Money Matters

Maximize your financial knowledge!

2024-2025 Canvas Credit Union and CU Anschutz Financial Literacy Workshops

Financial literacy is essential for our students, contributing to their long-term financial success and security. To support this, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Financial Aid Office has partnered with Canvas Credit Union to better equip our students with knowledge about financial matters. For the 2024-2025 academic year, we have strategically designed workshops aligned with monthly themes: October focuses on mental health, November on financial well-being, February on financial aid awareness, and April on financial literacy.

FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS – Oct 15, 2024 12-1pm, Ed2 North 2106

Registration link: https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/financial_ed_10_15_24

Your money life right now and in the future

Your financial well-being starts with the fundamentals of spending, saving, borrowing, and future planning. Get a clear understanding of banking products, money emotions, budgeting options, savings tactics, advantages and challenges of loans, smart borrowing tips, and big picture considerations like insurance and investing. Let’s take a look at your whole money life to make your financial position stronger now and in the future.

UNWRAP A LOW STRESS HOLIDAY - Oct 30, 2024 12-1pm, Ed2 North 2106

Registration link: https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/financial_ed_10_30_24

How to avoid financial and emotional stress during the holidays

It’s the time of year when demands, expectations, commitments, and calories are up — while money, time, energy, and daylight are in short supply. We’ve got tips, tricks, and resources to give you new ideas for beating financial and emotional stress this holiday season.

9 BRILLIANT FINANCIAL TIPS – Nov 6, 2024 12-1pm, Ed2 North 2106

Registration link: https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/financial_ed_11_6_24

Simple tactics you can use to improve your financial well-being

Learn nine financial tips that take as few as 22 seconds to implement and will put you on the fast track to financial health. Empower your brilliant self with these easy techniques to manage saving, spending, loans, and money mentality.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS – Nov 14, 2024 12-1pm, Ed2 North 2106

Registration link: https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/financial_ed_11_14_24

Your finances play a big part in your overall health and happiness

Learn how financial stress can have a negative impact on your physical health along with tips for how to identify and manage the symptoms. We’ll also discuss how to improve your financial wellness by making smarter choices whenever you spend and save.

MANAGING STUDENT LOAN DEBT – Feb 5, 2025 12-1pm

Explore the realities of student debt and options to manage it

Whether you currently have student loans or you need them, we’ve got the latest information to help you make your next move. We’ll cover debt cancellation, current rates, and ways to repay, reduce, or avoid student loans altogether. Plus, you’ll learn about grant and scholarship options, types of student loans, loan forgiveness, and the new SAVE option.

MONEY PERSONALITIES – Feb 19, 2025 12-1pm

How personality and values impact your financial decisions  

How you feel about money can influence your financial actions and impact other aspects of your life. This class includes quizzes that will help you understand your money personality and may aid you in making better financial choices.

PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY – April 2, 2025 12-1pm

Why we make bad financial decisions

Why are some of the money choices we make not in our best interest? We look at the psychology behind our financial decisions to uncover our relationship to money and how we spend it.

RISK OR REWARD – April 9, 2025 12-1pm

A conversation about crypto, collectibles, and employer plans

Already plugged into your employer retirement plan and considering an alternative investment option?  Gold, a rental property, your nephew’s latest business venture?  Maybe it’s sports betting, comic books, cryptocurrency, or that amazing invention you saw on Tik Tok!  Of the many possibilities that could be discussed we are going to explore cryptocurrency, collectibles, and the hidden value of employer plans.  We’ll share what they are, how they work, pros, cons, and resources to learn more. 

College Savings Options

The links below will take you out of the CU Anschutz web site.

There is no one strategy for college savings ... because each family's situation is different you need to … look at all the options.

Manage Your Credit

Maintain good credit so you can borrow when necessary.

Credit Report

Annual Credit Report - When it comes time to borrow money from a bank the determining factor will be your credit history. If you have struggled to pay your bills on time or been through other financial difficulties you should understand what lenders will see in your credit report. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit agencies every year. One suggestion is to obtain one report from an agency every four months. This is the only website where you can obtain a free report; do not be misguided by other agencies offering to send you the report for a fee or require you to sign up for a trial period.

