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Featured financial wellness topics from Saddleback College. Sign up or log in for access to our complete library.

Financial Basics

Kid on a bike heading down a long road. Word START is next to boy.

This course covers the basic concepts required to effectively manage money while in college.

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Financial Health   

The concept of financial health, including smart decision-making.
Woman's hand writing out three goals on yellow legal pad.

Introduction to Budgeting   

Why and how to budget.
3D dollar signs filling the image.

Tracking Your Spending   

A simple way to get the most from your monthly budget.
Bank Teller dispensing cash under bank window.

Choosing a Bank or Credit Union   

Types of financial services accounts.
Nest with gold egg in it.

Checking and Savings Accounts   

Checking and savings accounts strategies for minimizing fees.
Hand running credit card through credit card machine.

Credit vs. Debit Cards   

Credit and debit cards each have pros and cons. When should you use each?
Boy Scout in uniform with hand raised for Scout Pledge. Boy Scouts written above.

Credit Reports and Scores   

Credit reports and scores determine the rates you pay when borrowing and can affect your ability to get certain jobs.
Personal Check with pen point on amount box.

Managing Accounts   

Account management strategies for checking and savings.
Pile of different credit cards.

Students and Credit Cards   

Special challenges for students with credit cards.
Credit Report with Score

Building Credit   

Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.
Woman's forehead leaning down on her hand. Discouraged.

Identity Theft   

Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
Thumb and index finger hold tiny dollar bill.

Signs of Financial Trouble   

Spotting the warning signs of excessive debt.
Graduation Cap on top of $100 bill

Paying for College

The basics of financial aid, including the types of aid, applying for aid, borrower responsibilities, and repayment strategies.

Graduation Cap on top of $100 bill

Financial Aid Introduction

Whether you're considering higher education for yourself or starting to plan for the education of your kids, understanding the financial aid process is the first step to meeting your education goals.
Road sign that says

Types of Financial Aid   

The main types of financial aid are education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
Maze with the word Plan in the center.

Creating an Aid Strategy   

Considerations when planning to pay for school, including school choice, employment options, accounting strategies, and the importance of borrowing wisely.
Young woman reviewing calculator tape with notepad on table.

Understanding Financial Need   

Some aid is based on financial need and some is not. What exactly is "financial need?"
A hypothetical FAFSA admission ticket

Applying for Aid   

The aid application process, including descriptions of the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms.
Cap and Gown will spare change and cardboard that says

Education Loans   

A description of the main types of student loans, including government loans, consolidation loans, and private loans.
Graduation Cap on top of a stack of quarters and bills.

Choosing the Right Loan

Questions every student should be able to answer before taking on a student loan.
Woman with shrugging shoulders -- not sure what to do.

Selecting a Private Loan Lender

When federal loans are not enough, private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and non-profit lenders can help to fill the gap.
A Promissory Note with sharp pencil on it.

The Master Promissory Note   

An introduction to the agreement that specifies your rights and responsibilities when accepting a student loan.
Young man dressed in cap and gown with $ tag hanging as a tassle.

Repaying College Debt   

A look at common repayment plans, including how different plans affect your monthly payment and overall cost.
Green dollar sign with graduation cap in a field on a sunny day.

Borrowing Wisely   

Making smart choices about student loans, including a description of the impact of loan capitalization.
asgag

Independent Student Status   

Understanding your financial aid dependency status, including a discussion of what to do if the parents of dependent students refuse to help them pay for college.
Life Saving Ring thrown in the air. White with bright red stripes.

Dealing with Too Little Aid

Why some students find themselves with too little aid and what can be done to make ends meet.
Young African American man in gray suit, sitting, hand on chin, looking at us.

Workplace Transition

An introduction to key financial and workplace skills needed for a successful transition from school to work.

Man in suit with his hands holding empty pants' pockets.

Salary Expectations Versus Reality

Most young people tend to overestimate their starting salaries.
Kid on a bike heading down a long road. Word START is next to boy.

Money in the Real World   

No matter what your financial outlook is after leaving school, the concept of financial health is an important step towards long-term financial success.
Graduate, Financial Success, Financial Superhero

Workplace Transition Introduction

An overview of topics covered in our Workplace Transition material.
Cartoon, tied green bag with $ on it, man is suit smiling reaching for it.

Employer Benefits   

There are four main types of employee benefit programs: health insurance, retirement plans, tax-advantaged savings, and supplemental benefits such as life and vision care insurance.
Two fingers climbing a $100 staircase

Creating Healthy Spending Habits   

No matter how much or how little you earn, your spending habits play a major role in your financial health.
Woman looking at several forms on a table with her hand on a calculator.

Managing Student Loan Debt   

Repaying student debt responsibly helps you establish good credit and helps you qualify for the best-possible interest rates on future loans.
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The Concept of Professionalism   

Being a “professional” paves the way for both current and future success, no matter what career you choose. Professionalism requires you to draw upon a set of skills that may seem outside the specific skills required for your job.
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Day One of a New Job   

First impressions are important. New employees should take the time to prepare for the first day to ensure that they start off on the right foot.
Young woman in gray suit shaking hands with man in gray suit.

Communication Skills   

Strong communication skills are essential to success in the workplace, but mastering these skills takes time and practice.
Clock superimposed onto a dollar bill.

Time Management   

To be successful in today’s workplace, you need to know how to manage the limited amount of time you have to accomplish all of your tasks.
Young African American man in gray suit, sitting, hand on chin, looking at us.

Networking in the Workplace   

Effective networking can lead to success in your career both now and in the future.

Financial Wellness Home

This Week

Person putting coin into a pink piggy bank.

Savings Strategies For a Large Purchase

Specific strategies for saving for large purchases like a new appliance or a special trip.

 Popular Topics

Types of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Introduction

Credit Reports and Scores

Creating an Aid Strategy

Education Loans

About Saddleback College

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