As assistant director of the Money Education Center and lecturer for AGEC 235, Foundations of Money Education, Nick Kilmer has his hands full helping current and former students learn how to handle their expenses.

Kilmer works with three other full-time employees and five student workers in the Money Education Center, which is located on the first floor of The Pavilion. The Money Education Center first opened its doors in August of 2016. It offers financial advising free of charge for current and former students, faculty and staff.

 In a given year, the Money Education Center connects with around 10,000 students, Kilmer said. Despite this constant business, he still exhibits a passion for his work.

 “I love people, and I love working with money,” Kilmer said. “If you can help people be less stressed about money, that’s a fun job to have.”

View the full article on the Texas A&M Money Education Center. 

Student debt is a big issue in the 2020 presidential campaign for an obvious reason: There’s a lot of it—about $1.5 trillion, up from $250 billion in 2004. Students loans are now the second largest slice of household debt after mortgages, bigger than credit card debt. About 42 million Americans (about one in every eight) have student loans, so this is a potent issue among voters, particularly younger ones.

View the full article on student debt.

Americans who are struggling to pay off their debt could see lower FICO credit scores in their future, especially if they miss payments.

Fair Isaac Corp., the company behind the popular FICO credit score, announced the launch of its latest FICO 10 model today, Jan. 23, that will start incorporating consumers’ debt levels into their scoring model.

This comes as total household debt in the U.S. has steadily increased for about two years, and currently sits at about $13.95 trillion as of last September 2019, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That’s higher than the previous high of $12.68 trillion seen right before the 2008 financial crisis.

“This was bound to happen,” John Ulzheimer, an expert on credit scores and credit scoring, tells CNBC Make It. “The job of scoring models is to properly assess risk, not simply give people better scores as a default position.”

FICO estimates that about 110 million consumers will see a change of less than 20 points to their score under the new credit score model. Overall, roughly 80 million consumers will see a change in score of 20 or more points in either direction, upward or downward, FICO says.

View the full article on the FICO credit score changes. 

The idea that your morning coffee - or avocado toast - purchase is what's preventing you from becoming a millionaire is a personal finance "truthism" that's existed for decades. And, yes, while opting to brew weekday coffee at home could save you $1,000 per year, there are other ways to adjust your spending that make a bigger impact. 

Read on for other ways to build your budget while still being able to splurge on the luxuries that bring you joy.

To view the full article, visit https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/saving-and-budgeting/slideshows/10-big-ways-to-boost-your-budget-without-skimping-on-your-daily-latte

Banks have many fees for different services. Learn how to avoid some of them. 

Visit the article 5 Unfair Banking Fees and How to Avoid Them.

Many people are taking steps to improve their credit worthiness -- but if they go about it the wrong way, misled by myths, they could actually hurt their scores.

To learn what is fact or fiction, visit the full article 3 myths that could tank your credit score.

“What is a mutual fund?” Sam Rogers asked his financial literacy class.

Tessa Sabin, an 11th grader at Riverton High School, offered a guess: “Isn’t it where you invest in something that’s invested in multiple things? So that if one of them tanks, it doesn’t affect you overall because your investment is spread around.”

Rogers throws a lollipop to her for answering correctly. This kind of question is normal in Utah high schools, where financial literacy is a core requirement to graduate. Five states in the U.S. earn an A grade from Champlain College’s Center for Financial Literacy when it comes to teaching personal finance in high school, but only Utah has gotten an A+.

To view the full article, visit https://finance.yahoo.com/news/one-state-gets-teaching-students-money-161046576.html.

April is Financial Literacy Month, and whether you're a money guru or just someone who wants to know more, you can get involved.

Financial knowledge is important. Just 57 percent of American adults are financially literate, according to the 2015 S&P Global Financial Literacy Survey. That ranks 14th in the world – far behind such nations as Denmark (71 percent), Canada (68 percent), Israel (68 percent), Germany (66 percent) and Australia (64 percent). Clearly, Americans can do better, and we should.

How can you help? Here are a few ways you can make a difference during Financial Literacy Month.

To view the full article, visit https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/2017-04-10/3-ways-to-take-action-during-financial-literacy-month

Millennials have to endure many stereotypes. They are often labeled lazy, entitled and even narcissistic.

Zach Swartz, an older millennial himself and portfolio manager with BKD Wealth Advisors in Springfield, Missouri, isn't sure the generation really deserves to be singled out in that way. "Sometimes millennials can be painted as very different from other generations when they're not," he says.

Case in point: the money management mistakes commonly made by millennials. The following six mistakes aren't so different from the financial gaffes made by older adults.

To view the full article, visit https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/2018-03-02/6-money-management-mistakes-millennials-often-make

April is Financial Literacy Month. You might suspect there is a problem with financial literacy in America, if an entire month is dedicated to it! And you would be right.