Credit Resources

How to Rebuild Your Credit - Steps and tips on how to rebuild credit.
MyFiCO's Credit Education - helps you understand how credit is granted and how bad decisions impact you later in life. Tips are offered to help you boost your score and prepare you for applying for future financing. Avoid being a victim of identity theft by using suggestions on myFiCO. A glossary of credit related terms is included to help you better understand what you are applying for.
Understanding Your Credit Score - An overview of credit scores and tips on how to build and improve credit scores.

Managing Debt

Coping with Debt - The Federal Trade Commissions's tips on managing your debt.
Motley Fool's Reduce Your Debt is a six-step action plan for getting your debt under control.

Manage Your Money

Learn the 10 Basic Steps to Getting Smart About Money.

Avoid Scams - Before you apply for financial aid, learn how to spot potential fraud, avoid paying for free services, and prevent identity theft.

CashCourse - was created to help students understand the basics of financial literacy. You can explore an array of topics including budgeting, credit management and student loans. Additional sections provide information about employment and the decisions you make when securing a job. It is never too late to start building a healthy financial future! Here are some worksheets to help you with managing your money.

FDIC Money Smart Podcast Network - covers topics such as the basics of borrowing money wisely, using a spending plan to achieve financial goals, and how to effectively use banking products. Listen to the audio files online or download them to your portable audio player.

File Your Federal Tax Return For Free - If your adjusted gross income is less than $58,000 you may be eligible for free tax preparation and electronic filing. Visit www.irs.gov to learn more about eligibility requirements and providers. Any questions regarding this free service should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Providers may offer to file your state tax return for a fee. Information about filing an electronic State of Colorado tax return can be found here.

FinAid! - is a comprehensive website for all types of financial aid related issues. Up-to-date information about federal legislative changes, loan calculators and general financial aid information are among the various topics covered.

Financial Avenue - Put your finances on the right path. Financial Avenue offers a range of online courses to help students and adults gain life-long knowledge about the basics of personal money management.

Know Before You Owe--Mortgage Are you thinking about buying a house? Understand your loan options, shop for the mortgage that’s best for you, and avoid costly surprises at the closing table.

Mint.com - Get a handle on your finances the free and fast way.

MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.

Manage Your Student Loans

Stay on top of your student loan debt.

Are you graduating?

Want more information about student loan repayment? We have several resources to assist you. Use the links below for additional information to help you better understand your repayment options.

Exit Counseling Information for Student Borrowers
Repayment Plans - U.S. Dept. of Education
Student Loan Simulator - helps you calculate student loan payments and choose a loan repayment option that best meets your needs and goals.

The NHSC Students to Service (S2S) Program provides up to $120,000 to medical students (MD and DO) in their final year of school in return for a three year service commitment to practice medicine in a community with limited access to care. And with your continued NHSC service, all of your remaining educational debt can be paid off.

If you have excellent credit, you may be able to refinance your existing federal student loans into a private loan. BEFORE DOING SO, it is important to understand the full impact of making this permanent change to your loans.

Read Should I Refinance My Student Loans? from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

[Med students read the AAMC article, "Should I Refinance My Federal Student Loans?"]

The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers who already have student loans.

Are you confused about the options and rights as a student loan borrower? You can find answers about repayment, collections, where to seek help and basic information to help you better understand the loans you have already borrowed. The ‘Understanding Student Loans’ section offers information on federal, alternative and consolidation loans. A glossary of loan terminology is available for reference.

Tax Incentives and Credits

The federal government provides a number of tax incentives that can help lower the cost of higher education. Below are information pertaining to those tax incentives and credits.

Tools & Resources

CU Campuses

CU Anschutz Medical Campus

Student Finances

Financial Aid

Money Matters

2024-2025 Canvas Credit Union and CU Anschutz Financial Literacy Workshops

College Savings Options