Financial Wellness Resource Center

Our goal is to provide you with a range of carefully chosen resources aimed at enhancing your financial stability and success.  From practical budgeting and useful planning tools to valuable insights that can improve your financial literacy, this carefully curated hub offers a variety of resources to support your financial well-being.

Assessments and Tools

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Take a quick quiz to gauge your financial well-being, and review tools to help you track spending and debt, repay loans, plan for retirement, and review your credit report. 
• Access free and low-cost personalized help options through a nonprofit credit counselor, HUD-certified housing counselor, or a financial coach.
• Texas Reality Check –Walk through your monthly expenses and figure out your minimum salary needs.

• nerdwallet – Review guides and tips from money experts, and crunch real numbers using nerdwallet’s many tools.
• Mortgage Calculator – Use this tool to get an estimate of your monthly mortgage payment including estimated taxes and insurance. 
• Find other financial tools at UFCU.com.

Watch and Learn

• UT Learning & Development Financial Wellness Collection (LinkedIn Learning) – A wide variety of courses and videos to help you on your way to financial wellness. From creating a budget to building your financial literacy. Jump in and explore.
• Budgeting in Real Life – Budgets are useless if they don’t work in real life. Learn how to create a budget that meets you where you are.
• Raise Money-Smart Kids – By using everyday moments, you can teach your kids important financial skills.
• University Federal Credit Union – Sign up for educational events that are designed to help you at every stage of your financial journey: spending, saving, borrowing, and planning.
• Set and Achieve Your Financial Goals – Learn how to prioritize your short- and long-term financial goal

• Establishing an Emergency Fund – Be prepared when life happens and learn the basics of emergency funds.
• Strategies to Manage and Eliminate Debt – Managing debt can help you on your journey to financial wellness.
• Establish Good Spending and Savings Habits – Learn about the importance of managing your spending and savings, and next steps to get you on the right plan.

Further Reading

Financial Stress Management

• 6 Ways to Tackle Financial Stress – While worrying doesn’t solve much, having a plan to manage financial challenges can help ease some of the stress.
• Impact of Debt on Mental Health – Managing debt can have a profound impact on mental health. Address both financial and mental well-being by employing a range of strategies.
• The Connection Between Physical and Financial Health – This article explores how physical and financial health are linked, emphasizing that while money doesn't ensure happiness, it can enhance overall well-being.

• Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole (book) – by Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche
• The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness (book) – by Morgan Housel 
• How money affects your mental health (podcast) - In Conversation from Apple News

Budgeting and Savings

• Creating A Budget – If you’re looking to create a personal budget, start with these six steps.
• Are You Paying Too Much for a New Car? – There are some things you can do to help you get the best possible deal on your purchase.

Credit Management

• Understanding Your Credit Report – Your credit report is actually a credit history. Learn more about your credit report and how it affects your financial wellness.
• Rebuild Your Credit in Six Easy Steps – If you have not yet achieved a rating of good or better, read on for practical, doable steps to get there.

Debt Management

• 6 Ways to Dig Yourself Out of Debt – Creating a debt management plan is the first step to easing the burden and getting your finances back on track.

Investing and Financial Education

• The Plain Language Guide to Investing – Understanding some of the core ideas can give you the confidence to get started.
• Behind the Growing Interest in Lifestyle Spending Accounts - SHRM article about employers who are adding Lifestyle Spending Accounts

University Resources

• Understanding Your Payslip – Learn how to review and understand your payslip in Workday.
• Total Rewards Statement – summarizes your direct and indirect compensation from the University
• Employee Discount Program and Financial Support through Care.com – Register here to connect with a Care Specialist for support with your financial decisions, and  access discounts on travel, electronics, home, auto, entertainment, and more!  
• Staff Emergency Fund – Provides limited financial help when you’re unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a temporary hardship related to an emergency situation.  Click to find out if you are eligible.
• Other University Resources for staff facing financial difficulties

• Retirement Planning Game –  Access videos, tools and tips all on the University of Texas System gameboard.
• Staff Tuition Assistance Program – Provides full-time staff with the opportunity to advance their personal and professional development by providing tuition aid for credit courses.