April is an opportune time to look at three efforts that may have a chance to combat financial illiteracy. These are chosen because of their scalability and capacity to make a real difference for financial literacy in America.

To view the full article, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/pensionresearchcouncil/2016/04/01/happy-financial-literacy-month/#4015505fe213

Students preparing to begin college and take more control over their personal finances in many cases lack the skills and knowledge to make responsible financial decisions and repay their student loans, according to a new survey from EverFi.

The survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of more than 100,000 incoming college students — most from four-year institutions — in more than 410 institutions across the country. Overall, the survey found that most respondents struggled to answer basic financial literacy questions, and on average only answered two of six questions correctly.

To view the full article, visit https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/14855/Survey_Incoming_College_Students_Struggle_With_Basic_Financial_Literacy.

It’s truly an honor to stand by your friend’s side as she exchanges vows with her beloved and takes her first steps toward marital bliss. If only those precious moments could make up for the exorbitant costs that come with being a part of her special day.

Members of the wedding party spend an average of $728 on gifts, travel and attire for the wedding, bachelor or bachelorette party and shower, according to a new Bankrate report.

The average price varies depending on where you live. Northeastern wedding party members should be prepared to shell out even more than that, with an average all-in cost of $1,070 to participate in all three events.

While those figures may be eye-boggling, it’s actually an extremely conservative estimate.

To view the full article, visit https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-americans-spend-attend-wedding-100053961.html.

The arrival of spring often motivates people to stop hibernating and renew healthier habits, such as enjoying more outdoor activity and adopting a better overall diet. If you're hoping to add some more wholesome and healthy ingredients to your cooking, there are a number of inexpensive, everyday items that pack a powerful, nutrient-rich punch. March is National Nutrition Month, so what better time is there to try these healthy and cheap ingredients in your next recipe?

Read on for five inexpensive and healthy ingredients to add to your meals.

To view the full article, visit https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/2018-03-22/try-these-nutritious-and-cheap-ingredients-in-your-next-recipe.

Managing your money during a semester abroad is no easy feat.

After a summer internship at CNBC writing about personal finance, I left for a semester abroad armed with plenty of information to better manage my money. But now that I've been in Spain for a few months, I've found there's a lot I didn't know.

Here are six key lessons I've learned about how to manage money while studying abroad.

To view the full article, visit https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/09/6-tricks-to-spend-wisely-during-a-semester-abroad.html.

Imagine that your roof starts to leak. Or your car breaks down. Or, worst of all, a pink slip lands on your desk.

The credit cards in your wallet could likely keep you dry, on the road, and well fed, but running up significant debt can cause a major setback to your financial plan. That’s why you always need to have ready access to a chuck of cash—that is, an emergency fund—that allows your financial life to stay on track even if you encounter a significant, unexpected expense.

To view full article, visit time.com/money/collection-post/2791948/emergency-fund-how-much-money/

Bad credit is not a life sentence, which is good news for the roughly one-third of people with credit scores below 620. So if your credit is damaged, there are indeed steps that you can take to rebuild. After all, rebuilding credit is a process that takes time and requires focus on the fundamentals. And we’ll explain exactly what you need to do below.

What you don’t want to do, however, is pay for credit repair. Anyone who claims the ability to “fix” or “clean up” your credit for a fee is scamming you. There is nothing any purported credit “repair” service can do that you cannot do yourself for free.

We made the following tips as practical as possible to give you both the structure of a plan and a clue about how to actually stick to it. Knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things, after all. We also explored how long the hands of time will have to turn before you can put bad credit behind you, hopefully once and for all.

Here’s what you need to do to rebuild your credit.

To view the full article, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/rebuild-credit/19613/#david-roach.

As national student poverty rises, Texas A&M resource facilities are taking action to assist Aggies with financial and nutritional aid.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 34.7 percent of College Station’s population is living below the poverty line, with the highest number of people falling between the ages of 18 and 24. The issue of college poverty is more concentrated at A&M, according to Megan Ford, kinesiology junior and executive director of The 12th Can.

“We’re above the state and national average for poverty, so one in five people in this area are food insecure, which is actually higher than most universities,” Ford said.

To view the full article, visit http://www.thebatt.com/news/battling-college-poverty-at-texas-a-m/article_7d2b8406-105f-11e8-82e0-73813b656c1a.html.

Watch any romantic comedy and you’ll see the leading couple put a lot of effort into impressing each other over the course of the movie. For example, he might take ballroom dancing lessons behind her back—and just when she’s about to confront him at his niece’s wedding reception, he holds out his hand and wows the room. Those small acts work almost every time! That’s because sincere effort goes a long way in getting—and keeping—the guy or girl.

