presentation will begin at 11 a.m. in LSC Room 320.

Other Tuesday presentations include “Fun on a Budget,” from 12:30-1:20 p.m.; “Be Your Own Boss,” from 2-2:50 p.m.; and “Financing Your Ride,” from 4-4:50 p.m. All will be in LSC Room 320.

Wednesday’s activities will open at 11 a.m. with the Financial Literacy Week keynote address, featuring Christy Wright, a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a member of the Dave Ramsey Speakers Group.

Christy Wright

Wright will share her experiences accumulating student and credit card debt while in college and how she ultimately learned how to manage her money and time to balance her budget and life.

“She is a powerful, encouraging, knowledgeable speaker who has dedicated herself to teaching young adults about the tradeoffs of managing their money and their lives,” Collins said. “The students of Sam Houston will relate with Christy and her story. Not only will students be able to empathize with her situation, but they will be able to discern her master plan for resolving seemingly insurmountable obstacles and creating a successful personal environment and lifestyle.”

That afternoon, scholarship coordinator Amy Wilson will give students the 4-1-1 on applying for scholarships at SHSU with “Scholarships 101,” at 3 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

“These two topics (financial aid and scholarships) are closely intertwined. Knowing the basics regarding financial aid and scholarship deadlines is critical to students’ financial success,” Collins said. “Amanda and Amy will discuss the frequency and timing of these applications.

“Students also need to know how to determine the types and estimated amounts regarding financial aid eligibility and their level of need,” she said. “This will help them estimate their financial aid awards each year and also help them complete the portion of ScholarX regarding need-based aid.”

Finally, financial aid coordinator Laura Ringo will share saving techniques she learned on Pinterest to create household items, with a twist, at 5 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

“She will demonstrate how making a few of your own household products will save money throughout the year,” Collins said.

Thursday’s workshops will kick off with a collaboration between the SMMC and two student organizations, which will present tips on investing and budgeting.

SHSU’s Banking and Finance Club will present tips on investing at 11 a.m. in LSC Room 320, followed by a budgeting workshop by co-ed fraternity for business and economics Phi Chi Theta, at 12:30 p.m., also in LSC Room 320.

“Starting this year, the SMMC is also collaborating with student organizations to provide additional student leadership opportunities during FLW,” Collins said. “The student organizations are responsible for topic selection, presentation, and speaker logistics. The students have embraced the challenges and will offer professional level programs for their peers at SHSU during FLW.”

Finally, the SMMC and Student Health Center will show students how they can eat more than just Ramen noodles when money is tight through their “Healthy Meals on a Dime” workshop at 4 p.m. in Old Main Market’s Parker Dining Hall.

For more information on any of these activities, call the SMMC at 936.294.2600.

 

 

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