University library hosts series of workshops for financial wellness month

The University library will be celebrating Financial Wellness Awareness month with a series of workshops discussing how to manage finances.

All workshops will be held in room 334.

Ramen Now or Ramen Later?

This workshop will be held at 3:00 p.m. on April 12.

It is aimed towards underclassmen to learn how to manage their money while in school, and after school. Practical money skills will be discussed, according to the event calendar.

It will be presented again at 4:30 p.m. on April 21.

Life Beyond Loans

This will be presented at 4:30 p.m. on April 12.

Upperclassmen will learn how to prepare for the workforce after they graduate. The workshop will also discuss the impact of loans after graduation, according to the event calendar.

The second presentation will be at 6 p.m. on April 21.

Matthew Swanson, a senior psychology major, said he thinks these workshops are very crucial for students since most people do not understand the long term effects of taking out loans.

“There are a lot of rules to the loans everyone does take out, so learning more about them would be very helpful,” Swanson said.

Banking, Saving, and Investing

Banks, Saving, and Investing will be at 5 p.m. on April 14.

The workshop will be discussing how banks make credit decisions, and the benefits of saving money early. It will also be discussing risks of getting involved in certain investments, according to the calendar.

Establishing credit: Everything You Need to Know

This workshop will be held at 2 p.m. on April 15.

Students will learn how to read a credit report, and how to build and repair their credit history. They will learn why credit is important, know the purpose of a credit report, how a credit report is used, as well as read and analyze a credit report, according to the calendar.

The next presentation will be held April 18.

Brock A. Koberna, a sophomore managerial marketing major, said he absolutely believes that these workshops are a crucial part of learning how to become an adult.

“For many students including myself, high school did very little to prepare me for the things that I now need to do on a regular basis, regarding my finances,” Koberna said. “I think that it is very important to attend these workshops, as they will teach you things that are guaranteed to help you out in your life.”

I have met the Enemy…and they are Me! (Identity Theft)

This presentation is at 12:30 p.m. on April 19.

This workshop will teach warning signs, and to reduce risk of identity theft. It will also teach students how to prevent identity theft, and how to cope if it happens.

Living on a Budget in Kent

The workshop will be held at 2:30 p.m. on April 22 and will be the last of the series.

The presentation will provide tools and resources needed for financial wellness. It will teach budgeting basics, and will create awareness for free activities available on and off campus.

Patrick O’Donnell, a junior music performance major, said he thinks these workshops are necessary and have the potential to be very helpful for students.

“Financial responsibility is something that I think a lot of us student’s lack,” O’Donnell said. “This is a good way for students, such as myself, to figure out how to do more with what money they have, and help them make smarter monetary decisions after finishing college.”

Kimberly Laferty is the libraries reporter for The Kent Stater, contact her at [email protected].