Want to bring Hollywood home? Plan a monthly budget with your spouse. Wait! We’re serious. Guys, get ready to win the heart of your girl all over again. And ladies, your man won’t know what hit him. Having and sticking to a budget will help you be a better spouse. Here’s why:

To view the full article, visit https://www.everydollar.com/blog/ways-budgeting-makes-you-a-better-spouse

Another new year, another chance for well-intentioned resolutions to start with a bang and fizzle out. But unlike failing to drop those last five pounds, falling short on financial goals you’re banking on in 2018 could cost you for years to come.

Generally, attainable goals follow the SMART approach: They’re specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based. But that doesn’t mean attainable goals are all easy. A recent study indicates certain money goals that fit these criteria can remain challenging for some who are striving toward them.

Here are some 2017 financial resolutions that proved hardest to hit, with reported achievement rates, according to the 2018 New Year Money Report.

To view the full article, visit https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/money-goals

A recent Bankrate survey found that most Americans don’t have enough saved to cover $1,000 for an emergency. What’s worse is nearly one in five said they would put the expense on a credit card. If that’s you, here are 5 things you can do to start saving more right now.

To view the full article, visit https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-simple-ways-start-saving-money-year-190258555.html

2018 is fast approaching, providing the perfect opportunity to hit the “reset” button on your budget, particularly if you’ve faced unexpected financial problems this past year. Getting back on track can feel like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. Better Money Habits outlines six simple steps to follow on the road towards regaining control over your finances.

To view the full article, visit https://americasaves.org/blog/1542-new-year-new-you-and-a-renewed-budget

As the holiday break quickly approaches, the Money Education Center is sharing advice about holiday shopping and budgeting.

To view the full article, visit http://www.thebatt.com/news/saving-for-the-season/article_235663f0-de1a-11e7-80ce-07b2715942fe.html

For more advice on who should consider getting a gas rewards credit card, the best time to do so, and how to choose between the top offers, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of personal finance experts. You can check out their bios and responses.

1. What types of people should consider applying for one of the best gas rewards credit cards?
2. How much higher of a gas rewards earning rate do you think is needed to warrant committing to a particular gas station chain?
3. Does it make sense to get even one of the best gas rewards credit cards when gas prices are low?

To view the full article, visit https://wallethub.com/best-gas-credit-cards/#nick-kilmer.

During childhood, the holiday season held so much magic, but one mystery remained: Why did so many adults seem stressed?

As the years went by, we discovered how Santa made it to every single house in just one night and exactly what it was about turkey that made us so deliriously happy and sleepy. But the tension hiding behind our parents’ smiles? That one was a little harder to figure out.

To read more, visit everydollar.com/blog/budget-questions-for-a-stress-free-holiday

The proliferation of digital technology in the last two decades has brought with it a slew of various cyber-threats, especially cybercrime, the most common example of which is data breaches.

The International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission define a data breach as a compromise of security that leads to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of or access to protected data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed.

To view full article, visit thebatt.com/science-technology/understanding-data-breaches/article_2062ccae-ca5d-11e7-8449-8b46c94f4d9e.html

There’s just nothing quite like Thanksgiving weekend: a morning prepping turkey and learning Grandma’s famous roll recipe, parades and football on the TV, dinner that tastes of nostalgia, long afternoon naps and . . . mad dashes to the mall.

This year try something a little different: Enjoy spending more time with one another while spending less money. We’ll help you! Check out our tips below.

To view the full article, visit https://www.everydollar.com/blog/budget-thanksgiving-spending

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a type of savings vehicle that gives people tax breaks for investing money for retirement. Thanks to those tax incentives, more of the dollars you save end up in your pocket — now, and in the future.

To understand how IRAs work, you can start at the top or jump directly to one of the options on the left.

To view the full article, visit https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/learn-about-ira-accounts/?trk=nw_gn1_4.0

If you've yet to save your first $1,000, take comfort in the fact that you're in good company. An estimated 69% of Americans have less than $1,000 in a savings account, and 34% have absolutely no savings at all.

Whether your lack of savings stems from too many bills or not enough self control, here are five tips to help you finally hit that goal.

To view the full article, visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/09/pf/save-money/index.html

Pop quiz: What’s the difference between a credit card and a debit card? Why is it important to have access to credit? How do credit cards work?

Don’t panic if you don’t know the answers to these questions off the top of your head. The Nerds are here to introduce you to the basics of paying with plastic — and help you get started on identifying the right kind of card for you.

To view the full article, visit https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/credit-cards-101/?trk=nw_gn1_4.0

NRF has been conducting its annual Halloween survey since 2003 to see how Americans will celebrate the fright and delight of this beloved autumn holiday. Check out some statistics on what's expected for Halloween 2017.

To view the full article, visit https://nrf.com/resources/consumer-research-and-data/holiday-spending/halloween-headquarters

Need to fill out the 2018–19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form but don’t know where to start? I’m here to help. Let’s walk through the process step by step.

To view the full article, visit https://blog.ed.gov/2017/09/8-steps-to-filling-out-the-fafsa-form/

Money has been found to be a leading cause of relationship stress, according to a SunTrust Bank Study. Money is said to cause more relationship problems than even annoying habits, with 35% of survey respondents citing financial issues as the primary reason for friction with their spouses. Other studies have also shown that financial arguments early in a relationship can be a key predictor of divorce.

To view full article, visit money.cnn.com/2017/08/15/pf/money-moves-20s/index.html?iid=SF_LN

If you have a credit report, there’s a good chance that you’re one of the 143 million American consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies.

Here are the facts, according to Equifax.

To view the full article, visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-what-do

Being able to consistently contribute enough to your retirement savings accounts is the single most important aspect of any retirement plan, but it's also by far the most challenging. So finding a way to make regular, adequate contributions easier is really the key to a successful retirement. And the best way to accomplish this is by having a written financial plan.

To view full article, visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/08/retirement/retirement-savings/index.html?iid=SF_LN.

If you’ve been to college or have recently graduated, chances are you have a student loan. About 43.3 million people have student loans, and 90% of borrowers take out a Federal student loan, according to the US Department of Education. But federal loans don’t always cover all of your college costs, and more borrowers are turning to private loans; according to a new study by LendEDU, 1.4 million people currently have a private loan to pay for college costs.

Experts recommend using Federal loans, financial aid, and scholarships before taking out a private student loan. Understanding the main differences between your loan options will help you determine the best way to fund your education.

To view full article, visit https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-major-differences-federal-private-student-loans-153948663.html

Many families will soon be engaged in a not-so-pleasant late-summer ritual: writing college tuition checks or filling out student-loan paperwork. As you send off your hard-earned money you might want to find out what your child’s—or your own—school is doing to improve student financial knowledge. Are they going to be prepared to pay their average $34,000 in student loan debt and manage the rest of their financial lives effectively?

To view full article, visit blogs.wsj.com/experts/2017/08/06/how-to-help-colleges-teach-financial-literacy/

If you want to rein in your spending, there's a way to make the process easier: Check your values.

"For a lot of people, there's a disconnect between what they say is important and how they're spending their money," said certified financial planner Tammy Wener, co-founder of RW Financial Planning.

To view full article, visit cnbc.com/2017/07/25/how-to-cut-your-spending-and-feel-good-about-it.html

With tuition rates and other college costs rising every year, many parents struggle to finance their children’s college education. As a result, many students take on debt or forgo post-secondary education altogether. For advice on how to afford college and insight on the impact of student loans on the economy, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

• What are the most common mistakes people make when financing their post-secondary education?
• What should people consider when applying for student loans?
• What steps should someone take if they find they cannot afford their student-loan payments?
• What impact, if any, does the large and growing amount of outstanding student-loan debt have on the economy as a whole?

To view the full article, visit https://wallethub.com/student-loan-calculator/#nick-kilmer.

Welcome to the second of a six-part collaboration between Mint and Brewing Happiness. I’m Haley, the girl behind Brewing Happiness – a blog about celebrating the small healthy choices we make in our lives, complete with recipes for everybody! Last time we talked about my top ten tips for making healthy groceries budget-friendly. Today we are going to take that a step further with a full, healthy week-long meal plan!

To view full article, visit blog.mint.com/food-budgets/a-health-centric-7-day-meal-plan-that-wont-break-the-bank-042117/

According to self-made millionaire David Bach, getting rich boils down to paying yourself first.

More specifically, he advises you save the equivalent of one hour's worth of income each day, he writes in "The Automatic Millionaire": "If you're not saving that much of your income right now, you are working too much for others and not enough for yourself."

To view full article, visit cnbc.com/2017/01/11/self-made-millionaire-follow-this-one-simple-formula-to-get-rich.html

Thinking about putting a set of car keys under the tree this year? Consider a used car. It might not have the same cache on Christmas morning, but it's a much smarter financial move.

To view the full article visit cnbc.com/2016/12/09/for-car-buyers-it-pays-to-be-a-scrooge.html

He didn't begin paying down his tab immediately, but he made up lost ground by buckling down and contributing 75% of his paycheck toward his loans starting in August 2012. Eighteen months after his initial payment, the high school band director was completely debt-free.

To view the full article, visit cnbc.com/2016/09/15/teacher-paid-off-40000-of-student-loans-first-step-to-take.html.

Is a college degree worth the cost?  A degree from Texas A&M is. The metrics are undeniable — Texas A&M is unique in delivering a transformational, world-class education that remains affordable, accessible and achievable.

To view the metrics visit, governmentrelations.tamu.edu/resources/Value_of_Texas_AM_Degree_Jan_2017.pdf.